Posts from the "Latest News" category
AU: Sale of raw apricot kernels prohibited
Food Standards Australia New Zealand: The retail sale of raw apricot kernels is prohibited from today, when changes to the Food Standards Code come into effect.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Chief Executive Officer Steve McCutcheon said FSANZ has found that raw apricot kernels (both with and without skin) pose an acute public health and safety risk.
“Raw apricot kernels contain cyanogenic glycosides, which are broken down to release cyanide when eaten,†Mr McCutcheon said.
Read Article →AU: Power of the Red Tractor
Farm Weekly: VICE Chair of the UK’s Red Tractor Assured Food Standards company Andrew Blenkiron believes Australia is about half-way towards achieving a similar labelling regime.
But completing that journey will require strong leadership to develop a cohesive quality-assurance framework behind a label, to readily demonstrate safe and ethical food production standards to consumers, he says.
Read Article →NZ: Consumers angry at lack of information about food safety scares
Fairfax media: For Whangarei father Daniel Sterling, the worst bit is not knowing.
His four-year-old son Sam had been sick for a week with a vicious stomach bug unlike any he had had before, and a complete loss of appetite. Then he saw the news headlines: The brand of berries that he uses in Sam’s favourite smoothies are those linked to an outbreak of hepatitis A in this country.
Read Article →NZ: Berry company ‘gutted’ by recall
Radio New Zealand: The owner of the Nelson company at the centre of a scare over a Hepatitis A virus in imported berries is apologising to the people who became sick and has vowed to find the source.
The Ministry for Primary Industries last night ordered FSL Foods to recall its Fruzio Mixed Berries sold in 1kg and 500g bags containing blackberries and strawberries.
Read Article →NZ: MPI recalls frozen berries
NZ Ministry for Primary Industries: The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has made significant progress in its investigation of imported frozen berries associated with the increased risk from Hepatitis A.
“Today we have directed a specific company to recall a brand of imported frozen berries from shelves,†says MPI’s director plants food and environment Peter Thomson.
Read Article →NZ: Hepatitis scare: Calls for mandatory country of origin labelling on food
New Zealand Herald: Opposition parties are calling for mandatory country of origin labelling on New Zealand foods after four cases of hepatitis A were linked to frozen, imported berries.
But Minister for Food Safety Jo Goodhew says the Government has no plans to do so.
Read Article →US: Study measures how much restaurant management knows about food allergens
Food Safety Magazine: Last month, the Journal of Foodservice Business Research published a study indicating that restaurant managerial staffers have a lot to learn when it comes to food allergies–even those who have gone through training.
Researchers at Auburn University surveyed 110 U.S. restaurant managerial employees–owners, managers and chefs–from both independent and chain establishments. The overall goal was to find out how aware and prepared these staff members are in terms of serving customers with food allergies.
Read Article →AU: Halal certification: Government should overhaul industry, take control as signatory: Senate committee
ABC News: The Federal Government should overhaul the halal certification industry and take control as the sole signatory, a Senate committee has recommended.
The Senate Economics References Committee also recommended that the Government promote greater acceptance of a “whole-of-country” Government-led halal certification system, following a six-month inquiry in which members were subjected to abuse and profanity.
Read Article →US: E. coli from Costco chicken salad traced to tainted celery
Reuters: A multi-state E. coli outbreak that has sickened at least 19 people who ate rotisserie chicken salad sold at Costco Wholesale Corp’s stores has been traced to a celery-and-onion mix used in the salad, prompting its California maker to recall the product.
Read Article →US: SQFI announces the 2015 SQFI quality achievement award winners
Safe Quality Food Institute: The Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI) recently announced the SQF Quality Achievement Awards at their 2015 International Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. These five awards recognize individuals and organizations that contribute to and improve the SQFI program’s global mission to provide a rigorous and credible food safety management system. Finalists in each category were honored and recognized during the conference.
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