Tag Archives: environment

Research – Killing Pathogens on Seeds

Science Direct

Farmers treat seeds chemically in order to rid them of pest infestation. Now researchers have developed a method that kills pathogens without harming the environment. Pioneering seed suppliers are already implementing the procedure commercially.

The scientists of the Fraunhofer Institute for Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP in Dresden, Germany have developed an environmentally friendly method for removing germs from seeds. They treat the seeds with electrons, which within milliseconds destroy the DNA of the harmful organisms. Due to a special device setup, the elementary particles only act on the surface and in seed coat. The embryo in the interior of the seed is not affected so that the ability of the seeds to germinate is not impaired.

The scientists from the FEP are confident that, in the long term, the treatment with electrons will prove to be a success story. There is some support for this: Starting in 2015, farmers must prove that they are trying to reduce their CO2 footprint and lower the use of chemical pesticides. “With our unit, we are able to contribute significantly to this,” says Rögner. Should the treatment with electrons gain greater acceptance, the scientists from FEP could license their process to plant construction companies.

The scientists are currently promoting their activities abroad. The FEP is endeavoring to introduce the electron treatment process into the Chinese and Indian markets. “Due to the large amounts of seed produced, we see good opportunities there,” says Rögner.

Research – Super Feezing Campylobacter to Death !

news.scotsman.comCampylobacter

FOOD safety experts plan to “superfreeze” chickens to halt the rise of campylobacter  food poisoning. The Food Standards Agency is currently looking into a procedure which involves exposing the surface of slaughtered chickens to extreme cold, known as rapid surface chilling.

The radical process is currently being considered to help curb the rampant levels of  the food poisoning bacteria commonly found in uncooked poultry products.

Around two-thirds of fresh, raw chicken sold by retailers is believed to be contaminated with campylobacter, which can cause sever stomach upsets.

The FSA aims to reduce the proportion of birds in the highest category of contamination at UK poultry houses from 27 per cent to 10 per cent by 2015.

Dr Jacqui McElhiney, policy adviser on food-borne disease at the FSA in Scotland, said: “This process acts to temporarily cool only the very outer surface of the chicken carcass without freezing the meat itself. It involves exposing the surface of poultry carcasses to very low temperatures for a very short time, which reduces the numbers of campylobacter bacteria on the surface, as they are sensitive to an extreme cold shock treatment of this type.”

USA – The Listeria monocytogenes Issues keep Coming – Crab – Sea Salmon – Sprouted Seedss

PR Newswire

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC, following a recall by GoldCoast Salads, announced it removed from sale Gold Coast Fresh Crab Spread due to possible contamination by listeria monocytogenes.

The following product is included in this recall:

  • Gold Coast Fresh Crab Spread, UPC 83355500325, 8 oz., expiration date of 1/31/2013

To date, Stop & Shop has received no reports of illness. Customers who have purchased the product should discard any unused portions and bring their purchase receipt to Stop & Shop for a full refund.

Listeria is a common organism found in nature.  Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis.  However, listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy.

FDA

Whole Foods Market is recalling four items made with Circle Sea Salmon Lox Trim sold in Oregon and Washington state store seafood departments due to possible Listeria Monocytogenes contamination. Listeria is an organism which can cause a sometimes fatal infection in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer short term symptoms, such as high fever, severe headaches, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The recalled products were sold before Jan. 29, 2013 in all Whole Foods Market stores in Oregon and Washington. No illnesses have been reported related to the recalled products.

The salmon lox trim products (cold smoked salmon lox trim — PLU 97629, Bagel Half with Lox Cream Cheese w/Capers – PLU 92811, Whole Bagel with Lox Cream Cheese with Capers – PLU 98437, Gravlox Cream Cheese Spread – PLU 95307) were sold in clear plastic containers or plastic wrapped with the label “Whole Foods Market.” The recall includes all of these products sold before Jan. 29, 2013.

Signage is posted in Whole Foods Market stores to notify customers of this recall. Consumers who have purchased these products in these two states should discard them, and may bring their receipt to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact 206-854-9880 Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm PST.

FDA – This recall extends to Canada and CFIA also has a recall out

Sprouters Northwest of Kent, Washington is voluntarily recalling all varieties of sprouts products, wheatgrass and pea shoots due to the potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

All varieties of sprouts products including 3-Bean Munchie, Alfalfa, Bean, Broccoli, Brocco Sandwich sprouts, Clover, Deli, Spicy; Wheatgrass and/or Pea Shoots were distributed through 1/30/2013 in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and British Columbia, Canada through retail stores and food service distribution chain.

The affected products are sold under the Sprouters Northwest and LifeForce brand names and are packaged in plastic clamshell containers, plastic cups, plastic trays in 3 oz., 4 oz., 5 oz., and in plastic 1 lb. 2lb, or 5lb. bags. The Best by Dates are including all and up to 2/17/2013.

The problem was identified through surveillance finished products samples collected at retail locations and at the firm by the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

Sprouters Northwest is working with WSDA and the Food & Drug Administration on this recall.

Consumers should not consume the recalled sprouts product, wheatgrass, pea shoots and are advised to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-253-872-0577 from 7AM to 2PM PST.

 

 

USDA – Recall Veal Trimmings – E.coli O157:H7

USDAUSDA

San Jose Valley Veal, a Santa Clara, Calif. establishment, is recalling
approximately 1,260 pounds of veal trimmings that may be contaminated with
E. Coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and
Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

Research – Campylobacter Movement to Search for Food

Science DailyCampylobacter

Researchers at the Institute of Food Research on the Norwich Research Park have uncovered how the food-borne bacterial pathogen Campylobacter jejuni can change its swimming behaviour to find a location with more food.

Using a newly developed assay, the researchers found that Campylobacter balances the directions given by two different systems to either seek out more nutritious locations, or to find places where respiration is most efficient. Genetic tools were used to show that the system controlling swimming towards food overrides the other system, suggesting that the “need to feed” is the foremost concern for Campylobacter.

Canada – CFIA – Recall Spouted Seeds – Listeria monocytogenes

CFIAEurofins

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Canada Safeway Limited are   warning the public not to consume the LifeForce Foods brand Sprouts described below because they may be  contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

All codes of the following LifeForce Foods brand sprouts, product of USA,   packaged in plastic clamshell containers of 85 grams, are affected by this alert:

               Product UPC
               Brocco Sprouts                8 51042 00400 2
               Spicy sprouts                8 51042 00401 9
               Alfalfa sprouts                8 51042 00402 6

These products have been distributed through Canada Safeway stores in British Columbia only.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

Research – Flow Cytometry Suggests Higher Bacterial Loading in Drinking Water

Science DailyWater

Flow cytometry (FCM) can now be officially used for the quantification of microbial cells in drinking water in Switzerland. The new analytical method — developed at Eawag and extensively tested both in Switzerland and abroad — has been incorporated into the Swiss Food Compendium (SLMB) by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH). FCM provides much more realistic results than the conventional method, in which bacterial colonies are grown on agar plates. The results demonstrate that even good-quality drinking water harbours 100 to 10,000 times more living cells than the conventional plate count method would suggest.

EAWAG

New Zealand Recall – Cheese Products Implicated in the Australian Listeria Outbreak

Ministry for Primary Industries

Jindi’ Brand Cheese  imported from Australia – includes brand names ‘Old Telegraph Road’ and ‘Top  Paddock’.

This is a precautionary recall due to an  outbreak of Listeriosis illness in Australia linked to other Jindi brand  products.

USA – Drinking Water Draft Revised Coliforms Regulations

USA EPA FactsheetWater

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has revised the 1989 Total Coliform Rule (TCR), a national primary drinking water regulation (NPDWR). The purpose of the 1989 TCR is to protect public health by ensuring the integrity of the drinking water distribution system and monitoring for the presence of microbial contamination. EPA anticipates greater public health protection under the revised requirements, which are based on recommendations by a federal advisory committee and the agency’s consideration of public comments. The final Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR):

• Requires public water systems that are vulnerable to microbial contamination to identify and fix problems; and

• Establishes criteria for public water systems to qualify for and stay on reduced monitoring, which could reduce water system burden and provide incentives for better system operation.

The 1989 TCR remains effective until March 31, 2016. PWSs and primacy agencies must comply with the requirements of the RTCR beginning April 1, 2016.

Scientific American Article

European and RASSF Alerts – Salmonella – Listeria – Coliforms – Histamine

RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes in Smoked Salmon in the Netherlands sourced in Poland via Germany

RASFF – Histamine in Tuna in Italy sourced in Spain

RASFF – Salmonella in Animal Feed in Sweden sourced in Germany

RASFF – Salmonella spp. in dried organic Chlorella algae in Sweden from China

RASFF – Coliforms in Carbonated Water in Greece sourced in Romania