Breaking News on Food Safety & Quality Control

Reports criticise Italy, Greece for poor food safety regs

Italy is in the bad books, while Slovenia is the teacher's pet, according to European Commission's latest reports on the state of EU member states food safety regulations.

Unipektin issues recall over additive concerns

Manufacturers across Europe, Japan and Australia who used a thickening agent from Unipektin might be on the hook for recalls, after a Swiss company said the additive contained high levels of the cancer-causing chemical dioxin.

Expert comment

Nitrite free: Where does the truth end?

Cured meat products are appearing on the market as 'naturally cured', 'no nitrite added', 'without added nitrite' or even 'nitrite free' to promote a health image to consumers. Industry expert Gerhard Feiner believes such statements can be misleading.

Membrane closure designed for convenience

A new peelable membrane closure for heat-and-eat food is designed for convenience and to withstand thermal processing.

Dual beam x-ray improves detection accuracy

A new x-ray system uses two beams to achieve dual detection for increased accuracy and improved product quality, its manufacturer claims.

Tiny devices developed for pathogen detection

Scientists in Denmark have created two tiny devices, which they have leveraged to detect a range of contaminants, from molecules to whole bacteria, in food and water.

Bovine gelatin spray used to extend meat shelf life

Bovine gelatin sprayed on meat extends shelf life, according to a new study.

New rates for meat inspections set to take effect

Increased charges in the UK for inspecting meat slaugherhouses and processing plants are set to come into effect next year.

ISO standard set for food traceability

A new international standard has been set for traceability along the food chain, setting out a complete system under which processors can get certification.

Scientists look to salt to reduce acrylamide

Salt may act as a catalyst in the polymerisation, and therefore reduction, of acrylamide in foods, suggests a new study from the Slovak Republic.

Biopolymers developed to extend probiotic shelf life

A line of biopolymer ingredients under development will allow probiotics to be used in more foods than is presently possible.

One audit, multiple certifications

One audit can achieve multiple food safety certifications under a new global service offered by a Switzerland-based company.

Companies need to regain public trust, survey shows

Public apathy has set in over the safety of the food supply due to the soaring number of scares and recalls, according to a UK survey.

Polymer opal films shed light on spoiled foods

New polymer opal films use nanotechnology to change colour, a quality that can be used to indicate when foods have become spoiled, say scientists.

Sorter weeds out the rejects in coffee processing

A new machine is the first to sort reject materials from coffee beans by colour and shape, its manufacturer claims.

Water vending machine uses RFID to track bottles

Healthy, environmentally friendly and delivered in a minimum time period - a new water vending machine uses radio frequency identification (RFID) to hit all the market trends.

Weekly Comment

Could the E-number be up?

The European Food Safety Authority's review of additive safety could have a bigger effect on the ingredients industry than the ejection of certain colours and flavours with a suspect safety record. It could give the natural ingredients trend an extra push, and possibly prove the death-knell for the ne'er loved E number system.

UN bodies call for tougher food safety legislation

Tougher legislation and more inspections are needed to prevent the up to 200 food safety incidents reported internationally, according to two UN bodies.

EU launches consultation on nanotech code

The EU yesterday launched a consultation on a voluntary code of conduct researchers and companies can use when developing nanotechnolgy products.

UK regulator to charge fees for meat inspections

The UK will begin charging meat processors fees for inspections and assessing plants based on the potential risk manufactured products pose to public health.

Cheese makers face raft of legal changes

Proposed changes to international food safety standards could affect the way cheese makers sell their products worldwide.

Japanese x-ray system tops Danish meat tests

A Japanese manufactured food x-ray system has been rated number one in performance tests by the Danish Meat Association.

Scientific panel advises keeping ban on growth hormones

New scientific studies do not provide enough evidence for the EU to amend its ban on the use of growth promoting hormones in cattle, the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) has concluded.

Palladium insert developed as oxygen scavenger

A UK company has developed a palladium insert, which it claims is a more efficient method of scavenging oxygen in filled bottles or packages, helping to extend shelf life.

Court fines Cadbury 1.5m over salmonella contamination

A UK court yesterday fined Cadbury-Schweppes £1m (€1.5m) for knowingly allowing salmonella-contaminated chocolates to be sold to the public last year.

High GI diet linked to poor eye health

Eating a diet with a high glycemic index may increase the risk of developing advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD), says a new study from Tufts University.

EU examines tougher biosecurity measures for food

The EU is moving closer to implementing measures to protect the food chain from a terrorist attack, by publishing a discussion paper on stepped up security measures that would affect manufacturers.

Qualification offered for food hygiene managers

A new certification for hygiene managers targets those responsible for managing and assessing food safety at manufacturing operations.

Pepsi and others settle benzene lawsuit

PepsiCo and several other soft drink manufacturers have agreed to a settlement in a lawsuit brought against the companies alleging their products contained cancer-causing benzene.

Gas detection unit eliminates need for multiple detectors

A new monitoring system for toxic and flammable gases eliminates the need for processors to install multiple fixed detectors, its manufacturer claims.

EU should not relax safety standards, say food technologists

The European Commission should not relax international food safety standards for small food businesses, food technologists said in a statement this week.

Pathogen resistance to drugs rising, according to UK study

Up to 29 per cent of the Campylobacter pathogen are now resistant to a commonly used antimicrobial, according to a UK survey.

EU Parliament votes for tougher additives regulation

The European Parliament this week voted through four regulations relating to food ingredients - on authorisation procedure, additives, enzymes and flavourings - with notable amendments aimed at providing a heightened level of consumer protection across the bloc.

Researchers developing phage weapons against biofilms

Bacteriophage viruses can be engineered to attack and destroy biofilms -- hard to remove pathogens stuck on machinery and other surfaces in manufacturing plants -- according to new research.

Dryer uses less energy and compressed air

A new dryer has been designed to use less energy and compressed air than existing products on the market, its manufacturer claims.

Fish oil suppliers not motivated to meet hygiene deadline

The Global Organisation for EPA and DHA Omega-3 (GOED) has added its voice to concerns that the new EU hygiene laws will spell a European wide shortage of omega-3.

EFSA condemns Red 2G colour as carcinogen

EFSA has issued a damning opinion on the safety of food colour Red 2G (E128), the first under its reassessment programme and a strong indication of a sea-change in the use of additives in processed foods.

Codex adopts standards, sets risk analysis principles

The adoption of 44 new and amended food safety standards by the Codex Alimentarius Commission signals the coming changes that member countries will make to their legislation over the next year.

Weekly comment

The aspartame science kerfuffle

The publication of a new animal study on aspartame last month has - as expected -sparked yet another bout of head butting from the two opposing sides of the debate. But it also highlights a bigger issue: one of transparency.

New meat packaging for both convenience and safety

The new multi-layer packaging tub from RPC Bebo Plastik provides easy product access without scrimping on health and safety issues, the manufacturer claims.

New technology to prevent vegetables from browning

New food wrappings for vegetables will reduce browning and increase shelf-life, the manufacturers claim.

Oxygen restriction feeds Listeria bacteria

When Listeria pathogen are starved of oxygen, they become 100 times more powerful, according to a scientific study.

China standards unveiled, but safety woes continue

As China unveils a raft of changes to food safety standards, its inspectors are investigating the excess additives and preservatives found in children's snacks made in the country.

Law sets out chemical migration limits for gaskets

New UK legislation lays down transitional migration limits for plasticisers in lid gaskets.

Cadbury pleads guilty to all salmonella charges

Cadbury yesterday is to plead guilty to six additional salmonella charges over an outbreak in the Herefordshire factory last year.

Food safety requirements add value, says meat association

International food safety requirements can help make processors more efficient, according to a report by the UK's Red Meat Industry Forum (RMIF).

Sampler tests air for pathogens

A new automatic air sampler is designed to monitor pathogens at food manufacturing sites.

New Zealand campylobacter fight shows early promise

New Zealand's fight against campylobacter is beginning to show signs of promise, after years of problems, the national regulator said last week.

Weekly comment

M&A: Urge to merge

Mergers and acquisition activity is always ongoing in every segment of industry, but this summer looks to be a particularly hot one for food and beverage manufacturers.