Breaking News on Food Safety & Quality Control

News in brief

Danone unit recalls infant formula after blending error

Medical nutrition group Nutricia is recalling a batch of specialized infant formula in the US after a manufacturing error was found to have impacted ingredient levels in the formulation.

Inside-out approach to frozen food quality

Advanced Food Systems is to help food manufacturers overcome some of the quality problems of frozen foods, with custom-made systems to prevent freezer burn, protein damage and loss of color and flavor.

News in brief

FDA develops new ways to spread recall information

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a strategic plan for risk communication that outlines ways in which it will let consumers and health professionals know about the products it regulates.

Microwaving frankfurters cuts Listeria risk – Study

Microwaving frankfurter sausages or hotdogs for 75 seconds at high power can boost protection from pathogens like Listeria that cause food-borne illnesses, a new study has found.

News in brief

Floods disrupt Kellogg efforts to restart plant after Listeria probe

The Kellogg waffle plant in the United States at the centre of the Listeria probe remains closed after efforts to bring it back on line were halted by severe flooding in the region.

Weekly comment

The benefits of a probiotic witch hunt

Get your pitchforks ready! There are evil-doers out there! We’ve been conned: Probiotics don’t work. Dannon’s settling out of court, EFSA’s rejecting health claims, and the media is starting a witch hunt.

Better, cheaper, quicker food allergen tests on the way

Food processors could soon be able to detect minute traces of food allergens in their products on site and within minutes, thanks to a new test system under development in Germany.

National Starch creates animal free emulsifier for instant foods

National Starch has developed a new fat encapsulation system for instant desserts or other dried products that replaces animal derived ingredients like sodium caseinate.

Edible apple film wraps could boost meat safety

Apple-based edible films containing plant antimicrobials could protect red meat and poultry against harmful bacteria including E. coli and Listeria, according to a study published in the Journal of Food Science.

EFSA rejects report on BSE risks from sausage casings

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has rejected the conclusions of a Swiss report saying that sausage casings sourced from cattle intestines pose negligible BSE related risks.

Emulsifier alternative slices cost of bread production

DSM Food Specialties says it has developed a new enzyme preparation which will offer bread manufacturers a "cost-effective and sustainable alternative" to emulsifiers CSL and SSL (calcium and sodium stearoyl lactylate).

New disinfectant system aims to cut preservative use

Indag, a subsidiary of natural ingredients supplier Wild, has developed a new disinfectant system to clean bottle mouths and closures continuously, even during production.

NZ’s ‘outdated’ Food Act to be replaced to lift safety standards

The New Zealand government has pledged to update what it describes as its “outdated” 28-year-old Food Act to make it more relevant to businesses and consumers while improving safety standards.

PepsiCo imports fail Chinese quality control

Global drinks giant PepsiCo is one of a number of western companies whose imported food and beverage products have failed Chinese quality inspection tests, reports Shanghai Daily, one of the country’s two leading English language newspapers.

News in brief

EU votes against bluefin tuna ban

A proposal to temporarily ban international trade in bluefin tuna to allow stocks to recuperate suffered a blow this week, when member states voted against them.

Health Canada proposes allergen labeling for mustard

Health Canada has said it is developing new allergen labeling regulations, adding mustard as a priority allergen under proposals released by the agency on Monday.

US meat body demands E-beam irradiation decision

US authorities should stop dragging their feet and speed up the rule-making process to allow electron beam irradiation to be used in beef processing, said the American Meat Institute (AMI).

Codex can unite Asian food regulations

The importance of the Codex Alimentaria in developing regulatory harmony in a region like Asia where rules differ so greatly, has been emphasised at a recent event hosted by the Asian arm of Belgian consultancy, EAS.

New gluten to offer formulation enhancements

A low-salt, low-fat gluten ingredient is being developed in Australia, with the potential to offer formulators a product with a lighter colour and enhanced texture.

Weekly comment

Are health claims curbing freedom of speech?

The US FDA is being sued over its health claims regime – actions that are unlikely to succeed according to most pundits – but they raise serious questions about healthy food messaging and free speech that are being felt globally.

GM could save US wheat industry, says report

Biotechnology (GM) could reverse the decline in US wheat production and safeguard supplies for the food chain, a new report has concluded.

Quorn manufacturer faces lawsuit

Quorn Foods is facing a class action lawsuit filed by an Arizona woman who claims the main ingredient in the company’s meat substitute products made her violently ill.

News in brief

FSA advises on sustainable fish choices

The UK’s Food Standards agency is sticking by its advice for people to eat at least two fish portions a week, of which one should be oily – but is highlighting the need for sustainable choices.

Chemical industry rejects ‘lies’ allegation over BPA bill defeat

Chemical industry representatives have vigorously denied allegations that it used dirty tricks to convince Californian lawmakers not to pass a bill to ban bisphenol A (BPA).

Legume ‘milk’ may cut costs and dairy from chocolate

Vegetable milk made from a blend of peanuts and cowpea may offer an alternative to dairy for milk chocolate formulations, suggests a new study from Ghana.

UK to explore consumer views on GM food

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has announced the formation of an independent steering group to engage with consumers over genetic modification.

Meat additives not linked to brain tumours: Study

Intakes of nitrates and nitrites from processed meats, fruit and vegetables do not increase the incidence of brain tumours, says a new study from Imperial College London and Harvard.

News in brief

UK launches on-line vacuum packing course

A new online training course about vacuum packing and modified atmosphere packing of food has been developed by the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Amino acids may cut acrylamide, boost flavour

Proline, an amino acid found in wheat flour, may reduce the formation of acrylamide by 80 per cent, suggests new research from the UK.

Industry applauds Canada’s C$75m food safety overhaul

The food processing industry in Canada has welcomed a move by the government to boost food safety in the country with a C$75m overhaul of the system.

New cranberry technology tackles tartness

A Wisconsin-based company claims it has developed a method to significantly reduce cranberry acidity without using chemicals or additives, which could lead to low- and no-sugar cranberry products.

Weekly comment

Bisphenol A: Hearts versus minds

Forget GMO and nanotechnology - the biggest food safety issue of our times is bisphenol A (BPA).

California rejects bill to ban bisphenol A

The bid to pass a law banning bisphenol A (BPA) in California failed on Friday triggering a bitter backlash from it supporters who accused the chemical industry of dirty tricks in order to defeat the measure.

News in brief

Chinese ingredients: Quality assurance efforts to expand, says NPA

US-based dietary supplement trade group Natural Products Association (NPA) will be expanding its activity in China, together with its efforts to safeguard the supply chain for natural products.

GM seeds threaten food supply, claim researchers

Modern seed companies are reducing crop diversity – and this could have serious consequences for food supply as the climate heats up, researchers claimed at the World Seed Conference in Rome this week.

New pathogen detection system fastest and most comprehensive, says company

A new food pathogen detection system that its manufacturers claim is the fastest and most comprehensive available has been awarded its US patent.

News in brief

FDA and USDA launch joint food safety website

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) have launched a joint website in order to highlight the latest food safety and recall information to consumers.

BPA admission threatens crisis for Sigg

Sigg chief Steve Wasik has made a second apology over revelations that linings of company’s older water bottles contain bisphenol A - in a bid to stem mounting fury that threatens to plunge the firm into crisis.

Premier Foods forges cutting edge traceability deal

Premier Foods has devised a bespoke traceability system for its Hovis bread range in partnership with global supply chain firm Zetes.

California poised to decide on BPA ban

The controversy over the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging looks set to take centre stage again with the California State Assembly due to decide today on whether to ban the chemical.

Paul Lippke Handels launches headspace analyser

Paul Lippke Handels has launched a fast, versatile and easy-to-use packaging headspace analyser aimed at small firms and start-up businesses on tight budgets.

Smart RFID sensors promise cheaper food and less waste

Lower food prices and less waste thanks to low-cost, smart sensors using Radio Frequency ID (RFID) technology could result from pioneering work at the University of Manchester, UK.

Weekly comment

Acrylamide: The consumer health scare that isn’t

Consumers love to get their teeth into a good health scare. So how is it that acrylamide has slipped under the radar?

FDA imposes 24hr deadline on food safety reporting

Legislation has come into force requiring food companies to report potentially dangerous products to the FDA within 24 hours of discovery.

More pesticide residue allowed on citrus, rules EPA

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has increased the tolerated level of pesticide residue for citrus fruits and oils, following a petition from Dow AgroSciences.

Better quality Balkan foods since accession

Increased imports and competition in food trade has pushed up quality in Central European and Balkan countries since EU enlargement, says a new study.

Nearly a third of Americans ‘very or extremely’ worried about food safety

As a high profile food safety bill awaits consideration in the Senate, a new survey shows the number of Americans who are very or extremely concerned about food safety has remained constant since late 2007 – at about a third.

Kellogg plant halts production on listeria discovery

Kellogg has shutdown production at one of its US food plants after the discovery of listeria there by health inspectors.

Cereal makers lobby FSA to stop salt warning ads

Leading cereal manufacturers in the UK are meeting the Food Standards Agency (FSA) today to urge the body to pull a £3m (€3.44m) advertising campaign on salt consumption.

E-numbers scrutinised via iPhone apps

New applications for iPhone are giving consumers instant access to information on food additives by entering the E-number – but there are questions about the science used to support the safety opinions.

Research shows US consumers ‘unaware of acrylamide’

The majority of US consumers are unaware of acrylamide even as major North American governments are taking action to deal with the suspected carcinogen, according to new consumer research.

Loma launches X-ray, metal detection systems

Loma Systems has expanded its x-ray and metal detection offering for food manufacturers with the launch of the Loma X4 SideShoot, Loma X4 FinePitch x-rays and IQ3+ PipeLine metal detector.

Human health risk from certain GM fish - Study

The commercial breeding cretain species of GM fish should be approached with caution on fears they could pose a health risk to humans and threaten natural breeds, new research has said.

Weekly comment

Sugar and strife – not so nice if the price is not right

Sugar politics means high prices are a bitter pill for US and Indian sweet food and beverage makers; while the European industry is sitting pretty on the back of the recent sugar reforms.

News in brief

Health Canada begins acrylamide monitoring

Health Canada has begun the first phase of its monitoring program for acrylamide content, following the chemical’s inclusion on the nation’s toxic substance list last week.