Posts from the "Research News" category
EU: Relevance of microbial finished product testing in food safety management
Journal of Food Control: The relevance of finished product testing is described for three case studies (canned food, chocolate and cooked ham). Finished product testing is often not very effective for controlling food safety. Food safety management systems and preventive approaches are more effective and can reduce finished product testing. Finished product testing may be used for process and product verification.
Read Article →
US: Survey of food safety practices – Small farms and farmers markets
Journal of Food Protection: This study evaluated current food safety practices used by farmers on small to medium-sized farms and managers of farmers markets in Georgia, Virginia, and South Carolina based on responses to surveys. Data were collected from 226 farmers and 45 market managers. Responses from farmers indicated that more than 56% of them use manures. Of those who use manures, 34% use raw or mixtures of raw and composted manure, and over 26% wait fewer than 90 days between application of raw manure and harvest. Over 27% use water sources that have not been tested for safety for irrigation, and 16% use such water sources for washing produce. Over 43% do not sanitize surfaces that touch produce at the farm. Only 33% of farmers always clean transport containers between uses.
Read Article →US: Seeking alternatives for reducing bacteria in fresh produce
Farm and Dairy: A team of researchers at Wayne State University have been exploring natural, safe and alternative antimicrobials to reduce bacterial contamination. Plant essential oils such as those from thyme, oregano and clove are known to have a strong antimicrobial effect, but currently their use in food protection is limited due to their low solubility in water.
Read Article →
UK: A large Great Britain-wide outbreak of STEC O157 phage type 8 linked to handling of raw leeks and potatoes
Epidemiology & Infection: Between December 2010 and July 2011, 252 cases of STEC [Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli] O157 PT8 stx1 + 2 infection were reported in England, Scotland and Wales. This was the largest outbreak of STEC reported in England and the second largest in the UK to date. Eighty cases were hospitalized, with two cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome and one death reported.
Read Article →
Provider announced to conduct “understanding the gaps†food safety literature review project
The Fresh Produce Safety Centre (FPSC) has announced that a joint proposal – from TQA Australia Inc, RMCG, and the Institute of Environmental Science and Research in New Zealand, in concert with the Food Safety Centre at the University of Tasmania – has been selected as the successful bid for the “Understanding the Gaps†literature review of fresh produce safety research.
Read Article →NO: An outbreak of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infection in Norway, 2012: a reminder to consider uncommon pathogens in outbreaks involving imported products
Epidemiology and Infection: We investigated an outbreak of gastroenteritis following a Christmas buffet served on 4 – 9 December 2012 to ~1300 hotel guests. More than 300 people were reported ill in initial interviews with hotel guests. Imported chives added fresh to the scrambled eggs were the suspected source of the outbreak but were unavailable for testing. Following this outbreak, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority recommended that imported fresh herbs should be heat-treated before use in commercial kitchens.
Click here to read the full Summary at Cambridge Journals Online.
Fresh Produce Safety Centre releases RFP for Understanding the Gaps Literature Review Project
The Fresh Produce Safety Centre today released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Understanding the Gaps: a Food Safety Literature Review.
The Fresh Produce Safety Centre is seeking a provider to review the contemporary literature surrounding microbial contamination of fresh produce and the interaction of sanitisers with fungicides when used postharvest.
This review will provide the fresh produce industry in Australia and New Zealand with information to improve food safety best practice and reduce the opportunity for foodborne illness.
The Understanding the Gaps project has been generously supported by Pipfruit NZ and the NSW Food Authority (Full Research Partners) plus Fresh Select and GSF Australasia/Snap Fresh Foods (Associate Research Partners).
The Understanding the Gaps report will be released mid-year.
The Fresh Produce Safety Centre’s supporters are:
Platinum supporters: Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd | PMA Australia-New Zealand Limited | University of Sydney | Woolworths Ltd
Silver supporters: Freshcare Limited | Harris Farm Markets Pty Ltd | Horticulture New Zealand | Perfection Fresh Australia Pty Ltd | Primo Moraitis Fresh Pty Limited
Bronze supporters: Australian Mango Industry Association (AMIA) | Chamber of Fruit & Vegetable Industries in Western Australia (Inc) | GS1 Australia Ltd | Kalfresh Pty Ltd | Living Foods NZ | MG Marketing Limited and LaManna Limited | Mulgowie Farming Company | OneHarvest Pty Ltd | Premier Fruits Group Pty Ltd | Sci Qual International Pty Ltd | TQA Australia
Establishment of the FPSC has been funded by a Horticulture Innovation Australia project using voluntary contributions from industry and matched funds from the Australian Government.
For further information please contact FPSC Executive Director Emma Walters on +61 02 8627 1058 or Chair Michael Worthington, CEO, PMA Australia-New Zealand, on +61 03 8844 5536.
Read Article →
Fresh Produce Safety Centre launches two landmark projects
The Fresh Produce Safety Centre today launched two landmark research projects aimed at improving the safety of Australian and New Zealand fresh produce.
The two projects are:
- Understanding the Gaps – a Food Safety Literature Review; and
- The Guidelines for Fresh Produce Food Safety.
The projects have been financially supported by industry and government, demonstrating the broad support across Australia and New Zealand for this work.
Read Article →2014 CPS Symposium Key Learnings: 10 Lessons Learned
18 September 2014
Dr Bob Whitaker & Dr Jim Gorny from the Produce Marketing Association have provided a summary of 10 key lessons from the 2014 US Centre for Produce Safety (CPS) fifth annual reseach symposium.