Breaking News on Food Processing & Packaging

US targets Bangladesh over aquaculture safety fears

03-Nov-2009 - US food officials have sent a team to Bangladesh in a bid to boost the safety and quality of its aquaculture - much of which is exported to the west.

Significant bisphenol A levels in canned food - Study

03-Nov-2009 - Significant levels of bisphenol A (BPA) have been found in a wide variety of canned food that, for some, could approach levels shown to cause harm in animal studies, according to the Consumers Union (CU).

New method to inhibit E. coli in sprouts

02-Nov-2009 - A treatment method using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) can help ensure the safety of fresh produce such as alfalfa seeds in terms of Listeria, Salmonella and E. coli contamination, claims new research.

News in brief

Big gaps in US food-borne illness response

02-Nov-2009 - Delays in the public health response to food-borne illness in the US occur because some state health departments cannot efficiently track produce-related illnesses, according to a survey commissioned by the Produce Safety Project (PSP).

New $30m study into the safety of BPA

30-Oct-2009 - Opening yet another chapter in the long running saga about the safety of Bisphenol A (BPA), the US National Institutes of Health is to launch a new $30m study into the safety of the chemical used in metal cans linings, many plastics bottles and sipper cups.

Listeria biofilm under attack from new disinfectant

29-Oct-2009 - 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.

News in brief

Beef recall on E.coli fears after 20 sickened

27-Oct-2009 - 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.

Weekly comment

Tackling E.coli – legislation or self-regulation?

26-Oct-2009 - 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

26-Oct-2009 - 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.

Australia, NZ to review burden of food labelling laws

26-Oct-2009 - Australia and New Zealand are to undertake a review of food labelling laws and policy to reduce the regulatory burden on food companies without compromising health and safety.

Project bids to eliminate risk of botulinum in baked goods

23-Oct-2009 - A project aimed at quantifying and eliminating the risk associated with the growth of Clostridium botulinum in baked goods is being initiated by a UK research group.

News in brief

Chemists add soy sauce to ‘perfect’ gravy

23-Oct-2009 - The Royal Society of Chemistry in the UK has unveiled its recipe for the perfect gravy, which bears a striking resemblance to that of a 19th century cookbook writer.

Listeria in salmon killed by smoke treatment: Study

23-Oct-2009 - 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.

FDA chief calls for stronger food safety bill

23-Oct-2009 - 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.

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

22-Oct-2009 - 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.

News in brief

Gallani appointed FDF director, food science and safety

21-Oct-2009 - The UK’s Food and Drink Federation has promoted Barbara Gallani to the post of director, Food Science and Safety.

US meat industry failing on E.coli testing - Senator

21-Oct-2009 - 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.

Aflatoxin sorter tool now goes beyond peanuts

20-Oct-2009 - An aflatoxin laser sorter which has been proven in a trial phase over 12 months with a global ready-to-eat snacks company has been modified to allow for the detection of all tree nuts as well as peanuts and is now being rolled out globally, claims Visys.

No concern over fluorinated chemical levels in food - FSA

20-Oct-2009 - 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

Baby food recalled on botulism fears

20-Oct-2009 - Plum Organics has recalled a batch of baby food over fears it may be tainted with botulism.

New dairy partnership improves dairy product safety and shelf-life

20-Oct-2009 - 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.

Sen. Gillibrand proposes food safety overhaul

19-Oct-2009 - New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has put forward a proposal for new federal food safety legislation to address ‘gaps’ in the inspection process and concentrate on contamination and disease prevention.

News in brief

Beef tongues recalled on BSE risk

19-Oct-2009 - 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.

Consumers mindful of best before dates

19-Oct-2009 - A high level of concern about best before dates in the latest survey from the Food Standards Agency could indicate that politicians’ talk on food issues influences those that remain top of mind for UK consumers.