Category Archives: Research

Research – Pesticide Application as Potential Source of Noroviruses

Posted on March 14, 2013 by | Leave a comment

HACCP EuropaNorwalk_Caspid

Human norovirus (hNoV), also known as the winter vomiting bug, is one of the most common stomach bugs in the world. The virus is highly contagious, causing vomiting and diarrhea, and the number of affected cases is growing. Currently there is no cure; sufferers have to let the virus run its course for a few days.

The consumption of fresh produce is frequently associated with outbreaks of hNoV but it remains difficult to identify where in the supply chain the virus first enters production.

A new study, published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology investigated whether contaminated water used to dilute pesticides could be a source of hNoV. Farmers use various water sources in the production of fresh fruits and vegetables, including well water and different types of surface water such as river water or lake water — sources which have been found to harbour hNoV.

Leave a comment

Posted in Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Food Virus, Microbiology, Norovirus, Pathogen, Research

Tagged , , , ,

UK-HPA

Posted on March 11, 2013 by | Leave a comment

HPAhpa_logo

HPA welcomes move to put antibiotic resistance on the national risk register

11 March 2013

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) welcomes the move by England’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Professor Dame Sally Davies to add antibiotic resistance to the national risk register.

Its addition to the risk register will mean that this issue will be given full attention by politicians here in England as well as the G8 and World Health Organization.

This announcement was made at the launch of the Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer – Infections and the rise of antimicrobial resistance which was published today.

Figures from the HPA’s Antimicrobial Resistance Reference Laboratory show that in 2003 there were three samples which tested positive for antibiotic resistance compared to 800 in 2012.

It is this dramatic rise in the numbers of cases that warrants active intervention not just from Government but also from healthcare institutions, the pharmaceutical industry, patients and the general public to address this very serious problem.

Leave a comment

Posted in Antibiotic Resistance, Bacteria, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, HPA, Microbiology, Research

Tagged , , ,

Bulgaria – Hightened Alfatoxin Level in Raw Milk

Posted on March 11, 2013 by | Leave a comment

HACCP Europa

BULGARIA – A heightened content of Aflatoxin M1 in a sample of raw milk has been found during regular control carried out by the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency in farming centers for collecting raw milk, announced the Agency.
In a farming center in the northwestern town of Vidin the Agency found Aflatoxin M1 content that is a little bit higher than the maximum level allowed in Europe per a kilogram of raw milk. Heightened contents of the aflatoxin were established also in farming centers in the districts of Gabrovo and Sofia. It is banned to sell the whole amount of milk and it will be destroyed. The farming centers are prohibited from trading in milk until there are negative aflatoxin lab tests.

Leave a comment

Posted in Aflatoxin, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Testing, Microbiology, Mycotoxin, Pathogen, Research

Tagged , , , , ,

Reserch European Legionella Outbreaks 2009-2010

Posted on March 8, 2013 by | Leave a comment

EurosurveillanceLegionella_Plate_01

The surveillance of Legionnaires’ disease (LD) in Europe is carried out by the European Legionnaires’ Disease Surveillance Network (ELDSNet) and coordinated by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). All cases reported in 2009 and 2010 and meeting the European case definition were electronically transmitted to The European Surveillance System (TESSy) database. A total of 5,551 and 6,305 cases were reported by 29 European countries in 2009 and 2010, respectively. The age-standardised rate of all cases was 1.20 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2010, 12% higher than in 2009, which was consistent with the increasing trend observed since 2005. Most of this increase consisted of community-acquired cases reported by France, Germany and the Netherlands with dates of onset in August–September. The exceptionally hot summer of 2010 in some parts of Europe may have played a role in this increase.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, Legionella, Pathogen, Research, Water

Tagged , , , ,

Research – Various Studies on Product Microbial Decontamination – Salmonella – E.coli O157 – Clostridium

Posted on March 8, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Wiley Online – Essential Oils Inactivation of Salmonella on Cherry Tomato’s

Wiley Online – The Efficacy of Satureja khuzistanica Essential Oil Treatment in Reducing Escherichia coli O157:H7 Load on Alfalfa Seeds Prior to Sprouting

Ingenta Connect – Commercial Thermal Process for Inactivating Salmonella Poona on Surfaces of Whole Fresh Cantaloupes

Ingenta Connect – Dynamic Effects of Free Chlorine Concentration, Organic Load, and Exposure Time on the Inactivation of Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Non-O157 Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli

Ingenta Connect – Effect of Packaging Systems and Pressure Fluids on Inactivation of Clostridium botulinum Spores by Combined High Pressure and Thermal Processing

 

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, Clostridium botulinum, E.coli, E.coli O157, EHEC, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Methods, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research

Tagged , , , ,

Research – Salmonella/Listeria/Airborne Contamination – Poultry

Posted on March 8, 2013 by | Leave a comment

IngentaConnect– Frequency of Salmonell and Listeria on Chicken Eggs

IngentaConnect– Airborne Contamination in Poultry Slaughter Houses

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Methods, Microbiology, Research, Salmonella

Tagged , , , ,

Canada – Research -Parasites in Retail Leafy Greens

Posted on March 7, 2013 by | Leave a comment

CTV News220px-Cyclospora_cayetanensis_stained

In the first-ever large-scale study of its kind, Canadian researchers have  tested how clean pre-washed packages of leafy greens really are, and found  parasites in dozens of samples purchased in Ontario.

Looking at 544 samples of store-bought, pre-washed salads, researchers from  Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada found nearly one-tenth of  the samples were contaminated with either cyclospora, cryptosporidium or giardia  — parasites that can cause intestinal illness, such as diarrhea.

“In the present study, a relatively high prevalence of all three parasites  was found in packaged, ready-to-eat leafy greens,” said the study, published  recently in the Journal of Food Protection.

To conduct the study, the research team purchased a total of 544 prewashed  salad samples between April 2009 and March 2010 — all in the Waterloo, Ont.  area. After testing the samples, the team found:

  • Nine (1.7%) of the samples tested positive for cyclospora;
  • 32 (5.7%) of the samples tested positive for cryptosporidium;
  • 10 (1.8%) of the samples tested positive for giardia.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Giardia, Hygiene, Methods, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research

WHO – New Food Safety Platform – FOSCOLLAB

Posted on February 28, 2013 by | Leave a comment

WHO foscollab_wordle

An innovative tool for food safety

FOSCOLLAB is a new WHO platform for food safety professionals.

FOSCOLLAB enables users to:

  • Access food safety data and information quickly
  • Maximize the utility of already existing sources and minimize duplication of efforts
  • Integrate data and information coming from animal/agriculture, food and human health areas to improve global public health
  • Promote better generation of data
  • Strengthen the underlying sources by promoting awareness and increased utilization

By integrating multiple sources of reliable data, FOSCOLLAB helps overcome the challenges of accessing these key sources in a timely manner. It allows for better risk assessment and decision-making by food safety professionals and authorities.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Technology, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Methods, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Recall, Research

Tagged , , , , ,

Food Safety During Pregnancy Advice

Posted on February 28, 2013 by | Leave a comment

BCCDCLayout 1

Pregnancy is an important time for mother and baby.  There are many things to consider when choosing and preparing food.  This booklet is designed to help you make the best choices for you and your baby.

What you should know –

  • Bacteria that can cause foodborne illness include Listeria, Salmonella, Campylobacter and E.coli
  • Foodborne illness can be caused by eating contaminated food.  It can affect everyone, but it can be more serious for you and your baby when you are pregnant.
  • Foodborne illness can make your baby sick before and after birth
  • Proper food handling, eating foods which are safe for pregnant women and taking steps to SEPARATE, CHILL, CLEAN and COOK will help to prevent foodborne illness including listeriosis

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Testing, Microbiology, Miscarriage, Pathogen, Research

Tagged , , , , ,

Food Safety – Digital Magazine Link

Posted on February 13, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety Magazine

 

Leave a comment

Posted in Food Safety, Research

Tagged , ,