Breaking News on Food Safety & Quality Control

Canada’s first organic preservative and disinfectant

Efficiency and environmental protection are the twin benefits claimed for what is said to be Canada’s first organic preservative and disinfectant for use with food products from food to table.

Listeria biofilm under attack from new disinfectant

Sterilix Corporation and an ARS researcher claim to have developed a 100 per cent effective disinfectant for removing biofilms containing Listeria monocytognes from meat processing facilities.

Meat linked to increased diabetes risk: Meta-analysis

High intake of processed meat may increase the risk of developing type-2 diabetes by 40 per cent, according to a new meta-analysis from Norway and the US.

New quality claims edging out 'standard' organic and free-range

Newer food quality and ethical claims on foods are grabbing consumers’ attention away from more established claims like ‘organic’ and ‘free range’, says a new survey – but safety claims still come out top.

New pea product boosts functional fiber range

SunOpta Ingredients Group is expanding its range of functional fibers to include organic and conventional pea fiber.

Maltodextrin boosts quality of gluten-free bread: Study

Formulating gluten-free bread with maltodextrin may beneficially impact on bread volume and boost crumb hardening during storage, says a new study from Poland.

Asda green packaging scorecard to launch next year

A leading UK packaging figure has welcomed a move by Asda confirming it will be rolling out its own version of Wal-Mart’s packaging scorecard next year.

New packaging 'triples' food shelf life

New food packaging can double or, in some cases, even triple the shelf life of certain foods for up to 24 months compared with conventional packaging, claims its manufacturer Superfos.

News in brief

Beef recall on E.coli fears after 20 sickened

US company Crocetti's Oakdale Packing Co has recalled more than 1,000 lbs of beef patties after reports that more than 20 children were suffering from E.coli.

Kellogg's refutes sugar laden cereal claims

Consumers should stick to the facts and look beyond the hype in terms of the salt and sugar content of cereals, claims Kellogg’s as UK cereal manufacturers are taken to task in a Channel 4 programme.

Weekly comment

Tackling E.coli – legislation or self-regulation?

Everybody wants food to be safe - but the recent slugging match over how best to protect US consumers from E.coli-tainted meat highlights whether legislation or self-regulation is the answer to mending the country's flawed safety system.

US government and trade body clash on E-beam debate

A four-year campaign by the American Meat Institute (AMI) to have electron beam technology approved as a processing aid appears no nearer resolution after the government and the group disagreed over progress on the issue.

FDA chief calls for stronger food safety bill

A bill to overhaul the food safety system needs to be stronger and incorporate more funding, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Margaret Hamburg told a Senate committee hearing on Thursday.

Listeria in salmon killed by smoke treatment: Study

Smoking salmon at sufficiently high temperatures reduces the risk of Listeria monocytogenes, according to a new study from the Journal of Food Science, published by the Institute of Food Technologists.

Meat test rule change would prevent most E.coli, Listeria recalls

More than 80 per cent of this year’s meat recalls for E.coli and listeria could have been avoided if US authorities made companies keep hold of tested products until safety officials had given them the all clear.

Study tests emulsifier vs. enzyme performance in bread

A new study has pitted use of a Datem enzyme against three generations of lipase enzymes, and found that action on bread volume is similar - but with some differences depending on fermentation times.

Beef import rule change threat to Australian meat industry

Australia has announced it is to reopen its borders to beef imports from countries that have previously reported incidents of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

Sidel to pursue green initiatives with NAPCOR

Sidel says its decision to join the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) is motivated by the need to advance and promote the environmental credentials of PET.

US meat industry failing on E.coli testing - Senator

The lack of corporate responsibility shown by the US meat industry in failing to follow its own guidelines over E.coli testing of ground beef has forced Congress to act, according to one senator.

Baby food recalled on botulism fears

Plum Organics has recalled a batch of baby food over fears it may be tainted with botulism.

No concern over fluorinated chemical levels in food - FSA

There are no human health concerns over current dietary exposure to a range of fluorinated chemicals, such as PFOS and PFOA, the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said

New dairy partnership improves dairy product safety and shelf-life

Improved safety standards and longer shelf life are claimed to stem from a new marketing collaboration between Danisco and DuPont Qualicon. The venture matches Danisco’s patented protective cultures with DuPont’s Qualicon detection system for the early prediction of shelf life in naturally protected dairy products.

Weekly comment

Branded Corn Flakes are great for branding

Will we all be waking up bleary-eyed to bowls of tattooed Corn Flakes any time soon? Probably not, but by suggesting that we could, Kellogg’s has hit on a winning marketing ploy.

News in brief

Beef tongues recalled on BSE risk

A US company has recalled around 33,000 pounds of beef tongues that may still contain specified risk material (SRM) that could cause mad cow disease.

New eco-friendly product kills Salmonella, E.coli and, Campylobacter

A new eco-friendly technique to clean and disinfect food, particularly poultry, and food contact surfaces is effective against Salmonella, E.coli and, Campylobacter and a range other pathogens, according to EAU Technologies.

Mandatory E.coli tests no magic bullet, says US meat body

Education not legislation is the answer to tackling thousands of illnesses caused annually by E.coli-tainted beef, said the US meat industry as it resisted plans for mandatory testing for the bug.

US meat industry says beef safer than ever

US companies have made significant progress over the past decade in making meat safer but should not be obliged to publish inspection test results, said the head of a leading trade body this week.

EFSA not reconsidering new preservative ADI

EFSA has found no grounds to justify a re-evaluation of preservative ethyl lauroyl arginate following the presentation of new information on toxicology – even though its ADI is lower than those set by other authorities.

BPA review waste of money and delaying tactic - Scientists

The US Government’s review of bisphenol A (BPA) is waste of money and perhaps even a ploy to delay making a decision on the chemical, a group of 33 scientific experts have said.

FDA and USDA should cooperate for import safety: Report

The federal government needs to take action to close gaps in the US food safety network, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

Chinese funding to cut specialist food packaging imports

A Chinese packaging company said it is to receive multi-million dollar government funding to expand its operations and reduce domestic reliance on specialist packing imports.

News in brief

Thirty years of infant formula regulations

The pro-breast milk lobby is highlighting the fact it is 30 years since WHO and UNICEF-backed regulations came into play to control the content and marketing of baby milk formulas.

FDA launches a $17.5m boost to food and feed safety

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a $17.5m investment in food and feed safety standards encompassing federal, state, and local partners.

Poultry safety boosted by new hyperspectral imaging system

New technology developed by the US Government that automatically scans poultry carcasses for contamination has been successfully tested in a commercial plant.

Weekly comment

Soda tax: A lot of froth over freedom

Is taxing soda really an evil plan to curb your individual freedom? Conspiracy theories aside, perhaps it’s simply a sensible scheme to tackle obesity when personal choice has failed.

Heat foreign berries to kill norovirus, urges Finland

As an outbreak of norovirus in southern Finland has been linked to frozen raspberries from Poland, the Finnish food safety authority, Evira, says raspberries must be heated before use.

Germany backs bisphenol A in baby bottles

Germany’s risk watchdog has become the latest official body to declare that bisphenol A (BPA) is safe for “normal” use in baby bottles and should not be banned.

New multilayer food contact approved films claimed to be a breakthrough

More sustainable food packaging which delivers longer shelf life are the benefits claimed for the new multilayer films from resins supplier Cardia Bioplastics.

Indian PM calls for national food processing strategy

India urgently needs a national food processing policy which incorporates tax breaks for the sector, the nation’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told a conference of state food processing ministers this week.

News in brief

Meat partnership forged after E. coli testing agreement

Costco Wholesale Corporation has forged a partnership with food giant Tyson to buy its beef trimmings, after testing to confirm that they are free E. coli infection.

New E.coli test gets AOAC-RI validation amid renewed safety warnings

Idaho Technology’s E.coli O157:H7 test used with the RAPID LT Food Security System (FSS), which delivers results within one hour, has been validated by the independent AOAC Research Institute.

Healthy foods top CSPI’s risk list

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has released a list of the ten riskiest FDA-regulated foods, claiming that it should serve as a further call to overhaul the US food safety system.

USDA unites with FDA on new food safety rules

The US Department of Agriculture’s fresh produce chief has joined the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop new food safety rules, the departments announced in a statement on Monday.

BPA could make girls more aggressive: Study

Two-year old girls whose mothers were exposed to Bisphenol A while pregnant are more likely to show aggressive and hyperactive behaviour, according to a new study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

Weekly comment

Bad day at the EU health claims office

October 1 was not a good day for many in the functional foods and food supplements business in the European Union as the meaning of life under a highly restrictive health claims regime came more into focus.

Lecithin may boost fruit juice, sauce quality: Study

Formulating processed fruit and vegetable products with soy lecithin may enhance not only the physico-chemical properties, but also the nutritional profile, says a new study.

Microwave processing improves quality of low-acid foods

Improving the quality of low-acid foods is the main benefit claimed for the new processing technology developed by microwave specialist, Industrial Microwave Systems.

News in brief

Cellulase enzyme gets GRAS for beverages

The FDA has raised no objections to Florida-based Dyadic International’s GRAS application for it cellulase enzyme derived from a GM strain of its patented and proprietary C1 organism.

Defence plans needed to combat food terrorism, processors told

US food processors and manufacturers are being urged to implement defence plans to protect products from deliberate contamination by terrorists or disgruntled employees.

Longer shelf life for some RTE foods contributes to Listeria rise, expert

An industry expert has raised concerns about the lengthy shelf-life of some listeria-prone ready-to-eat foods (RTE) in come countries as the EU said it would help fund a pan-regional study on the issue.

FSA opposes omega-3 claims that would ‘mislead consumers’

With the doors closed on an EC meeting due to decide the future of omega-3 nutrient content claims, the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) has suggested it opposes the proposed labelling.

Nanotech research launched by US and EU

The US Government and the European Union have announced separate plans to launch studies into the possible health effects and business implications for nanotechnology.

New ad campaign to tackle ‘viral urban myths’ about HFCS

The Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) has launched a new advertising campaign in an effort to dispel consumer misconceptions about high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).