Breaking News on Food Safety & Quality Control

EFSA to consider non-dietary exposure in bisphenol A data call

16-May-2012 - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is inviting a host of stakeholders – including packaging companies and food businesses - to submit data on migration of Bisphenol A (BPA) from packaging and levels of the chemicals in food and beverages.

FDA reports concerns at Salmonella-linked Indian tuna scrape plant

16-May-2012 - US food safety authorities have voiced concerns over unsanitary conditions at the India-based tuna scrape manufacturing plant at the centre of the Salmonella Bareilly outbreak in the US.

MEPs delay EFSA budget approval over conflict of interest and spending concerns

11-May-2012 - MEPs have voted to delay approving the way in which the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) spent EU funds in 2010 over concerns about possible conflicts of interest within the body and the high costs of its management board meetings.

Beef Products Inc. and Tyson Foods hit by latest ‘pink slime’ fallout

09-May-2012 - ‘Pink slime’ manufacturer, Beef Products Inc. (BPI), has confirmed the almost immediate closure of three of its four plants, in the latest wave of repercussions surrounding the product.

Study conclusion over bisphenol A breast cancer hazard challenged by scientists

09-May-2012 - New research from the US has linked foetal exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) in monkeys with an increased risk of cancer in primates. But scientists have questioned the validity of the study’s methodology and the relevance of its findings to humans.

'Sorry for China chlorine contamination' – Coca-Cola

07-May-2012 - Coca-Cola has apologised to the Chinese authorities, media and public after a manufacturing blunder led to chlorine-contaminated beverage products entering the market.

China halts production at chlorine contamination Coca-Cola bottling plant

02-May-2012 - Chinese authorities have ordered a temporary end to production at a Coca-Cola bottling plant over production line “problems” - just weeks after confirming the safety of beverage products from the plant.

BPI employees launch social media campaign to spread ‘beef is beef’ message

26-Apr-2012 - Workers at Beef Products Inc. (BPI) have launched a Facebook campaign countering attacks on lean finely textured beef (LFTB), saying they hope information about the safety of the ingredient will go viral – as misinformation did last month.

Congressmen press USDA to educate on quality and safety of ‘pink slime’

26-Apr-2012 - Dozens of US Congressmen have come out in force to demand further efforts to educate consumers on the quality of lean finely textured beef (LFTB) – now commonly known as ‘pink slime’.

Survey: Most Canadians support food irradiation – once they’ve heard of it

25-Apr-2012 - Most Canadians have not heard of food irradiation but after being provided with a definition, two-thirds say they would support its use, according to an opinion poll conducted for the Consumers’ Association of Canada.

Cargill: Decision by retailers to drop ‘pink slime’ was ‘disappointing but understandable’

24-Apr-2012 - The decision by retailers to remove finely textured beef (FTB) - aka ‘pink slime’ - from ground beef products was “disappointing but understandable given the immense volume of misinformation and hyperbole” surrounding the product, according to Cargill.

Sweden to outlaw bisphenol A in kids packaging but rejects full ban

18-Apr-2012 - Sweden said it will introduce a ban on bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging targeted at young children but stepped back from proposals to force food processing and packaging players to find wholesale alternatives to the chemical.

BASF increase ammonium carbonate capacity as demand soars

18-Apr-2012 - Increasing demand for high-purity ammonium carbonate will see leading supplier BASF increase capacity by 30% in the next year.

Baby foods may not provide adequate levels of micro-nutrients: Study

16-Apr-2012 - Commercially available baby foods may contain less that 20% of the recommended levels of many minerals and micro-nutrients, according to new research that suggests industry could be doing more to improve the nutritive value of such foods.

FSA plays down concerns over fresh chicken Campylobacter contamination

13-Apr-2012 - The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has played down concerns over the safety of supermarket-sold fresh chicken products after a survey found that almost one in five were contaminated with Campylobacter.

Research database reveals ingredients most prone to food fraud

06-Apr-2012 - The first ever public database compiling reports on global food fraud and economically motivated adulteration has highlighted olive oil, milk and honey as just a few of the the most vulnerable targets. The report also claims that past issues of adulteration could have been prevented if such data had been available earlier.

FoodQualityNews.com: 2012 so far.......

05-Apr-2012 - It's been an interesting year already, and we're only three months in.

Allergen test may not accurately detect milk proteins triggers, warn researchers

05-Apr-2012 - The standard test used to detect potentially allergenic milk proteins in processed foods may not work as well as previously believed, according to new research.

US scientists develop wonder capsule that ‘pulls’ radioactive substances out of beverages

05-Apr-2012 - US scientists have developed a safe, cost-effective capsule to remove radioactive substances and heavy metals from beverages, milk and foods, and say it could hit shelves in six to twelve months.

Chinese officials arrest more than 100 in rotten meat-based ‘gutter oil’ crackdown

05-Apr-2012 - Officials in China have arrested more than 100 people in a crackdown on a new type of ‘gutter oil’ made using animal processing waste including rotten animal fat.

AFA Foods files for bankruptcy citing 'pink slime' media damage

04-Apr-2012 - US ground beef processor AFA Foods Inc. has become the latest victim in the consumer fight to end the use of ‘pink slime’ after filing for bankruptcy - citing “recent changes in the market.”

FDA rejects call to ban bisphenol A but continues safety research

02-Apr-2012 - US federal authorities said they dismissed a call from the Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC) Friday to ban bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging because the petition failed to provide concrete scientific evidence the chemical posed a health risk.

Comment

Slimeageddon 2012: Who is really to blame for the pink slime debacle?

02-Apr-2012 - With lean finely textured beef (LFTB) now off the menu at some of the nation’s biggest retailers and fast food chains, recriminations are flying thick and fast over who is to blame for the whole sorry, pink, slimy mess currently engulfing the food industry.

UK food safety authorities issue food grade chemical supply warning

30-Mar-2012 - UK food safety authorities have issued a warning to food processors over the use of food grade chemicals from a Northern Ireland-based distributor following the death of a woman in Italy.