Regulator to begin inspections of meat plants under hygiene law

Like its counterparts across the EU, the UK's food regulator has started inspecting meat plants, threatening to close those that do not comply with the bloc's new hygiene laws.

Dual-lane system inspects two streams of food products

A dual lane x-ray system allows two streams of different food products to be inspected simultaneously on one machine.

Safety guide proposed for growing fresh-cut produce market

A draft guidance on the processing of most fresh-cut fruits and vegetables sets out standards producers should follow in reducing food safety hazards.

Regulator to publish grocers' names during recalls

A proposed federal rule would require publishing the names of grocers that sold potentially harmful food during recalls.

Defect removal system for potato strips ups production capacity

An automatic defect removal system for potato strips helps processors increase production capacity, its manufacturer claims.

Commission issues proposals on international food safety standards

The European Commission has issued a series of comments on proposed changes to the UN's international food safety standards on such issues as labelling and microbiological risk.

Microbiologists meet to discuss role in fighting disease

Microbiology experts from across Europe are meeting in Cardiff, Wales today to discuss how to improve the fight against food borne bacteria such as E. coli O157, and diseases such...

Sweden detects BSE for the first time, along with bird flu

Sweden has been hit with a double blow, becoming the first in the Scandinavian region to detect avian influenza in wild birds, and also finding its first case of bovine...

Weekly Comment

The benzene trail

The gamble by US authorities 15 years ago to let the industry deal with benzene residues in soft drinks has failed, and instead only kept those who needed to know...

Thermo Electron unveils online database for scientists

Thermo Electron Corporation, the market leader in analytical instrumentation, has launched a new catalogue that help scientists analyse food and drink samples faster.

Authorities pressured over benzene in soft drinks

More soft drinks will be tested for cancer-causing chemical benzene in the UK after it was revealed some drinks contain up to eight times the legal limit for drinking water.

UK food watchdog discovers benzene in soft drinks

Britain's food safety watchdog says initial tests on 230 soft drinks show benzene levels above the UK limit for water, as the industry tells BeverageDaily.com how it controls the issue.

UK food watchdog finds benzene in soft drinks

Britain's food safety watchdog says initial tests on 230 soft drinks show benzene levels above the UK limit for water, as the industry tells BeverageDaily.com how it controls the issue.

Novel oxygen test for foods in plastic packaging

A new test that realistically determines how much oxygen will pass through food and beverage packaging during a product's lifetime will enable producers to speed up and improve new product...

EC acts against GM food contamination

The EC has published a guidebook to help farmers reduce the adventitious - unintended and unavoidable - presence of GM material in non-GM food.

Soft drinks industry pledges to tackle benzene in drinks

America's soft drinks association said it would have to look again at benzene in drinks, after new tests revealed to BeverageDaily.com suggest it and food safety authorities failed to stamp...

Public underestimates risks posed by common pathogens

The public's understanding of food risk issues is skewed towards under estimating the danger from common pathogen contamination, according to a research survey.

Plant bacteria tough out lab-based irradiation dosages

Setting dosage levels for irradiating bacteria based on lab tests may be incorrect when used on the tougher pathogens found in plant conditions, leading to a food safety issue, according...

UK survey finds pollutant levels in most fish continue to fall

Surveys of fish eaten in the UK show that levels of pollutants such as dioxins and PCBs in most fish are continuing to fall.

EU approves bird flu vaccination in France, Netherlands

The EU's controversal approval of decisions by France and the Netherlands' to start vaccinating their poultry highlights the fault lines in the bloc's response to avian influenza.

Researchers study chemicals in food and effect on fetus

A study on maternal exposure to chemicals found in foods, could potentially do damage to manufacturers' attempts to assure the public that processed products are safe to eat.

Portable nano and micro sensors developed for food safety

An EU-funded research project has developed micro and nanotechnology portable devices to detect toxins, pathogens and chemicals in foodstuffs on the spot.

Researchers hunt for method to prevent Campylobacter contamination

New methods need to be develop to prevent Campylobacter in transport coopsand during carcass defeathering, critical points at which contamination ofbroilers and broiler carcasses occurs, according to new research.

Protozoa helps Salmonella survive chemical cleaning

Aided by a common protozoa, Salmonella cells are three times likely to survive the treatments used by food processors to clean equipment, according to a scientific study.

UK, Germany checking soft drinks for benzene

Food safety authorities in Britain and Germany are checking soft drinks for benzene after tests suggest a private deal with soft drinks firms in the US, 15 years ago, failed...