Researchers seek EU-wide exposure data for nutrients and contaminants

An EU-funded project is seeking dietary information from across the bloc to better assess exposure to contaminants and nutrients – and to harmonise data collection.

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Happy holidays from Food Quality News

FoodQualityNews.com would like to wish all our readers a happy holiday.

The recalls that have hit the headlines in 2012

Recalls of 2012: A recap

This year has been quite eventful for recalls of food and beverage products, some due to foodborne contamination and others due to packaging faults.

Ongoing investigation uncovers E.coli contamination

E.coli has been found in a number of frozen burgers that have so far sickened five people in Canada.

US hit by two fish recalls

The US has been hit by two separate fish recalls linked to Clostridium botulinum and listeria in the space of a week.

EFSA on caramel colours: Consumer exposure lower than previously estimated

Consumer exposure to three caramel colours used in a variety of food and drink applications is ‘considerably lower’ than a 2011 scientific opinion published by EFSA suggested, says the Authority.  ...

5-minute festive flick

Happy holidays from William Reed Business Media!

The working year is almost done, time to pause from ‘the business’ and embrace the festive season…go on, give it a big hug. Happy holidays!

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Neogen pathogen test backed

Neogen Corporation’s NeoSEEK STEC Test has been ISO accredited through the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA).

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Eurofins expands Nordic testing portfolio

Eurofins Scientific (EUFI.PA) has acquired a 92.5% majority stake in a Finnish food safety testing firm.

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Cheese recalled due to metal contamination

Two types of cheese have been withdrawn from three UK supermarkets after being found to be contaminated with pieces of metal.

FSANZ takes action on carbon monoxide as fish processing aid

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has called for submissions to draft fish processing aid regulation on carbon monoxide after reports it is being used despite being banned.

E.coli contamination top issue for Canadians, says survey

E.coli contamination is top of the agenda for Canadians, ranking above all other food safety issues, including GMOs and pesticide use, according to a survey.

Companies fined after worker injuries

The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has fined a paper and board manufacturer and a plastics company after two separate worker accidents.

FDA facing court over failure to respond to raw milk petition

Raw milk dairy Organic Pastures has filed a lawsuit against the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alleging that the agency repeatedly failed to respond to its petition to amend...

Emco files patent for active oxygen scavenging system

Emco Packaging has filed a patent for an active oxygen scavenging system for use in the headspace of bottles, sachets and cartons for liquid foods and beverages.

Food makers turn to natural antioxidant blends to manage price spikes

Food manufacturers looking to extend shelf life with natural antioxidants have started using blended ingredients in an effort to deal with spiralling raw material costs, according to Frost & Sullivan.

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PlasticsEurope slams French BPA decision

PlasticsEurope has said the French Senate decision to ban BPA “has no safety benefit for consumers, disregards European law and risk assessment, and severely distorts the internal and international market”.

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FDA seeks public comment on setting thresholds for the big eight food allergens

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set up a  Federal Register Docket requesting data and other information to determine whether it can establish threshold levels for the 'big eight'...

Ex BPI employee sues Jamie Oliver and ABC News for ‘reckless’ reporting on lean finely textured beef

Former Beef Products Inc. employee Bruce Smith has filed a lawsuit against Jamie Oliver; ABC News; two ABC news anchors Diane Sawyer and Jim Avila; and blogger Bettina Siegel; alleging...

Risk assessment report aims to strengthen food system

A risk assessment report delivered to the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) should enhance trust and the wider food system, according to the working group that put it together.

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UK FSA reviewing radioactivity monitoring in food

The UK FSA is reviewing the way it monitors radioactivity in food with it preferring an option of reduced surveillance.

Mobile device enables easier food allergen testing

A simpler way to detect allergens in food samples has been devised with the launch of a new device for mobile phones developed by the University of California, Los Angeles...

Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. facing nearly $100,000 fines

Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. has been cited by the US Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for exposing workers to hazardous chemicals.

Neogen upgrades salmonella test

Neogen Corporation has upgraded its rapid lateral flow test for Salmonella Enteritidis targeting faster results for the poultry industry.

Partnership aims to assess nanomaterial safety

Two US agencies are working together in a research effort to assess the potential impact of nanomaterials on people’s health and the environment.

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Nestlé Canada recalls pizzas due to metal contamination

Nestlé Canada is recalling five of six varieties of Buitoni brand pizzas following two consumer complaints that the products contain pieces of metal.

Researchers develop chemical testing system for product manufacturers

A five-tier testing system aimed at ensuring manufactured products are free of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC), such as BPA and phthalates, has been developed by a group of scientists....

FDA faces lawsuit over food animal antibiotics data

The Government Accountability Project (GAP) is suing the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for withholding data on the sale of antibiotics for use in food animals.

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Extinct shark species listed on product label

Frozen shark fillets from China have been destroyed at the Italian Border as the labelling mentioned a species that has been extinct for millions of years.

FDA broadens irradiation use

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the use of irradiation to a maximum 4.5 kilogray (kGy) dose for a variety of meat products.

USDA to require holding of meat products until completion of testing

Food producers are soon to be required to hold shipments of non-intact raw beef and all ready-to-eat products containing meat and poultry until they pass foodborne safety tests, according to...

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CFIA lifts suspension on Capital Packers after listeria scare

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has lifted the suspension on a meat processing company that was linked to an outbreak of listeria.

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FDA approves additive for use in food wash water

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has amended the food additive regulations to provide the safe use of an antimicrobial agent after a petition from Ecolab.

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Recalled breaded chicken products may contain plastic

A US firm has recalled 35,800 pounds of breaded chicken products because they may contain pieces of plastic, said the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

dispatches from emballage 2012

Avure targets all-round HPP services

Bringing a successful high pressure processing (HPP) product to market is much more than just buying a piece of equipment, according to Avure.

Study hails cold plasma as weapon against E.coli

Cold plasma technology can kill E.coli microbes within packaging, so proving a useful tool in situations of post processing contamination, according to researchers.

E.coli in waterways not always from livestock, say USDA scientists

E.coli found in local waterways is often runoff from urban areas and not from animal production facilities, according to US Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists.

Disease outbreaks and recalls to fuel food safety product demand

Foodborne illness outbreaks and large product recalls will see demand for food safety products rise 8.4% per year to $18bn in 2016, according to Freedonia.

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Acquisition enables total integrated food safety solution, says Birko

Birko has acquired Espy Technologies Inc. (ETI) to build on its food safety solutions from chemistry, equipment and technology.

dispatches from emballage 2012

Heat-Sealable method improves production rates, claims Du Pont

DuPont launched its heat-sealable Tyvek product at Emballage in Paris and said that the method will allow higher production rates.

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HACCP measures must be reassessed due to salmonella outbreaks, says USDA

Producers of not-ready-to-eat (NRTE) ground chicken and turkey must reassess their Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) due to recent salmonella outbreaks, said the USDA.

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EFSA issues THC research call

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is calling for data on toxicity and the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in food and animal feed.

Biosensors a key area for nanotechnology

Nanobiosensors hold considerable potential as future areas of development for nanotechnology, according to a recent study.

Regulation and consumer demand driving switch to 'greener' chemicals

Demand for products made from greener chemicals is growing due to a mixture of regulation and consumer demand, according to the co-author of a guide urging the switch to safer...

Flexible packaging firm fined after laminating accident

A UK packaging company has been fined after one of its employees sustained a serious hand injury on an unguarded laminating machine.

Pro Mach acquires KLEENLine and targets integration potential

Pro Mach has acquired KLEENLine Corporation to expand its sanitary production solutions for the food industry and said it will offer integration opportunities with their other brands.

Comment

Acrylamide: A scandal in the making

Acrylamide is a recognised carcinogen that we’ve known is in our food at dangerous levels for a decade. Today, the food industry has tools to mitigate it, but uptake is...