Breaking News on Food Safety & Quality Control

Clean safety profile for HPMC as a food ingredient

A safety assessment of the widely used hydrocolloid hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) has shown that everyday intake is well below any level that may cause safety concerns.

China defends its food safety to WHO

China has defended its food safety standards in a notice sent to the World Health Organisation (WHO), while another food safety official has been sent to prison for bribery charges.

DSM gains application IP rights for asparaginase use

DSM Food Specialities has reached an agreement with Frito-Lay and Proctor & Gamble that gives it intellectual property rights to use asparaginase, the enzyme that underlies its acrylamide-reducing PreventASe preparation, in food products.

Guide details the science of keeping meat safe

Innovations in fighting food-borne pathogens means that meat products are safer than ever before, according to a new guide designed for the industry..

Online recall reporting system launched

A new reporting system launched today for food and feed recalls in the UK is designed to help businesses comply with safety regulations.

Donut company develops new zero trans oil

US-based Dunkin' Brands has developed a new oil in order to create trans-free fat bakery products without sacrificing quality, flavour and taste, the company said this week.

Food film for fresher fruit

New flexible packaging film allows fresh produce to be sold as "convenience" food, as it preserves fruit and vegetables for longer, the manufacturers claim.

Weekly comment

Is it harsh? Is it fair? No it's a consumer watchdog

In 1993, it seemed superheroes had reached their lowest peak when Superman was slain by an unstoppable monster known as "Doomsday".

Breaded food fryer reduces oil use claims manufacturer

A new fryer can reduce the amount of oil needed to cook breaded foods, the manufacturer claims.

Public-friendly report calls for nanotechnology research

The European Commission has ordered a re-write of its report calling for more risk assessment of Nanotechnology, aiming to make the subject understandable for industry and the public.

Foot and Mouth restrictions eased

The European Commission yesterday announced that UK exports of live animals and meat and dairy products will resume, with the exception of a 10km zone in Surrey.

DNA tests grant ingredient authenticity

New DNA testing methods ensure that manufacturers can identify raw ingredients correctly, saving them both time and money, the developer claims.

NZ officials dismiss aspartame-formaldehyde link

A link between the aspartame and formaldehyde by an organic group has been dismissed as scaremongering in a statement issued by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) this week.

Wash and go drum for conveyer systems

A new self-cleaning drum, used to drive conveyors, can improve hygiene in plants and reduce the labour required for cleaning, its manufacturer claims.

Packaging mark to authenticate Chinese food

A new mark required on the packaging of Chinese food exports from next month will allow importers to tell certified products from fakes, according to food safety officials.

Codex date set for milk agenda talks

The latest round of talks designed to set out more international standards for the manufacturing of milk products will take place from 4 to 8 February in New Zealand, it emerged this week.

Microbiological analysis advice for meat, eggs

A new publication, focusing on microbiological analysis, advises meat and egg processors on how to use the technology to prevent contamination and food-borne illnesses such as salmonella.

Pectin shows potential against prostate cancer

Pectin, a type of fibre found in fruits and vegetables and may induce programmed cell death in prostate cancer cells, suggests a new laboratory study from the US.

Technology tests cheese with ease, says manufacturer

A new system of screening and testing cheese can offer processors a cost effective way of driving large-scale innovation within their products, its manufacturer claims.

Anti-counterfeit technology for alcohol

Heat-shrink labels with integrated holograms will help the wine and spirits industry in the fight against counterfeiting and forgery, the manufacturers claim.

Almonds must be pasteurized as of September, says USDA

A request for a delay in the implementation of new pasteurization requirements for almonds has been rejected by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which has said that the new requirements will come into effect on September 1, 2007.

Whole milk passes UK junk food test

Whole milk will not be blacklisted as a product unsuitable to be advertised on children's television in the UK, the Food Standards Agency has revealed.

New Zealand tests find pesticide residue levels are safe

Pesticide residues largely comply with legal limits, according to the results of food tests conducted by New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) published yesterday.

All Chinese exports to be checked from September

Samples from every Chinese food shipment to the US and other countries will be tested for safety under new requirements by Chinese officials from 1 September, according to senior Chinese trade official based in Washington.

New guide to advise on harmful pathogens

A new guide to microbiological food safety aims to help food processors eliminate the pathogens in fruit and vegetables that cause food-borne diseases such as E-coli, salmonella and cholera.

Aquanova intros next-generation preservatives with nanotechnology

German ingredients firm Aquanova has found a way to extend the use of preservatives sorbic and benzoic acid into foods with a high pH using its NovaSOL nanotechnology.

Economy x-ray inspects and detects

A new economy inspection system uses x-ray to check products for contaminants and other defects, its manufacturer claims.

Court favours Danone in 'cancer water' case

A court in Argentina has dismissed allegations against Danone that it had engaged in unfair trade practices in the country against rival Coca-Cola.

Weekly Comment

A helping hand to the confused consumer

Consumers are bombarded with an overload of nutritional advice and product marketing - be it from magazines, television shows, and product advertising - and without a degree in nutritional science, it's a wonder they can make sense of it at all.

New spray system for industry tanks

A new monitoring device can monitor the operation of tank cleaning systems from the outside, potentially saving the cost of having to make modifications to the equipment.

EU concerns over EFSA costs

EU member countries are concerned about the feasibility of companies paying fees to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for vetting ingredients, packaging and food contact materials for use in the bloc.

UK a high risk foot and mouth zone

The European Commission this week declared that the UK, excluding Northern Ireland, is a high risk zone, as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) spreads across potentially three UK farms.

Hose reduces mineral residue, says manufacturer

A new hosedown station is designed to reduce the effects of scaling and mineral build-up, a common problem when cleaning large areas regularly.

The Philippines bans UK meat

The country today banned manufacturers from importing pork products from the UK, according to local news reports, as apprehension over foot and mouth (FMD) spreads across Asia.

Steam cooker enables even, safe processing

A new cooker injects steam into processed food during mixing to evenly distribute the heat, its manufacturer claims.

New bacteria sensor fights disease

US researchers claim to have invented a new 'food freshness sensor' that can accurately detect spoiled food, and so help in the battle against food poisoning.

US pledges to help China tackle food safety

The US will help China improve the safety of its food and drug exports, the country's health chief said in a statement released in Beijing.

Taste of the orient could reduce acrylamide formation

Extracts of green tea and bamboo leaf could reduce acrylamide formation in foods, suggests a new study from China.

Process eliminates allergens in peanuts, claims scientist

Details remain unclear about the claims by a North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University researcher that he has developed a process to make allergen-free peanuts.

Australian proposals target acrylamide and GM

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (Fsanz) is considering five new ingredients and additives for use by the food industry, the regulator announced today.

New temperature device for freezers

A new panel-mounted device for cold storage equipment can download temperatures directly on to a computer, making record keeping faster and more accurate.

EU bans UK exports after FMD scare

The European Commission has now banned all UK exports of live animals, as well as meat and dairy products, after Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) was found on a UK farm last Friday, according to Forbes magazine.

Weekly Comment

Reflections from IFT

As the dust settles on this year's IFT Food Expo 2007 in Chicago, health and wellness and food safety came through as the star performers, and drivers for the future of the industry.

Study examines effect of chemicals in baby foods

A new EU-funded study on infants will examine the impact on the health of newborns of chemicals currently found in baby foods.

NSF to buy CMi in bid to extend food safety certification

Certification and testing agency NSF will buy CMi, under an agreement that would create a global food safety assurance company.

New ingredient may reduce fat bloom in chocolate

A new multi-mineral ingredient can improve fat bloom resistance in chocolate, while boosting the mineral content of the products, according to the manufacturer.

Unsafe levels of Bisphenol A found in humans, scientists say

Human exposure to food packaging chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) is higher than levels found to have caused cancer in laboratory animals, according to new scientific studies.

Trans-fats should be banned - expert at IFT

Limiting and labelling trans fatty acids in food is not enough, and they should be banned, a leading epidemiologist from Harvard told attendees at IFT Food Expo 2007.