Ground beef and chicken “riskiest meats”, according to CSPI report

Ground beef and chicken are the “riskiest” meats and poultry products related to foodborne illness and hospitalization, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).

News focus

NZ firm develops real-time meat contamination test

A New Zealand firm has come up with technology that reportedly gives processing firms real-time results when testing meat for contamination.

Some food pathogens increase in US

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is reporting that while levels of reported food-related illnesses are steady or declining, others are on an uptick.

FDA breaks down FSMA funding request

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) representative has laid out the approximately $296 million in its FY 2014 budget request tied to the Food Safety Modernization Act.

FSA agrees to external review into horse meat scandal

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has agreed to an external review in response to the adulteration of processed beef products with horse and pig meat and DNA.

News focus

Manda Packing expands meat recall in listeria scare

Baker, LA-based Manda Packing Co. is recalling 468,000 lbs. of roast beef, ham, turkey breast, head cheese, and other products meats due to Listeria monocytogenes concerns.

Contract manufacturers count cost of horse meat saga

The horse meat scandal is set to cost European contract manufacturers tens of millions of euros as brand owners pass costs and losses up the supply chain.

Horse meat: FSA considers review while EU reveals test results

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) is considering commissioning an external review of its response to the horse meat crisis at a board meeting today (Wednesday).

Rise of ciguatoxin food poisoning forecast as German cases confirmed

The first outbreak of ciguatoxin poisoning from fish in Germany has been confirmed, with scientists claiming the problem is on the rise as more exotic fish species are consumed around the...

News in brief

Marshfield Food Safety adds Roka Bioscience food pathogen detection

Marshfield Food Safety, a Wisconsin-based testing laboratory, has implemented the Atlas System at two of its 11 locations.

News in brief

Eriez unveils x-ray inspection system for harsh wash-down conditions

Eriez has launched an x-ray inspection system designed to meet the demands of harsh wash down environments in industries such as meat and poultry.

Researchers target acrylamide reduction in potato chips

Potato varieties, blanching times and frying temperatures can all affect acrylamide levels in potato chips, according to a study just published in the Journal of the Science of Food &...

Thorntons and Nestlé in separate chocolate headaches

Thorntons has recalled three varieties of chocolates after they were found to be contaminated with glass while fake Wonka bars have been found on sale in the UK.

Strapped by FSMA, FDA seeks authority for new user fees in budget request

The US Food and Drug Administration has requested a $4.7 million dollar budget for fiscal year 2014, an increase of $821 million, or 21%, over FY 2012.  The biggest chunk...

Light curtains could help curb food factory accidents

Light curtains could help address food factory accidents involving lack of appropriate safety guards on equipment, although they are not a foolproof solution, according to Dr Martin Kidman, Sick machinery...

EFSA: Campylobacter and E.coli cases rise

Numbers of EU consumers contracting Campylobacter and E.coli food poisoning are increasing, with the data on E.coli particularly worrying, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

BPA report conclusions “concerning”, says PlasticsEurope

The French Health Authority’s report that Bisphenol A (BPA) poses health risks for pregnant women and unborn children is “in contrast with the most recent global scientific consensus”, according to...

ASDA finds bute in corned beef

UK retail giant Asda has recalled a range of its ‘smart price’ corned beef after it was found to contain phenylbutazone (or bute).

Alcoa to clean-up US river after EPA finalises plan

Alcoa will clean-up a US river at an estimated cost of $243m after chemicals from one of its sites were found to have contaminated river sediment.

Tragedy strikes Mexico: 7 Grupo Modelo staff die

Anheuser-Busch InBev $20.1bn takeover target Grupo Modelo has confirmed that seven of its staff have died in an accident at its Mexico City brewery.

Lack of time hinders effective food safety training

Lack of time is the greatest barrier to providing effective food safety training, according to more than seven in 10 food and drink processors globally surveyed by Campden BRI.

NGOs call for third party role in REACH

A group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have called for third party participation in the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances (REACH) process.

Slow response in salmonella outbreak “likely contributor” to illness count, finds report

Authorities must adopt a more robust salmonella surveillance system and a more aggressive response to outbreaks, according to a Pew Charitable Trust Report, in response to a 2011 outbreak from Cargill...

OIG finds gaps in FSIS beef E.coli testing

The Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) need to re-evaluate its E.coli testing relating to the downstream processing of boxed beef products, according to the results of an audit from the...