Breaking News on Food Safety & Quality Control

Headlines > September 2012

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28-Sep-2012

Kiwi authorities crack down on unlawful infant formula exports

New Zealand authorities have begun action to stop unlawful exports of infant formula to China, after trade bodies blamed these for severely undermining the southern nation’s reputation for food safety....

27-Sep-2012

FSANZ approved Fonterra's application after "no health and safety concerns" were identified.

FSANZ approves Fonterra hydrogen peroxide processing aid application

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has approved an application from dairy giant Fonterra to use hydrogen peroxide as a processing aid to control lactic acid-producing micro-organisms during the manufacture...

Standard tray covered with a film (left) tray with polymer matrix covered by lid (right). Picture courtesy of Sven Saengerlaub

Researchers create novel humidity regulating films to stop water vapour condensation

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany have created humidity regulating films incorporating salts that absorb water vapour leading to extended shelf life and better product appeal.

26-Sep-2012

News in brief

FSIS announces changes for Listeria product sampling

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is to change the current procedures for Listeria moncytogenes product sampling.

The controversial study on Monsanto's GM maize has led to a temporary Russian ban on the product.

Russia bans GM maize in wake of controversial Monsanto cancer study

Russian authorities have places a temporary ban on imports of genetically-modified maize produced by Monsanto in the wake of last weeks’ controversial GM cancer study.

Multistate venture aims to boost food safety research

Three US universities have joined forces in a bid to strengthen food safety research and ensure experts state-wide work together.

New products boosting food safety sales – Neogen

Revenues increased 17% from products used to detect pathogens such as E.coli and Salmonella, boosting Food Safety segment results, said Neogen.

25-Sep-2012

CFIA expands beef recall for seventh time

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has expanded the recall of beef products potentially infected with E.coli for the seventh time to include more than 250 products.

24-Sep-2012

UK food manufacturer fined after worker severs finger in machine

A UK food manufacturer has been fined £2,000 after an employee severed her finger in an inadequately guarded machine.

Salmonella outbreak likely to increase due to lack of control measures, says scientific report

Further cases of a strain of Salmonella are likely to be reported as the outbreak continues in Europe with no control measures yet in place, warned two European agencies.

21-Sep-2012

salmonella

Illumina secures five year, $17m FDA contract

Illumina has been awarded a five-year contract worth up to $17m from the US FDA to provide equipment for conducting whole genome analysis of all strains, species and products

News in brief

Forever Cheese discontinues products linked to listeria outbreak

Forever Cheese has cut ties with one of its suppliers after Ricotta Salata cheese was identified as the source of an outbreak of listeria in the US that has been...

FSANZ calls for submissions on Listeria

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today called for submissions on plans to review existing limits for Listeria monocytogenes in ready to eat foods.

20-Sep-2012

Pernod Ricard subsidiary slams Czech spirits ban

Pernod Ricard’s Czech subsidiary Jan Becher (JBKB) says the Czech government’s decision to ban all strong spirit sales in the country, following 20+ methanol-related deaths linked to local bootleg liquor,...

FDA nearing decision on federal standards for arsenic in rice

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering new standards for the levels of arsenic in rice but said yesterday that it does not have enough evidence yet.

News in brief

FSA strengthens ACNFP committee

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has appointed six members to the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP).

EFSA approves increased levels of herbicide

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has approved an application to modify the existing maximum residue level (MRL) for pyridate in celery leaves (dill leaves).

19-Sep-2012

Czech methanol liquor deaths spur FSA warning

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) is advising travelers to the Czech Republic to avoid locally produced bootleg spirits following a spate of methanol poisonings the country and over 20...

Cold atmospheric plasma potential yet to be fully unlocked for detecting Salmonella

Researchers have found cold atmospheric plasmas (CAP) can tackle Salmonella but the bacteria can ‘hide’ in the bumps of strawberries and the pores in lettuce leaves.

18-Sep-2012

Millions of Europeans still at heart disease risk from trans fat

Millions of Europeans are still at increased risk of heart disease due to consumption of artificial trans fatty acids, according to a new pan-European review published in BMJ Open.

17-Sep-2012

News in brief

3M Listeria assay given certification

3M Food Safety has received AOAC-PTM Certification for its Molecular Detection Assay Listeria for Environmental Testing.

Neogen pathogen DNA confirmation method receives letter of no objection

Neogen Corporation has announced it has received a letter of no objection for its pathogen DNA confirmation method which produces results in 24 hours.

14-Sep-2012

Cargill: 'We found that in a month’s time the issue was in consumers’ rear view mirror and fading fast'

Some customers are interested in reintroducing finely textured beef post ‘pink slime’ debacle, says Cargill

Some customers have expressed an interest in re-introducing finely textured beef (FTB) to their ground beef products after a media storm over ‘pink slime’ prompted many to drop it earlier...

AMI: “BPI is exercising its right to seek recourse from ABC for the unprecedented and, in our view, unbalanced coverage, of this safe and nutritious beef product."

Beef Products Inc: We were an American success story… until March 7, 2012

The true extent of the financial and human catastrophe that engulfed lean finely textured beef (LFTB) maker Beef Products Inc (BPI) as a result of the 'pink slime' media storm...

13-Sep-2012

Beef Products Inc files defamation lawsuit v ABC News over 'pink slime' reports: 'Our world was turned upside down'

Lean finely textured beef maker (LFTB) Beef Products Inc. has filed a defamation lawsuit against ABC News alleging its “false and disparaging" news reports about ‘pink slime’ defamed its products...

Food safety ultimately the producers responsibility, says professor

The ultimate responsibility for food safety lies with producers and not auditors, inspectors or government agencies, according to Doug Powell from Kansas State University.

Global food security challenge creates food industry opportunities, says UK government

The challenges of global food security present real opportunities for the food and farming industries, the UK government has said in its response to the Environmental Audit Committee’s Sustainable Food...

Picture of the recalled cheese courtesy of the FDA

Listeria outbreak in tainted cheese linked to at least one death

Imported Ricotta Salata cheese has been identified as the source of an outbreak of listeria across 11 US states and has been linked to at least one death.

12-Sep-2012

News in brief

LPS Laboratories expands cleaning options

LPS Laboratories has expanded its range of chemical solutions to assist food processing plants in meeting HACCP standards.

11-Sep-2012

FDA reinspection fees: “No one knows how many hours/people/travel FDA is going to bill you for.”

Attorney: FSMA delay no reason to bury your head in the sand. Get your house in order now!

Just because food manufacturers are still waiting for the devil to emerge from the detail of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) does not mean there is nothing they can...

Bottled beer recalled from UK supermarkets due to glass contamination fears

Sainsbury's, Tesco and Asda are among six UK supermarkets that have had to withdraw bottles of beer over fears they may contain pieces of glass due to a manufacturing fault.

News in brief

Beer-imitating bath oil could cause pneumonia: German authorities

German authorities have notified the European Commission about the potential health risk posed by a Czech-produced bath oil identified as a food imitating product – in this case beer.

10-Sep-2012

Live worms in milk ‘impossible’ - Mengniu

Chinese dairy giant Mengniu Dairy Co. has denied a claim that live worms were found in a carton of its milk, stating that it would be “impossible” for the creatures to...

07-Sep-2012

Britvic Ireland downplays latest Ballygowan ‘off odor’ recall

Britvic Ireland told BeverageDaily.com today that the ‘off odor’ problem that led it to recall a third batch of Ballygowan mineral water yesterday related to a small-scale quality issue and...

News in brief

EPA increases ammonia level

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has increased the maximum allowable concentration in processed food of ammonia, which is used to clean food processing equipment and food contact surfaces.

06-Sep-2012

Survey pinpoints listeria weak points at fish plants

Research has revealed the areas in smoked fish processing plants most vulnerable to contamination by the hostile microbe Listeria monocytogenes.

05-Sep-2012

Ethylene sensor and RFID tag slashes food waste

US researchers have built an ethylene detecting sensor that communicates with an RFID tag to reduce food waste in the supply chain.

UK calls for more research on toxiplasma

More detailed research on toxoplasma in food is needed, according to a risk profile report delivered by the UK’s Advisory Committee on The Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF).

03-Sep-2012

News in brief

Invisible Sentinel establishes pilot manufacturing facility ahead of product launch

Invisible Sentinel has established a pilot manufacturing facility to supply customers with foodborne pathogen detection systems ahead of product launches later this year.

FSA Scotland report identifies gaps in E.coli knowledge

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) in Scotland has published a report identifying knowledge gaps and future research areas on a group of E.coli.

Microwave sterilization system rolled out in US

A developer of microwave food sterilization technology has rolled out its first commercial system after 15 years in development.

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