Breaking News on Food Processing & Packaging

Kellogg plant still closed but no listeria found

16-Sep-2009 - The Kellogg’s food plant shutdown earlier this month on listeria fears remains at a standstill, the company has confirmed.

Over 60s need better advice to combat more virulent listeria

15-Sep-2009 - A new report suggests that more virulent strains of listeria monocytogenes and a lack of advice to elderly consumers could be behind a reported rise in the incidence of listeriosis in the UK.

EC tables new chemical test for marine biotoxin detection

15-Sep-2009 - The standard test method for detecting marine biotoxins in shellfish looks set to be changed after a top level meeting at the European Commission.

Industry applauds Canada’s C$75m food safety overhaul

15-Sep-2009 - The food processing industry in Canada has welcomed a move by the government to boost food safety in the country with a C$75m overhaul of the system.

Weekly comment

Bisphenol A: Hearts versus minds

14-Sep-2009 - Forget GMO and nanotechnology - the biggest food safety issue of our times is bisphenol A (BPA).

California rejects bill to ban bisphenol A

14-Sep-2009 - The bid to pass a law banning bisphenol A (BPA) in California failed on Friday triggering a bitter backlash from it supporters who accused the chemical industry of dirty tricks in order to defeat the measure.

News in brief

DuPont test system receives approval for E.coli and Salmonella

11-Sep-2009 - DuPont Qualicon has said the approval of a system to detect both E.coli and Salmonella will save food companies time, as well as cutting inventory and storage costs.

"Make or break" time for California BPA ban

11-Sep-2009 - The bid to ban bisphenol A (BPA) in California looks set to go the wire after a vote on the law in the State Assembly was delayed for the second time amid fierce political wrangling.

New pathogen detection system fastest and most comprehensive, says company

10-Sep-2009 - A new food pathogen detection system that its manufacturers claim is the fastest and most comprehensive available has been awarded its US patent.

BPA admission threatens crisis for Sigg

09-Sep-2009 - Sigg chief Steve Wasik has made a second apology over revelations that linings of company’s older water bottles contain bisphenol A - in a bid to stem mounting fury that threatens to plunge the firm into crisis.

News in brief

California BPA vote delayed until today

09-Sep-2009 - The California State Assembly will vote on the landmark bill to ban bisphenol A (BPA) today.

FDA imposes 24hr deadline on food safety reporting

08-Sep-2009 - Legislation has come into force requiring food companies to report potentially dangerous products to the FDA within 24 hours of discovery.

Weekly comment

Acrylamide: The consumer health scare that isn’t

08-Sep-2009 - Consumers love to get their teeth into a good health scare. So how is it that acrylamide has slipped under the radar?

News in brief

Food safety courts tabled for Indian food processors

08-Sep-2009 - Indian authorities have tables a proposal to set up food safety courts with powers to prosecute processing companies.

California poised to decide on BPA ban

08-Sep-2009 - The controversy over the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging looks set to take centre stage again with the California State Assembly due to decide today on whether to ban the chemical.

Sigg apologises over bisphenol A revelations

04-Sep-2009 - A furious consumer backlash has prompted Sigg to issue a public apology over revelations that the liner of its metals bottles made before summer 2008 contain bisphenol A (BPA).

Kellogg plant halts production on listeria discovery

03-Sep-2009 - Kellogg has shutdown production at one of its US food plants after the discovery of listeria there by health inspectors.

US seafood company facing fines over processing breaches

03-Sep-2009 - A US seafood processing company is facing fines of more than $47,000 for flouting health and safety rules.

EU proposal to add acrylamide to hazardous chemical list

02-Sep-2009 - The European Union has tabled a proposal to add chemical acrylamide to a list of Substances of Very High Concern.

Human health risk from certain GM fish - Study

01-Sep-2009 - The commercial breeding cretain species of GM fish should be approached with caution on fears they could pose a health risk to humans and threaten natural breeds, new research has said.

FDA considering industry guidelines for acrylamide

31-Aug-2009 - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering issuing guidelines on acrylamide content in food and has published a notice in the Federal Register seeking comments from industry on the issue.

Review of European food hygiene regs

31-Aug-2009 - Leading players in the UK food sector are being asked for their views on an overhaul of European food hygiene legislation three years after the rules came into force.

China to launch new food safety standards

31-Aug-2009 - China is drafting a detailed new system of food safety standards in a bid to bring them line with international regulations and restore the country’s battered reputation on the issue.

News in brief

DuPont Listeria tests receive AOAC certification

28-Aug-2009 - DuPont Qualicon has received AOAC Research Institute certification for two detection systems for Listeria in food and environmental samples.