Posts from the "Topics" category
Escape from salmonella outbreak “nightmare” for small business owner
Eloise Keating writes: The owner of a family-owned business identified as the source of a salmonella bacteria outbreak says he has avoided a “nightmare” by having the correct food safety procedures in place.
Max Schofield is the founder of Fresh Fodder, which employs 20 people and manufactures dips, sauces and salads in the regional New South Wales town of Orange.
A recall was issued on Monday for a batch of Fresh Fodder’s Blue Cheese and Pistachio Dip, with a best before date of November 11, which was found to have been contaminated by salmonella.
Read the full article at smartcompany.com.au
Foodstuffs’ bagged lettuce linked to bug
Nicole Mathewson writes: Supermarket owner Foodstuffs has confirmed two products sold at its stores may be responsible for a severe outbreak of a gastrointestinal bug.
About 127 people have been affected and 38 hospitalised by the yersinia pseudotuberculosis outbreak since it first appeared last month.
Foodstuffs, the company which owns New World, Pak’n Save and Four Square, said it had viewed the report which named two of its products, Pam’s fresh express mesclun salad lettuce and Pam’s fresh express lettuce, as possible sources.
Read the full article at stuff.co.nz
NZ Yersinia pseudotuberculosis – update
NZ MPI: There is a total of 124 confirmed cases and 18 presumptive (suspected but yet to confirmed) nationwide. A total of 38 people have been hospitalised.
The people who have become ill with Yersenia have been interviewed on what foods they have been eating and this information has been cross-referenced, giving us sources to investigate further.
It is important to note that MPI’s investigation is over a range of foods.
Read the full article at mpi.govt.nz
Image credit: Dr. Todd Parker / CDC / Wikimedia
EFSA assesses risks from Salmonella in melons and tomatoes
EFSA: Environmental factors (such as heavy rainfall), the use of contaminated water for irrigation or contaminated equipment are among the factors that cause contamination of melons with Salmonella and contamination of tomatoes with Norovirus and Salmonella.
These are some of the findings of a scientific opinion on risk factors that contribute to the contamination of melons and tomatoes at different stages of the food chain.
To read the full article and to source the reports on melons and tomatoes, please visit the EFSA website.
Image credit: Joby Elliot/Flickr, CC BY 2.0
“So, why don’t we have a food safety regulation for Australian growers?” asks Richard Bennett
I haven’t found many growers who like regulation. The very thought of another regulation conjures up responses around more red or green tape, if it has to be regulated then it must be something I wouldn’t do voluntarily, it can’t have any commercial benefit, more bureaucracy wanting more of my…
New food safety & technology post by Richard Bennett on the PMA A-NZ Blog. Click here to view the full post.
Image credit: Carl Clifford/Flickr, CC BY 2.0
Yersinia Bug Prompts Hygiene Reminder
HortNZ: The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (which takes responsibility for food safety) is investigating an increase in the occurrence of a gastrointestinal illness this winter caused by a bacteria called ‘Yersinia pseudotuberculosis’.
The Canterbury District Health Board Medical Officer of Health has made claims in the media today that the disease can be linked to bagged carrots and lettuce, and has recommended people throw away these products if they have them in the fridge.
Read the full article by Horticulture New Zealand
The press release from the Ministry for Primary Industries is available here.
Image credit: Dr. Todd Parker / CDC / Wikimedia
Food Safety Quiz
ABC Health and Wellbeing: Do you know whether it’s chocolate mousse or baked custard that’s more likely to cause salmonella? Take our food safety quiz and learn how to enjoy your next picnic, without having to worry about uninvited ‘guests’.
Take the quiz at abc.net.au
Image credit: truth82/Flickr, CC BY 2.0
Influenza pandemic will impact on fresh and processed produce industry, writes Richard Bennett
On 23rd September, SBS ONE’s Insight program ran a hypothetical-style question and answer forum on the subject of the impact of an influenza pandemic on the Australian community. The discussion included the health sector response, the rush to produce an effective vaccine, the role of emergency services, the impact on the Australian economy and how we would maintain the supply of food to the Australian population.
New food safety & technology post by Richard Bennett on the PMA A-NZ Blog. View the full post here: http://ift.tt/1t1b1N0
Image credit: Dr Terrence Tumpey
USA Food & Drug Administration 2014 Food Safety Challenge
US Food and Drug Administration: The 2014 FDA Food Safety Challenge is a call to scientists, academics, entrepreneurs, and innovators from all disciplines to submit concepts applying novel and/or advanced methodologies to foster revolutionary improvements in foodborne pathogen detection. Specifically, concepts should apply cutting-edge techniques to achieve significant improvements in the speed of the FDA’s detection methods for Salmonella with identification to the subtype/serovar level in minimally processed fresh produce.
To read the full article, please visit www.foodsafetychallenge.com
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.