Posts from the "Latest News" category
AU: NSW bakery fined over salmonella outbreak
Food & Beverage Industry News: Betta Maid, an Unanderra bakery which closed last year, has been fined for selling unsafe food and breaching hygiene standards. [Ed: This outbreak was initially reported in the media quoting an officer of the Local Health District “…we think it is linked to salad products.”] Wollongong Local Court fined the company a total of $63,000 plus $20,000 in court costs.
The charges were brought against the company in response to the NSW Food Authority’s investigation into a salmonella outbreak in 10 aged care facilities on the NSW South Coast and ACT between January and March 2015. As the Illawarra Mercury reports, two residents died and 30 fell ill with a rare strain of salmonella at the facilities of aged care provider IRT. “This court result serves as a reminder to all food businesses why food safety systems are crucial, particularly those businesses serving food to the most vulnerable in our community,” said Lisa Szabo, Chief Executive Officer, NSW Food Authority.
Visit the Food Safety Hub at PMA Fresh Connections
18 May 2016
The FPSC has again put together a Food Safety Hub at the PMA Fresh Connections trade show to provide trade show attendees with a one-stop shop where they can pick up the latest in food safety services, technology, retailer and regulatory requirements, information, events, research and guidance.
NZ: How TV chefs could be making us ill
New Zealand Herald: They’re the ones we turn to when we’re hoping to impress with our culinary skills. But following the example of celebrity chefs like Jamie Oliver and Nigella could be a recipe for disaster, warn scientists.
After watching nearly 100 TV episodes featuring 24 popular chefs, US researchers found that a raft of household names – including Mary Berry and Nigella Lawson – were guilty of health and safety faux pas.
Read Article →AU: Blanch your bean sprouts or risk Salmonella Saintpaul
foodprocessing.com.au: Mung beans, sourced from Queensland and sprouted in South Australia, are believed to be the source of the latest foodborne disease outbreak that has sickened people across the Northern Territory and South Australia. The recent Northern Territory Department of Health investigation of the increase in Salmonella infections across Darwin, Palmerston and the rural area has established that the bacteria involved is Salmonella Saintpaul — the same one as that sickening South Australians.
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CA: Costco Canada caught up in recall of frozen organic vegetables
Food Safety News: Possible Listeria contamination in organic peas has caused Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd. to issue its second frozen organic food recall in eight days. Organic by Nature brand frozen sweet peas are the implicated food this time, following Costco’s April 15 recall of Nature’s Touch brand organic berry cherry blend. The frozen organic fruit is linked to a Hepatitis A outbreak that has sickened at least 13, according to Canadian health officials.
Read Article →NZ: Celebrating 20 years of the Australia New Zealand Food Treaty
1 July 2016
Food Standards Australia New Zealand: A one-day event is planned to be held in Wellington, New Zealand that will explore the consumer, public health, trade and scientific perspectives on the challenges that lie ahead. Speakers include Sir Peter Cluckman (NZ Chief Science Advisor), Sue Chetwin (Consumer New Zealand), Katherine Rich (Food and Grocery Council) and Tony Nowell (FSANZ Board / APEC Business Advisory Council).
AU: Call for submissions on changes to maximum residue limits requirements
Food Standards Australia New Zealand: Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today called for submissions on a proposal to create an “all other foods†maximum residue limit for some agricultural chemicals. FSANZ Chief Executive Officer Steve McCutcheon said maximum residue limits are currently set for chemicals and specific commodities. “This has created issues for enforcement agencies and producers because low levels of chemicals permitted on one food may be accidentally found on other foods not listed in the Code,†Mr McCutcheon said.
Read Article →AU: Woolworths appoints SAI Global to Supplier Excellence audit program
Food & Beverage Industry News: Woolworths today announced the appointment of SAI Global as an approved service delivery partner of their new Supplier Excellence program, which focuses on improving quality and product safety standards across its extensive global sourcing network. SAI Global is one of four certification bodies to be appointed by Woolworths to conduct audits across their food supplier base in Australia and New Zealand following an extensive tender process.
Read Article →EU: Molecular typing – investigating foodborne illness
Food Safety Exchange: Scientists are increasingly using a technique called molecular typing or DNA fingerprinting to investigate foodborne outbreaks. The wealth of data being generated is opening up exciting areas of research and innovative techniques for safeguarding Europe’s food. What is molecular typing? How does it work? The EFSA’s interactive infographic answers these and other questions.
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US: Study looks at lettuce grown near livestock
The Packer: Lettuce grown too close to livestock production areas can be at greater risk of pathogen contamination. That’s the conclusion of a recent study by scientists at New York’s Clarkson University, “Bioaerosol Deposition to Food Crops near Manure Application: Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment.â€
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