Posts from the "Latest News" category
Innovate, Collaborate, Thrive in 2014
The fresh produce and food safety business landscapes continues to shift in ways that few could expect and faster than anyone could fully anticipate. Innovation is vital for businesses to stay ahead of the game, but often it is a collaborative effort across companies and organisations that really enables our industries to grow and thrive – especially where food safety and traceability are concerned.
From 24-26 June 2014, the PMA Fresh Connections conference and trade show will bring together the leaders in the world of fresh fruits, vegetables and cut flowers to conduct business and examine trends and topics of common interest, with a theme of innovate, collaborate, thrive.
If you are a part of the industry, looking to do business with the industry or enhance your networks and business relationships, or simply want to learn more about future opportunities, PMA Fresh Connections has something for every segment of the fresh produce value chain and all the industries that support it. With up to 1000 delegates and over 60 exhibitors and sponsors from across New Zealand, Australia, and as far afield as China, USA, UK and Russia expected to attend, you’re sure to build your business network.
Session highlights for food safety businesses:
Business & science working together on improved traceability and risk mitigation
Speakers: Ed Treacey, PTI/PMA, Harrij Schmeitz FrugiCom, Dr Rebecca McLeod, Oritain
Farm Automation: Robotics and Intelligent Systems that will shape the fresh produce industry in the next decade
Speaker: Professor Salah Sukkarieh, University of Sydney (Australia)
Work different: Achieve real business improvement through Innovation 3.0
Speaker: Allan Ryan, Hargraves Institute (Australia)
Collaboration and innovation driving a stronger global fresh produce industry
Speaker: Anthony Barbieri, Produce Marketing Association (USA)
To view the full program, click here.
Earlybird registration closing soon
Register before 9th May 2014 to take advantage of the earlybird registration discount and save over NZD100 on your fulltime conference registration!
To register, please visit www.pmafreshconnections.com.au
Death Cap mushrooms not from Woolworths
Released 27/04/2014
ACT Health has been working closely with Woolworths and ACT Policing to investigate three cases of Death Cap mushroom poisoning that occurred in the ACT.
"We’d like to acknowledge the swift action taken by Woolworths in response to the initial information about the source of the mushrooms," ACT Chief Health Officer, Dr Paul Kelly said.
"Investigations by ACT Policing in the last 24 hours have found no evidence that the Death Cap mushrooms consumed by the patients were purchased from Woolworths in Dickson.
"Our investigations are still ongoing as to the source of the Death Cap mushrooms, however this remains an isolated incident and there have been no other recent reports of Death Cap mushroom poisoning in the ACT.
"Two of the patients remain in a stable condition in ACT hospitals and one patient is currently receiving care at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney. ACT Health is seeking co-operation in respecting the privacy of these patients during this time," Dr Kelly concluded.
People are reminded not to pick and eat any wild mushrooms. It can be extremely difficult for even experienced collectors to distinguish Death Cap mushrooms from other edible mushrooms.
Further information on Death Cap mushrooms is available via: http://www.health.act.gov.au/publications/fact-sheets/death-cap-mushrooms
A list of after-hours medical services in the ACT is available via: http://www.afterhoursact.com.au/
Findings show raw apricot kernels a risk
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today [17 April 2014] released findings showing that eating raw apricot kernels could pose a public health and safety risk to consumers.
FSANZ Chief Executive Officer Steve McCutcheon said FSANZ and the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries had looked at a range of foods that naturally contain a chemical that can be broken down after eating to release cyanide.
‘Cyanogenic glycosides are found in a range of foods including cassava root, linseed, bamboo shoots and apricot kernels,’ Mr McCutcheon said.
‘After testing these foods and conducting a risk assessment, FSANZ found only raw apricot kernels can pose a health and safety risk and may require further action.’
‘FSANZ has issued advice previously on raw apricot kernels and continues to advise consumers about the amounts they should consume.’
‘Adults should eat no more than three raw apricot kernels per day and children should not eat any.’
‘No other apricot products, including those made with apricot kernels, present a risk.’
Mr McCutcheon said some consumers eat apricot kernels in the belief they can cure or prevent cancer but Cancer Council Australia states that they are not only ineffective at treating cancer but could also be very dangerous.
‘While we are providing consumer advice and education, FSANZ is also working on a proposal looking at how to manage the risk of cyanogenic glycosides in raw apricot kernels.’
A call for submissions on the proposal is expected to be released mid-2014.
Source: www.foodstandards.gov.au.
Who audits the auditors? How rockmelons can turn deadly
96% and a stellar audit rating did not stop a US rockmelon farm from selling contaminated melons that killed 33 people. How much responsibility should the auditor bear?
In 2011, whole rockmelons contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes sickened 147 and killed 33 people in the US. The rockmelons were traced to Jensen Farms in south-eastern Colorado. The two brothers who owned the farm were indicted with six federal misdemeanour charges for “introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce”. They each faced up to six years in prison plus up to US$1.5 million in fines.
After seeing their farm forced into bankruptcy, Eric and Ryan Jensen have just been sentenced with each receiving five years’ probation, six months of home detention and $150,000 each in restitution fees to victims. Victim families have already received $3.8 million from the Jensens’ insurance policy.
Now consumers have every right to expect that the rockmelon they purchase from the supermarket will not kill them and will not make them sick. But where does responsibility lie for this contamination disaster?
To read the full article, please click here
Source: http://www.foodprocessing.com.au.
Australian supermarkets push their suppliers to join GS1 Recallnet Portal
Australian supermarket giants Coles, Woolworths, Costco and Metcash have acclaimed the new GS1 Australia product retail technology, Recallnet.
In an open letter, published on the GS1 website, the retailers asked their suppliers to join themselves into technology.
“We are pleased to announce our support of GS1 Recallnet, our industry’s tool for the effective management of recall and withdrawal notifications,” the retailer’s letter to suppliers said.
“We are now encouraging all of our partners to work with us by registering to use the portal,” it added.
Recallnet is an online portal that accelerates product recalls and withdrawals by simplifying and automating the exchange of information between suppliers, distributors and retailers as well as government agencies such as Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
For suppliers, the online portal makes it easier to accurately issue these notifications to customers in a timely manner, speeding up the information flow, eliminating confusion and saving money.
“When you issue recalls and withdrawals today, it’s hard to know whether the right information is delivered to the right people at the right time; which is why we’re proud to be joining this industry-wide effort to improve and standardise recall and withdrawal notifications,” the retailers wrote.
To read the full article, please click here
Source: http://www.ausfoodnews.com.au Written by Meagan Carlaw
Recall: Sprout Garden Alfalfa and Onion Sprouts
Belmore Bean Factory Pty Ltd has recalled Sprout Garden Alfalfa and Onion Sprouts from the Sydney Markets (Flemington) and fruit and vegetable stores in NSW due to E.coli contamination. Food products contaminated with E.coli may cause illness if consumed. Consumers should not eat this product and should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice.
Date notified to FSANZ: 14/04/2014
Food type: Sprouts
Product name: Sprout Garden Alfalfa and Onion Sprouts
Package description and size: Plastic punnet with a sealed lid, 125g
Date marking: Use By 15/04/14
Country of origin: Australia
Reason for recall: Microbial (E.coli) contamination
Distribution: The Sydney Markets (Flemington) and fruit and vegetable stores in NSW
Source: www.foodstandards.gov.au
Food safety isn’t optional, Chiquita chief says
BALTIMORE: The top banana from Chiquita Brands International says the company is going back to its roots, with a triple bottom line approach that has moved food safety to the forefront.
In his keynote presentation at the annual Food Safety Summit, Ed Lonergan, chief executive officer for the Charlotte, N.C.-multinational company, said Chiquita’s board never meets without Courtney Parker, the company’s senior vice president for quality and food safety, at the table.
“Courtney’s team has veto power,” Lonergan said. “Food safety is not a competitive advantage. It’s a fact of business, all of our businesses.”
Lonergan said commitment to food safety requires commitment from top management to integrate it into all levels of business, which he said has returned to its core of bananas and packaged salads. “Chiquita’s value chain is only as strong as its weakest link,” he said.
To read the full article, click here
Source: www.thepacker.com.
Harsher penalties for food safety offenders on way
Abu Dhabi: A tough new draft law will step up penalties for those found to be endangering food safety across the UAE, according to legislation presented to the Federal National Council for review and approval on Tuesday.
The bill suggests a jail term of up to three years and a Dh2 million fine for food safety offenders.
The legislation, passed by the Cabinet last month, sets out key requirements to establish a system of effective regulatory and oversight services to ensure the protection of public health and protect consumers.
It provides for a prison term of not less than a month and a fine of up to Dh500,000 for those who deal in food or products that contain pork or alcohol or any of their by-products without permission.
Misleading consumers by publishing a false description of food or using incorrect labels will attract a fine ranging from between Dh10,000 and Dh100,000, according to the draft law, which will need to be passed by the House and get a final endorsement by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan before it becomes law.
To read the full article, please click here.
Source: www.gulfnews.com. Written by Samir Salama.
PLU codes capture retailer interest in China
In 2012, China released a five-year plan to upgrade its food safety regulations to address food safety concerns. As demand for safe produce continues to rise among consumers, China, as well as the global produce industry, is constantly seeking efficient tools to ensure food safety at every level of the supply chain. In the words of the Produce Marketing Association’s vice president of supply chain efficiencies, Ed Treacy, “growers and produce industry professionals want to do the ‘right’ thing.”
At this year’s PMA Fresh Connections: China, Treacy was once again invited to present on global standards for produce, covering five topics, including trends in food safety, cold chain management, traceability, traceability requirements and PLU (Price Look Up) codes.
“There’s a lot of interest from the produce industry here on what the PLU code means. Since last year, people want to know more about PLU because they see it on imported fruits. They will see a sticker on that and they do not understand. Or some people thought that they knew what it was [but they didn’t],” he said.
To read the full article, including more on what PLU codes are for and the continuing global rollout, please click here
Source: http://www.freshfruitportal.com
Questions for the Environmental Working Group
The Alliance for Food and Farming takes exception to the EWG’s “Dirty Dozen” list for a number of reasons. The most important is that we – and many, many nutritionists and health experts from around the world – believe this list discourages consumption of fruits and vegetables and raises doubt among mothers that what they are feeding their children is safe. This is unfortunate, given the emphasis of government agencies and health experts who understand these products are very safe and are urging people to eat more of them to reduce disease and obesity.
As additional proof of the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables, whether conventional or organic, two new studies were released this week. One shows that eating more servings of fruits and veggies leads to a longer life. The other found no differences in cancer rates among organic and conventional consumers. A paper published in 2012 also found that if half the consumers in the U.S. consumed just one more serving of a fruit or vegetable each day, 20,000 cancer cases could be prevented each year – and this study was conducted assuming all servings were of conventionally grown fruits and vegetables.
To read the full article, please visit here.
Source: www.foodsafetynews.com Author: Marilyn Dolan