Breaking News on Food Safety & Quality Control

China to launch new food safety standards

China is drafting a detailed new system of food safety standards in a bid to bring them line with international regulations and restore the country’s battered reputation on the issue.

FDA considering industry guidelines for acrylamide

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering issuing guidelines on acrylamide content in food and has published a notice in the Federal Register seeking comments from industry on the issue.

FAO's concern for Asia after H1N1 virus hits Chilean turkeys

The detection of a H1N1 virus in turkeys in Chile poses no threat to the food supply chain but does raise concerns that poultry farms elsewhere in the world could become infected with the pandemic, said the FAO.

Consumers warned of arsenic and lead in 'health' drinks

UK consumers have been warned not to drink a range of clay-based beverages marketed for digestive benefits and detoxifying qualities as they contain harmful levels of arsenic and lead.

Processing under spotlight as flaws revealed in shellfish toxin testing

Industrial processing could double the level of certain marine biotoxins in shellfish a new report by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has revealed, as it called for further research on the issue.

Trans-fat free shortenings show bakery potential

A blend of trans fat-free stearic acid-rich and oleic acid-rich oils can produce cookies with the same characteristics and consumer acceptance, says new research from Canada.

Work needed for China fish processing to meet new EU rules, report

China’s fish processing industry has made considerable progress in boosting its traceability procedures but must improve further if it wants to meet new EU regulations due to come into force next year.

Low-salt bread ‘technologically feasible’, says study

Formulating breads with one quarter of current levels is possible without detrimentally affecting the rheological properties and the performance of the dough, says a new study from Ireland.

Canada adds acrylamide to toxic substance list

Health Canada has added acrylamide, a substance found in French fries and potato chips, to the government’s list of toxic substances.

SIGG removes bisphenol A on consumer anxiety

Aluminum bottle producer SIGG has removed bisphenol A (BPA) from its containers in the face of mounting consumer concern – despite no evidence of the substance leaching from the lining, said the company.

Maple Leaf apologises again for listeria outbreak

Maple Leaf Foods Inc placed full page advertisements in a number of Canadian newspapers yesterday to mark the one-year anniversary of the fatal listeriosis outbreak.

Heart charity sets strict guidelines for added sugar intake

The American Heart Association (AHA) has set down strict guidelines for added sugar intake that put a woman over the daily recommended limit for drinking just one 12-once can of regular soda.

Weekly comment

Folic acid: Old women and children first!

Look at the globe and you’d be hard pressed to find two countries further apart than Ireland and New Zealand. But they stand side-by-side on the folic acid fortification issue – it is not needed.

Australian listeria source identified

The listeria outbreak that hit five Virgin Blue airline passengers in Australia has been traced to a poultry supplier in New South Wales (NSW).

US poultry processor facing heavy fine over serious safety breaches

A poultry processing company from the US state of Georgia is facing almost $380,000 in fines for a series of “wilful and serious” health and safety violations committed over a five-year period.

News in brief

Finland found illegal GM in two food products

Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira has said found non-authorised genetically modified material in two of 29 randomly tested products in 2008.

New study exposes high levels of mercury in freshwater fish

US consumers who eat average amounts of fish could be exposed to levels of mercury that exceed the EPA criterion for the protection of people, according to a new study.

China launches new food safety reporting system

China’s State Food and Drug Administration has launched a new food safety reporting system which it has offered for public consultation.

Food safety survey finds low pesticide residues

New research from New Zealand has found minimal pesticide residues in the local food supply casting further doubt on the value of organic products.

Next generation yoghurt cultures set for global roll-out

Chr Hansen will unveil a new range of premium yoghurt cultures within weeks in response to needs identified by yoghurt producers across the globe.

India’s food industry held back by cold storage shortfall

A shortfall of 10m tons of cold storage facilities for agriculture produce is holding back the nation’s food industry including its rapidly developing food processing sector, according to a new report from financial specialists KPMG and Assocham; the country’s chambers of commerce.

White sauce stability boosted by gums

The quality and stability of white sauce – a mainstay of frozen dish formulations – could benefit from small amounts of food gums, says a new study from Spain.

Antioxidants pose no cancer danger for skin

Supplements of antioxidant vitamins and minerals are not associated with an increased risk of skin cancer, despite reports to the contrary, says a new study.

Weekly comment

Free farmers to farm and bank UK food security

How best should Britain plan to secure reliable supplies of reasonably-priced food? Should the nation put its trust in home production or food imports from the world market?

Salmonella in ground beef less resistant to heat than whole cuts, says study

New research indicates that Salmonella in whole cuts of beef is more resistant to heat treatment than it is in ground beef.

Herbal supplements are not always safe, says Mayo Clinic

A consumer health bulletin sent out this month by the Mayo Clinic warns Americans of possible health risks related to the use of herbal dietary supplements.

Big Food rallies against climate change legislation

Multinational food and agritech giants are banding together in a bid to throw light on areas of climate change legislation they warn could severely hike food prices.

Kraft reaps rewards from sustainable processing strategy

The need to maximise profit combined with a desire to help the environment have been major drivers in Kraft slashing water use in its food processing operations by more than 20 per cent in three years, the company said.

News in brief

Food marketing deals threatened by waste reduction efforts

Supermarkets in the UK could be offering half-price deals on perishable food items instead of buy one, get one free offers in an effort to reduce food waste, according to a report in Advertising Age.

Court rejects carcinogen tag for food packing chemical

A California judge has blocked a move by state environment officials to add styrene to a list of hazardous chemical, citing its vital role in food packaging as one factor.

Disagreement over why food packing additive application withdrawn

Moves to include the chemical triclosan on a European list of additives that could be authorised for use in food contact materials have been abandoned by the Swiss-based manufacturer of the substance.

Listeria risks from high pressure cleaning

Food plant managers have been cautioned that washing down floor drains with high-pressure equipment could make it easier for Listeria monocytogenes to transfer from the outlet back onto the processing line.

Food processing workers prioritised in new pesticide risk assessment

Workers in food processing plants have been included in a new assessment of acute risks posed by exposure to the most hazardous pesticides, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has said.

Pesticides debate heats up after UK’s Food Security Assessment

The European Crop Protection Association has expressed concern that restrictive EU regulation on pesticide use could stand in the way of global food security, following the UK’s Food Security Assessment.

Bisphenol A ban tabled in French parliament

France could become the first European country to ban bisphenol A (BPA) in food containers if a bill tabled by group of senators passes into law.

Weekly comment

FDA’s Commissioner Hamburg: Beefing up US food safety

It looks like the FDA has finally got some muscle. Never mind new legislation – if anything can prevent America acquiring a weedy reputation for food safety, it’s the might of Dr Margaret Hamburg.

US marshals raid filthy food plant in wake of FDA clampdown pledge

US marshals have raided a rodent-infested food processing plant in Louisiana and seized goods worth $72,000 – just 24 hours after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) vowed to get tough on companies that flout safety laws.

Supermarkets quizzed on plastic food racks over decabromodiphenyl ether health fears

An environmental group has urged dozens of major US supermarket chains to stop using plastic storage racks on concerns they may contain a toxic chemical that could leach into food.

Hamburg details FDA food safety crackdown measures

FDA chief Margaret Hamburg outlined new measures on Thursday to act “swiftly and aggressively” to crack down on firms that violate safety regulations.

News in brief

Fonterra Australia pulls custard on listeria fears

Fonterra Brands Australia has pulled tubs of its vanilla custard off supermarket shelves after a product sample tested positive for listeria monocytogenes.

Food waste depackaging companies highlighted

Detailed information outlining the technology available to remove packaging from food waste prior to anaerobic processing has been published by the UK’s Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

Processors under spotlight as food ingredient suspected in listeria outbreak

An investigation has been launched after tainted airline food was linked to a dramatic jump in listeria cases in one Australian state.

Calls for supplier relations watchdog; retailers disagree

The UK’s Competition Commission is asking government to establish an ombudsman to arbitrate in disputes between retailers and suppliers, as retailers have declined to act and the Commission does not have the power to do so itself.

Massive beef recall linked to antibiotic-resistant salmonella outbreak

California firm Beef Packers Inc has recalled over 800,000 pounds of ground beef linked to an outbreak of antibiotic-resistant salmonella that has sickened people across nine states.

UK specialty meats given clean bill of health

Almost 99 per cent of ready to eat (RTE) specialty meats sold in the UK are safe to eat, according to a new report published by the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

News in brief

Maple Leaf recalls hotdogs on listeria concerns

Maple Leaf has issued a voluntary recall of nine wiener products on fears they may be tainted with traces of listeria monocytogenes.

Food and Fairness inquiry to 'inspire and warn' manufacturers

Helen Browning, chair of the Food Ethics Council, expects the food and fairness inquiry will inspire food businesses to adopt good supply chain practices and warn them off bad ones - ultimately benefit their businesses in the long term.

Weekly comment

Downsize me! FSA right to push for smaller snacks

Chocolate bar makers should embrace the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) proposals on snack portions and adapt their supersizing skills to downsizing.

EFSA publishes data requirements for food additive approval

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published a list of data requirements that industry must submit for the assessment of food additives.

News in brief

EU omega-3 content labelling debate rolls on

A recent European Commission committee meeting has failed to reach any conclusions about mooted omega-3 nutrition labelling across the European Union bloc.

Lactose-free dairy products need more work, says study

Manufacturers should make more effort to produce good-tasting lactose-free dairy products and to educate the public about their benefits, according to a Kansas State University study.

New proposals represent shift in food safety strategy, FDA

The US Government has announced further measures to curb the spread of food-borne diseases such as E.coli just days after lawmakers approved the bill overhauling the country’s food safety system.