Monthly Archives: September 2011

EFSA Chief Warns EU Vunerable to Food Safety Threats

Posted on September 23, 2011 by | Leave a comment

A report in Food Navigator has reported on comments from Catherine Geslain-Laneelle who is the executive director of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). She has stated that the EU is particularly vulnerable to food safety issues as the biggest global trader of food products with very open trading and markets. She also commented that many foods and food ingredients were not always produce in accordance with EU standards. She also praised the German authorities response to the recent E.coli O104 outbreak. The full article can be found at the link on the text above.

Leave a comment

Posted in Food Illness, Microbiology

11 Million Working Days Lost

Posted on September 20, 2011 by | 1 comment

UK Stomach bugs cause 11 million working to be lost each year according to joint research by the FSA and the University of Manchester. With Campylobacter and Norovirus being the two major causes. There has already been interest shown in testing food products for viruses and this type of data will only add to the pressure for looking at testing food for viruses. It also emphasises the FSA campaign for reducing Campylobacter levels in raw poultry in the UK.

Food Production Daily Report

1 Comment

Posted in Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak

Listeria In Cheese Recall – France and Monaco

Posted on September 20, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Carrefour have recalled a range of cheeses from its stores in France and Monaco after they were found to contain Listeria monocytogenes. The products were sold in store between August 25th and September 13th but were immediately removed after the results of in-house testing.

There has been a recall and posters in store are warning customers of the dangers. Full report and product specifics can be found through the link below.

Food Production Daily Article

Leave a comment

Posted in Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Microbiology

FDA – Listeria on Jensen Farms Cantaloupes and Equipment

Posted on September 20, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Food Navigator USA reports that the presence of Listeria on Jensen Farms has been confirmed, to date 35 people across 10 states have been infected with 4 deaths. Another 2 deaths in New Mexico are being investigated by the FDA.

Listeria monocytogenes has been isolated from packaging equipment at the Colorado packaging site and in store on cantaloupes in Denver, thus confirming the source of the outbreaks.

Food Navigator USA

Leave a comment

Posted in Food Illness, Food Poisoning, outbreak

Listeria Busting Bacteriophage

Posted on September 20, 2011 by | Leave a comment

A Dutch company called Micreos looks like they will gain approval in Australasia for a bacteriophage that attacks Listeria and could be used as a processing aid.

The bacteriophage is designed for use as a spray or dip for targeted applications on food products not as a surface disinfectant or general bactericide. The P100 bacteriophage will not effect any other bacteria except Listeria and are harmless to plants, animals and humans.

Food Production Daily Link

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Worlds First Permanant Food Safety Laboratory

Posted on September 19, 2011 by | Leave a comment

The US FDA, University of Maryland and Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN) and Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT) have jointly opened the International Food Safety Training Laboratory (IFSTL).

It is apparently the worlds only permanent food safety laboratory that provides laboratory training and teaching lessons on food regulatory standards. The IFSTL will help the FDA and food importers and producers to understand the requirements such as the Safety Modernization Act which was introduced as law earlier this year. The IFSTL will be able to teach up to 200 professionals every year.

Full Article at News Medical

Leave a comment

Posted in Food Testing, Microbiology

CDC Releases Data on Food Illness USA 2008

Posted on September 19, 2011 by | Leave a comment

The CDC have released a full report on Foodborne illness in the USA for 2008. During 2008, the most recent year for which data are finalised, 1,034 foodborne disease outbreaks were reported, which resulted in 23,152 cases of illness, 1,276 hospitalisations, and 22 deaths. Among the 479 outbreaks with a laboratory-confirmed single etiological agent reported, norovirus was the most common, accounting for 49% of outbreaks and 46% of illnesses. Salmonella was the second most common, accounting for 23% of outbreaks and 31% of illnesses. Among the 218 outbreaks attributed to a food vehicle with ingredients from only one of 17 defined food commodities (3), the top commodities to which outbreaks were attributed were poultry (15%), beef (14%), and finfish (14%), whereas the top commodities to which outbreak-related illnesses were attributed were fruits and nuts (24%), vine-stalk vegetables (23%), and beef (13%).

Full CDC Report Link

Leave a comment

Posted in Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak

Egyptian Veg Ban Lifted – Except for Sprouts

Posted on September 16, 2011 by | Leave a comment

The EU has lifted restrictions on the import of vegetables from Egypt imposed after the recent E.coli O104 outbreak in Germany and France. However the ban on fenugreek sprouts will remain until the 31st October. The lifting of  the restrictions comes after safety audits in Egypt by the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO). The inclusion in the restrictions of fresh produce has always been contentious and food trade in fresh produce between the UK and Egypt resulted in an estimated loss in revenue of £54 million.

Food production Daily Link

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Canadian – E.coli Killer

Posted on September 15, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Food Production Daily has reported that a Canadian Company called Theralase Technologies is stating that they have a new technology that has ‘unprecedented destruction’ of the E.coli bacteium. Their patented Photo Dynamic Compounds (PDCs) is already established but can be used via another application. They are claiming a 7 -log destruction for a 10 minute exposure and the application seems best suited to the sterilisation of food preparation equipment but would have other applications in different industries. It is thought that it will be effective with all E.coli speicies. The link for the full article is below.

Food Production Daily

Leave a comment

Posted in E.coli, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology

Food Safety in the USA

Posted on September 15, 2011 by | Leave a comment

A report in Food Navigator – USA suggests that even though the levels of incidence of food related illness is rising the population are less concerned about food safety than they were.

The survey also makes some distinction between low and high income families with the former in general more concerned over food safety.

The survey also showed that people were concerned the most about the food safety of meat, produce seafood and then dairy. Interestingly the concern over fresh produce has increased whilst the concern over meat has dropped. This may have been affected by recent high-profile food illness outbreaks associated by fresh produce including the recent Salmonella in Papaya and Listeria in cantaloupes.

There is a link to the full survey from the Food Navigator USA Article

Leave a comment

Posted in Food Poisoning, Microbiology