Canadian groups join to tackle E.coli

A funding program has been launched in Canada aimed at the development of tests to detect E.coli during food production.

Combined method reduces E.coli on spinach, finds study

Combining continuous ultrasound treatment with chlorine washing can reduce E.coli on spinach leaves, according to US scientists.

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Operational Efficiency 2012: Free Access To Today's First Ever Dedicated Online Event!

Register now for free access to today's first ever online event devoted to Operational Efficiency in food and beverage processing, organized by FoodProductionDaily.com and William Reed Business Media.

OSHA cites chemical manufacturer after explosion

A chemical manufacturer has been handed proposed penalties of nearly $80,000 following an explosion at one of its facilities in May.

Advent calendar chocolates present cancer risk, says consumer group

Potentially cancerous mineral oils have been found in advent calendar chocolates including ones from Nestlé, Mondelez and Lindt, leading a consumer group to call for manufacturers and packaging firms to...

Advent calendar chocolates safe, says BDSI

The German Confectionery Association (BDSI) has said that chocolates in advent calendars pose no health risk after a consumer group linked products to ‘cancerous’ mineral oils.

Smoked salmon business prosecuted after worker’s injury

The owner of a UK smoked salmon business has been ordered to pay more than £1,500 after a worker was injured when his hand was caught and crushed in machinery.

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McDonald's restaurant linked to salmonella outbreak

McDonald's is at the centre of an investigation of an outbreak of salmonella at one of its restaurants in Illinois.

Thermo Scientific unveils x-ray machine with no lead curtains

The touchless x-ray inspection system reduces product damage due to its design and the lack of lead curtains, according to Thermo Scientific.

Areas of action to prevent foodborne illness identified at BfR conference

A panel of scientists have identified hygiene, diagnostic methods and outbreak investigations as key areas that need action to prevent foodborne infections.

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FSA research call over lack of BFR information

The UK Food Standards Agency has issued a research call on brominated flame retardants (BFRs) due a lack of information about their effect on food.

CFIA shutters plant linked to listeria risk

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has suspended the licence of a meat processing company after finding listeria monocytogenes on the sleeve of an employee.  

Arla teams up with Fonterra and Foss to develop milk screening method

Arla Foods and Fonterra have teamed up with Danish analytical solutions provider Foss to develop a screening method to determine whether milk has been tampered with for financial gain.

Researchers show natural microbial agents in packaging can extend shelf life of salmon

Researchers in Chile have invented a system incorporating natural microbial agents in a polymeric structure aimed at increasing the shelf life of refrigerated fresh salmon.

Set maximum arsenic and mercury levels for infant cereals, say researchers

A Spanish study has called for European rules on mercury and arsenic in infant cereal in light of high - in some cases ‘risk’ - levels found, particularly in organic...

FSA warns Sunland US salmonella outbreak could reach UK

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned consumers not to eat certain peanut butter-based products imported from the US due to the ongoing salmonella outbreak traced to manufacturer Sunland.

Harmonising food safety regs could make 'huge difference' to food wastage

Zero and very low tolerance of certain food additives and ingredients can lead to enormous - and entirely unnecessary - food wastage, according to Aleksandra Martinovic, Montenegro ambassador of the...

Improved allergen detection in chocolate with extra step, say researchers

Nut traces can be better detected in dark chocolate and biscuits by adding a clean-up step, say Italian researchers.

DISPATCHES FROM BRAU BEVIALE 2012, NURMEBERG

Shelf life is not an issue for wine can consumers – Ball Packaging

A maximum shelf life of one year will not be an issue for wine can consumers, Ball Packaging’s sales director for Benelux and Scandinavia Gerlof Toenhake told reporter Mark Astley....

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E.coli infection led to no elevated risk of heart disease, says study

An outbreak of E.coli did not lead to greater risk of heart disease or stroke 10 years later, a Canadian study has found.

DISPATCHES FROM BRAU BEVIALE 2012, NUREMBERG

Anti-microbial air treatment will become ‘important’ hygiene factor - Ecolab

Anti-microbial air treatment systems will become a “very important” hygiene factor in the food manufacturing industry in coming years, Ecolab’s Marcus Ley told reporter Mark Astley.

Sunland denies releasing contaminated peanut butter

Sunland has denied releasing any products that it knew to be contaminated after a US FDA inspection showed that peanut or almond butter was distributed despite the firm’s testing system...

Outbreak over but source remains unclear from Northern Ireland E.coli - PHA

Northern Irish health officials are yet to reveal the source of an outbreak of E.coli O157 which affected 300 people.

SIPA ditches BPA in water cooler bottles

Plastics firm SIPA has replaced its polycarbonate (PC) water cooler bottle, which contains the controversial compound Bisphenol A (BPA), with a 100% polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recyclable version.

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Conference highlighted awareness of hygiene in food production, says EHEDG

The European Hygienic Engineering & Design Group (EHEDG) stressed the different methods of ensuring safe food production in its latest event.

Federal food safety employees win whistleblower protection

US Congress has finally passed what have been described as “the strongest federal whistleblower protections in history”, according to the Government Accountability Project’s Food Integrity Campaign (FIC).

Processing time 'miscalculation' leads to sausage recall

Pinnacle Foods Group has issued a recall of more than 90,000 pounds of bourbon barbecue sausage products because they may have been underprocessed.

Tainted peanut butter shipped despite positive salmonella tests, finds FDA inspection

A US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspection has shown Sunland Inc cleared peanut or almond butter for distribution despite its own testing system identifying the presence of salmonella. 

Children face high exposure to foodborne toxins

Cancer benchmark levels for a number of chemicals in food were exceeded by children in self-reported dietary data, according to a study.

Tomra sorter defies gravity

Nut, fruit and vegetable processors have a new weapon in their quality control arsenal in the form of Tomra Sorting Solutions’ Best Nimbus N sorter, which can sort products in...

Scientists developing anti-counterfeit milk powder source test

Scientists in New Zealand are developing a method to identify the geographical source of milk powder products – a potential answer to the problem of counterfeit ‘Made in New Zealand’...

DISPATCHES FROM PACK EXPO 2012

More robust and energy efficient system, claims contamination detection machine developer

Eagle Product Inspection gives FoodProductionDaily.com editor, Rod Addy, the lowdown on their latest detection machine targeting operational efficiency and hygienic design.

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bioMérieux bids to detect listeria

bioMérieux has unveiled its latest product to tackle listeria which it claims offers unprecedented specificity and sensitivity.

High hydrostatic pressure has potential to eliminate pathogens in low-acid juices, says review

More research is needed to determine if high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatment can eliminate food pathogens in low-acid juices, according to a scientific review.

Consumer confidence critical in food safety battle, says FDA representative

Consumer confidence in food safety is an important goal, said an FDA representative, who outlined five themes during a speech at a conference in China.

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SGS boosts inspection services

SGS announced today (Monday) that it has acquired the Ware Care Group, based in The Netherlands for an undisclosed amount.

Colour-changing label set for mid-2013 launch, says Insignia Technologies

The firm behind a colour-changing label has told FoodProductionDaily.com that its first product will launch commercially next year aimed at boosting food safety.

FACET: New risk management tool for additives, flavourings and food contact materials

A new risk management tool for flavouring substances, additives and food contact materials is due to be completed in the coming weeks, drawing together data on food chemical occurrence, concentration...

EFSA seeks to strengthen risk assessment

The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) tenth anniversary scientific conference on risk assessment concluded yesterday with a call for better communication and more ‘fit-for-purpose’ risk assessment tools.

Insignia Technologies targets global expansion after funding boost

Insignia Technologies has targeted global expansion after receiving funding for its product range used in food packaging to minimise food waste.

Kampffmeyer asks: What does clean label mean to consumers?

More than three-quarters of European consumers want foods without chemical additives and most say they are willing to pay more for additive-free foods, according to a new survey carried out...

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Nestlé: We sincerely regret Nesquik recall

Nestlé USA has apologised to customers after a recall of Nesquik chocolate powder linked to salmonella.

Biothane secures deal for wastewater treatment plant in Indonesia

Biothane is to supply an Indonesian food and beverage manufacturer with a wastewater treatment system to transform elements of wastewater into biogas.

Dispatches from Pack Expo

Food safety and sustainability trends dominate Pack Expo

Food safety issues and sustainability were the two biggest issues dominating food and drink processing and packaging show Pack Expo 2012 in Chicago.

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Eriez expands metal detection range

Eriez has introduced piece of inspection equipment which it claims reduces expensive machinery failure and minimizes production downtime.

Pushing for rational risk assessment: ‘Eating is risky…but we don’t stop eating’

Policy makers, MEPs, member states, and individuals are often poor at assessing food-related risks – and researchers need to do a better job of communicating the evidence, according to chief...

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Food pathogen detection system gains USDA backing

Life Technologies has received a Letter of No Objection for its RapidFiner STEC detection system, which it claims detects the presence of multiple strains of E.coli in raw beef in...

India’s lift on egg ban brings welcome relief to baking industry

An Indian state bakery association has welcomed the country’s move to lift its ban on eggs and poultry from two important supply states.

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COMSTECH seminar aimed at food safety

COMSTECH is holding a seminar on food production and processing technologies aimed at bring different industry voices together to optimise food safety.

Detectamet rolls out detectable accessories

Detectamet is rolling out a host of detectable accessories for food and drink manufacturers, from tote bin liners to ear plugs and hygienic gloves.

DISPATCHES FROM PACK EXPO 2012, CHICAGO

New PTI retort pouch seal sensor risks redundant beagles

Speaking live at Pack Expo, PTI’s Oliver Stauffer explains why checking retort pouch seal integrity is vital for food and beverage producers, and presents his firm’s new ultrasound system as...

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Philippine Government issues recall over noodle concerns

The Philippine Government has issued a product recall after six Korean Noodle products were found to contain the chemical benzopyrene.

Spinach linked to E.coli outbreak in US

A blend of spinach and spring mix has been linked to an outbreak of E.coli O157:H7 which has so far sickened 16 people.

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PathoGenetix to commercialize tech by 2013

PathoGenetix is to deliver the first commercial application of its genome sequence scanning technology for food testing next year.

Unitherm rolls out express smoking process

Unitherm Food Systems has developed a healthier, faster and more sustainable process for industrial food smoking applications using infra-red cooking.

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Australian chemical company admits engaging in Resale Price Maintenance

Chemical Formulators Pty Ltd (Chemform), a manufacturer and supplier of cleaning products to industries including food and beverage has acknowledged it engaged in Resale Price Maintenance (RPM), said the Australian...

FSA seeks contractors to provide greater efficiency for research

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched a call to tender for the sampling of food at retail, and different analyses of contaminants in food to provide greater efficiency...

US food safety systems are ‘broken’, says report

Contaminated food makes 48 million Americans sick every year and costs over $77bn in aggregated economic costs, according to a US Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) report.