Breaking News on Food Safety & Quality Control

Organic acids, plant extracts and irradiation to beat food-borne bugs - study

Treating chicken breast meat with a mixture of organic acids and plant extracts can greatly reduce the presence of pathogenic bacteria, according to new research from the US-based Food Safety Consortium.

New FDA bottled water rules to combat E. coli

Bottled water manufacturers, including Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, will face stricter standards following the Food and Drug Administration’s decision to implement new rules to prevent contamination with E. coli bacteria.

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Food safety group launches online resource site

An online food safety information site for consumers and those working in the area has been set up by the White House Food Safety Working Group.

Salt replacers in fish burgers pass taste test

Replacing sodium chloride with potassium chloride does not affect the sensory quality, or shelf-life of fish fillets, says new research.

IDFA questions raw milk viability for US processors

Amidst debate over allowing the sale of raw milk in a growing number of US states, some processors remain unconvinced that there are any potential benefits for either consumers or manufacturers in turning away from pasteurised dairy.

FDA failed over salmonella outbreak, says new chief

The recent outbreak of salmonella in the United States caused by contaminated peanut butter represented a “failure” by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the agency’s new commissioner said this week as she took up her post.

USP launches GRAS monograph service

Third party certifier, USP, has launched a monograph service for companies that have achieved self-affirmed GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status for food ingredients.

Setton Pistachio knew of salmonella, says FDA

Setton Pistachio knew that some of its products had tested positive for salmonella but kept shipping them anyway, according to an inspection report released by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Lack of inspectors threatens Canadian meat safety, warns union

There are too few federal inspectors to guarantee the safety of meat in Canada, warns the agriculture union of the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

Germans ban Red Bull over cocaine content

Red Bull Cola has been banned in at least six German states after the newest offering from the world’s leading energy drink maker was found to contain cocaine.

Bakers wary over salt reduction technical feasibility

Ongoing amendments to salt reduction targets across European markets like the UK are throwing up unknown challenges for bakers beyond just affecting taste, with fears over the possible wider impacts for product quality, according to industry leaders.

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Cheerios: Drugs for breakfast?

When is a breakfast cereal not a breakfast cereal? Well, when it’s a drug.

Giving oxygen to cheaper and better beer

A sensor that quickly and accurately measures dissolved oxygen in beer products has been launched by the Process Analytics arm of Swiss firm Mettler Toledo.

Food safety threat from reusable food bags and packages

Reusable food shopping bags and packages can contain a high level of bacteria, yeast, mold and coliform counts which pose a significant food safety risk, warns a new study from Sporometrics, an environmental microbiology lab based in Toronto, Canada.

New sanitiser to boost food hygiene standards

A new water-based surface and utensil sanitiser promises to provide UK food and drink processors with a highly effective, safe, low cost and environmentally-friendly means of maintaining secure hygiene standards, claims its manufacturer Radical.

Acrylamide reduction not uniform across foods, EFSA

There is a general trend towards lower levels acrylamide in food products over time, EFSA has observed – but the decrease is not consistent across food groups and for some levels have actually increased.

Vaccination could stop salmonella food poisoning

The world’s first vaccination against the food poisoning bug salmonella could result from new research at the Institute of Food Research (IFR), Norwich, UK.

Reusable BPA-free water bottles launched

A new range of reusable, bisphenol A-free water bottles that is claimed to keep water clean, safe and cool, has been launched by Penguin Brands.

Dispatches from Vitafoods

Inside DSM’s quality commitment

Philipp de Simone, human nutrition and health regional sales director for the east, south east and middle east at DSM Nutritional Products, tells Shane Starling why DSM’s Quality for Life initiative reaches all the way from the factory floor to finished products.

UK unveils new salt reduction targets

The Food Standards Agency has unveiled updated salt reduction targets for the food industry up to 2012, trimming back levels once more in some 80 categories of foods.

Stevia standards developer could lack future funding

Ingredient standards researcher ChromaDex Corporation has said that it anticipates significant future demand for its services, but is unsure if it can secure the capital necessary to continue expansion.

Protein-fibre combo offers ‘promising’ gluten-free options

Adding protein and fibre sources like pea protein and Psyllium fibre may improve the physical structure of gluten-free dough, and boost the nutritional content, says a new study.

Weekly comment

Different shades of green: Looking beyond carbon footprints

You can try your best to avoid it, but when it comes to measuring carbon footprint, almost everything we do these days, either as a business or individuals, is likely to have a negative impact on the environment.

Dairy could mask bitter taste of antioxidants

Milk could be the ideal functional food matrix for delivery of polyphenolic-rich antioxidant extracts, suggests new research from South America.

News in brief

FTC warns against swine flu scams

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has warned internet “pedders” to stop marketing products for the prevention of swine flu unless these are backed by science.

US grocery association launches food safety plan to cut salmonella

The US Grocery Manufacturers Association has launched what it terms “wide ranging” initiatives to step up protection against food-borne illnesses including salmonella.

World's food safety labs ready to detect melamine

Most laboratories worldwide are capable of detecting melamine in food, according to a new study by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC).

Study adds to stevia Reb A safety rep

Rebaudiside A does not pose any safety questions regarding genotoxicity, according to a new study that supports the safety profile of this up-and-coming sweetener.

Sweet solution to honey fraud

French researchers have developed a test to distinguish 100 per cent natural honeys from fake products adulterated with other substances, reports the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Developing solutions to fight food fraud

Adulteration of food proteins - as seen in the recent melamine scandal - is becoming a greater threat to industry as the food supply has become more globalized and economic crisis drives manufacturers to seek cheaper ingredients, says Jim Griffiths of US Pharmacopeia.

Antioxidants may ‘block’ benefits of exercise: Study

Supplements of antioxidant vitamins after exercise may decrease the benefits of the workout by blocking the positive effects of reactive oxygen, says a new study.

China opens new food test lab

The first food-testing laboratory in China recognised to reach international standards for pesticide screenings, melamine and heavy metal testing and microbiological analyses, was opened last month by Eurofins in Suzhou.

News in brief

Beneo labelling surging worldwide

Consumer awareness of Beneo Orafti’s inulin and oligofructose is increasing, with a reported 350 products in over 30 countries now carrying the Beneo label, says the company.

Commission takes action over nicotine mushroom mystery

The European Commission is taking risk management measures over the occurrence of high nicotine levels in wild mushrooms following an urgent investigation by EFSA, and implementing on-going monitoring.

Denmark’s excessive salt intakes turns focus on food industry

Danish intakes of salt in Denmark are above current recommended levels, with processed foods the main source, according to new findings from Copenhagen.

Weekly comment

The quiet potential of supplements and fortified foods

What do companies like Vitamin Shoppe, Johnson & Johnson, DSM, Whole Foods, NBTY and even Pfizer have in common?

Wild Flavors seeks external stevia safety stamp

Wild Flavors has said it is aggressively working toward external safety assessment of its stevia extracts as it becomes the latest company to announce the launch of a stevia flavor solutions range.

Salmonella tops EFSA’s latest disease study

Salmonella remained the European Union’s most common cause of food-borne illness in 2007, according to the latest report from the European Food Safety Authority and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

Mild bird flu identified in US breeding hens

A Tennessee flock of 15,000 breeder hens has been culled after tests revealed a mild strain of avian influenza. The birds, which were being raised under contract for Tyson Foods, showed no signs of illness and there was no threat to human health, said the company.

News in brief

Food Quality Award goes to poultry supplier

Fieldale Farms Further Processing Division in Baldwin, Georgia, US has won the prestigious Food Quality award, sponsored by DuPont Qualicon.

FDA fails to reach state food safety audit targets

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken another blow as a US news organization published figures on Thursday showing it is failing to meet its goals for auditing individual states’ food safety inspections.

Supplements are unregulated nostrums, says reputable journal

An editorial published in a reputable journal states that dietary supplements are “nostrums” that are unregulated by FDA and make vague health claims to avoid the need for validation.

Danisco yoghurt focus eyes efficiency without costing quality

Cost efficiency remains key to the development of yoghurt products, but must not be the sole consideration for dairy manufacturers, according to one supplier of cultures and processing aids.

Cost cutting must not reduce safety, quality, says expert

Food firms looking to trim costs in the recession must be sure to complete due diligence in their ingredient sourcing and not compromise the long-term image of their brands by reduced quality, warns a food chain consultant.

Romer Labs offers alternative to costly acetonitrile for mycotoxin analysis

In response to global shortages of acetonitrile and rising costs for this common solvent, diagnostic solution firm Romer Labs has rolled-out an alternative, methanol-based HPLC method to analyse mycotoxins.

Manufacturer says refinery tech aids whey process ‘purity’

A range of whey processing technology is designed to allow dairy groups to produce value-added ingredients with long-term reductions to costs and environmental impacts, according to its manufacturer.

News in brief

New caution about swine flu outbreak

It would be 'premature' to assume the swine flu virus is a mild strain simply because none of the British victims has so far died, warns Sir Liam Donaldson, the UK’s chief medical officer.

Nutrition label use a pleasant surprise for FLABEL

A new survey by FLABEL indicates widespread listing of nutritional information on food products across the EU and Turkey, with 85 per cent of goods surveyed giving info back-of-pack and 48 per cent front-of-pack.

Weekly comment

Food safety reform: Not a century too soon

On a summer’s day in 1906 Theodore Roosevelt pushed through new food safety regulation. The Food and Drugs Act passed that day over 100 years ago was the last time the US food safety system was modernized.