Posts from the "Latest News" category
US: IFIC research highlights changes in consumer perceptions of food safety risks
Quality Assurance Magazine: The top food safety concern among Americans is no longer “foodborne illness,†having been overtaken by “chemicals in food,†according to the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation’s 2015 Food and Health Survey.
This year, 36% of Americans cited “chemicals in food,†such as pesticide residues, as the most important food safety issue for them and their family, edging out “foodborne illness from bacteria†(34%).
Read Article →NZ: Food Act 2014
NZ Ministry for Primary Industries: The Food Act 2014 comes into force on 1 March 2016. It takes a new approach to managing food safety. Find out more about the Food Act and what it means for you.
Read Article →UK: Red Tractor Week to celebrate great British food and farming
Farmers Weekly: The aim of the seven-day campaign is to highlight the [traceability, food safety, animal welfare and environmental] standards behind the scheme and encourage shoppers to buy Red Tractor-labelled food. Farmers are also being encouraged to get involved through the social media campaign #trustthetractor by telling consumers what they do and why supporting Red Tractor is important.
Read Article →AU: DFAT trades facts on China deal
PSnews online: According to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, there had been some misconceptions about the China–Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA), signed in Canberra on 17 June, and the resources would help the community understand the landmark trade agreement with China.
It said the trade agreement also did not affect Australia’s science-based biosecurity system. “There are no changes to our quarantine and testing processes, which will continue to apply to food imports including berries,†DFAT said.
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US: Limited precautionary recall of 5 oz organicgirl baby spinach announced
US FDA: September 10, 2015 – Salinas, California – organicgirl Produce is voluntarily recalling a limited quantity of 5 oz. organicgirl Baby Spinach.
No illnesses are reported in association with this recall. This recall action is being taken out of an abundance of caution due to an isolated instance in which a single package of 5 oz. organicgirl Baby Spinach tested randomly by the California Department of Public Health demonstrated the presence of trace levels of cadmium.
Read Article →US: The 5 most dangerous foodborne pathogens
Food Safety News: It can be tricky business to say that one foodborne pathogen is more dangerous than another. Are the criteria the number of illnesses, number of deaths, or percentage of victims who die? Do the severity of an illness or chronic side effects factor into the ranking?
The first three pathogens on this list are fairly obvious dangers and ones on which federal agencies, such the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, focus most of their attention. The other two are much rarer, but they’re still important pathogens to watch out for.
Read Article →UK: National E. coli O157 outbreak reported in the UK
Food Safety Watch:Â Public Health England is investigating a national outbreak of Verocytotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC) serotype O157 phage type 8 vero-toxin type 2a infection that may be associated with consumption of pre-packed salad.
Genetic analysis of VTEC O157 isolates from people affected in the outbreak has identified 38 confirmed cases with one further probable case and four more awaiting test results. The confirmed cases all became ill between 29 July and 12 August and are widely distributed across England, with one case in Wales, but none in Scotland.
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AU: Flying high on taste: the science behind airline food
Sydney Morning Herald:Â Once relatively unappetising, indeed unpalatable, inflight meals have become relatively healthy, appetising and aesthetically appealing, thanks to advances in food science.
Among other things, airlines assume that their passengers might be pregnant, or elderly, for instance, Potter says. “This means food-safety issues require cooking everything to a sort of “well done” formula. Hospitals have similar constraints, although the level of acceptable risk for people eating the food is much lower.”
Read Article →NZ: Fact sheet for microbiolgical limits for L. monocytogenes in fresh leafy salads, fresh fruit salads, sprouted seeds and smoked and gravadlax seafood
NZ Ministry for Primary Industries:Â This fact sheet provides general advice to processors of certain ready-to-eat (RTE) food (e.g. fresh leafy salads, fresh fruit salads, sprouted seeds and smoked and gravadlax seafood) in applying the microbiological limits for Listeria monocytogenes in RTE foods in accordance with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Food Standards Code) Standard 1.61.
Occasional low level contamination of such products by L. monocytogenes may be unavoidable but may not present a risk provided that growth cannot occur and there is less than 100 cfu/g within the stated shelf life.
Read Article →US: Multistate outbreak of Salmonella poona infections linked to imported cucumbers
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: CDC, multiple states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Poona infections. Since July 3, 2015, 285 people infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Poona have been reported from 27 states. 53 ill people have been hospitalized, and one death has been reported from California.
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