Food Safety “Traffic Light” Placard System Approved For Restaurants In Calif. County April 16, 2015: 12:00 AM EST A new program to inform restaurant patrons in San Mateo County (Calif.) of the results of a facility’s most recent food safety inspection has won approval by the county board. The program, which will begin a training period soon and will take effect next year, requires restaurants to post a placard that uses familiar traffic signal colors to show whether the facility passed its last safety inspection (green), received a provisional pass (yellow), or failed (red) and will be closed until problems are fixed. The placard system affects 3,000 permanent food facilities, including restaurants, mobile food trucks, bakeries, schools, licensed health care facilities, and some convenience stores. "California County Approves Restaurant Food Safety Placard Program", Food Safety News, April 16, 2015, © Food Safety News

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Listeria Contamination Continues To Prompt Product Recalls April 9, 2015: 12:00 AM EST The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has confirmed that the dangerous, potentially lethal, bacterium listeria has tainted food products from two different companies, causing deaths and illnesses in two states and prompting recalls. Sabra Dipping Company recalled 30,000 cases of hummus after several listeria-contaminated tubs were found in Michigan, though no illnesses were reported. CDC said tainted Blue Bell ice cream led to the illnesses of three people in Texas, and five others in Kansas between 2011 and 2014. Blue Bell has expanded a recall of frozen snack items because of listeria contamination discovered last month. Rachel Abrams, "Listeria in Sabra Hummus Prompts New Wave of Recalls", The New York Times, April 09, 2015, © The New York Times Company

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Kraft Recalls Potentially Tainted Mac & Cheese Dinners March 17, 2015: 12:00 AM EST Kraft Foods, responding to complaints by eight consumers, has recalled 242,000 cases of Macaroni & Cheese that might contain small pieces of metal. The affected product was shipped in the U.S. and some Caribbean and South American countries, but not to Canada. The company advised buyers to return the appropriate boxes to the store of purchase for a full refund. The recalled boxes were the 7.25-oz., original flavor varietty with best-when-used-by dates of Sept. 18, 2015, through Oct. 11, 2015. Jack Linshi, "Kraft Recalls 242,000 Cases of Macaroni & Cheese", Time, March 17, 2015, © TIME INC.

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Poultry Buyers Neither Handle, Nor Cook, The Birds Safely, Study Finds January 26, 2015: 12:00 AM EST A large percentage of consumers who buy poultry neither handle nor cook it properly, according to a U.S. study. Less than two-thirds of consumers own a food thermometer to check whether poultry is properly cooked, and less than 10 percent who own thermometers use them. It was also found that only 18 percent of consumers correctly store raw poultry products in the refrigerator, and only 11 percent of consumers who thaw raw poultry in cold water do it correctly. Nearly 70 percent rinse or wash raw poultry before cooking it, a possibly dangerous habit because of the risk of splashing contaminated water around the kitchen. Katherine M. Kosa et al., "Consumer-Reported Handling of Raw Poultry Products at Home: Results from a National Survey. ", Journal of Food Protection, January 26, 2015, © International Association for Food Protection

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E. Coli Contamination Is Serious Concern In California, Washington Farmers’ Markets December 30, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Researchers who visited produce vendors at 13 farmers’ markets in Los Angeles, Orange County (Calif.) and Seattle (Wash.) found significant levels of E. coli and salmonella contamination. Of 133 samples taken, 24.1 percent were tainted with E. coli. One sample tested positive for salmonella. Salmonella symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever that can last four to seven days. Symptoms for pathogenic forms of E. coli include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea that often becomes bloody, and vomiting. Donna J Levy et al., "Microbial safety and quality of fresh herbs from Los Angeles, Orange County and Seattle farmers' markets. ", Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, December 30, 2014, © Society of Chemical Industry

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Gaps In Botanical Safety, Quality Data Need To Be Narrowed December 23, 2014: 12:00 AM EST A European conference concluded that more data on safety risks and ingredient quality of botanical supplements needs to be generated. In addition, governments need to make it easier to share botanical safety data. Dietary supplements derived from plants, algae, fungi or lichens are widely available globally, and an increasing number of people are collecting wild botanicals to use as food. But some botanicals and botanical preparations pose a threat to human health. Speakers at the conference said progress in this area is being made, but gaps in safety and quality data still exist. "More Understanding, Harmonisation Needed in Use of Botanicals in Food", Asia Food Journal, December 23, 2014, © Contineo Media Pte Ltd.

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Keurig Brewing Machine Recall Deemed A Major Setback December 23, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Vermont-based Keurig Green Mountain issued a voluntary recall of seven million Mini Plus Brewing Systems after 200 owners reported overheated water escaping from the machines. Ninety of the incidents resulted in burn-related injuries. Analysts said it is a major setback for Keurig, which is in the middle of a major marketing campaign for a new generation of brewing machines, known as Keurig 2.0. The recalled machines sold for about $100 at major retailers, including Target and Walmart. The company’s stock dropped 2.3 percent on the recall announcement. Annie Gasparro, "Keurig Recalls 7 Million Brewers After Burn Reports", The Wall Street Journal, December 23, 2014, © Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

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EFSA Analysis Finds Mostly Harmless Levels Of Pesticide Residues In EU Foods December 11, 2014: 12:00 AM EST A 2012 European Food Safety Authority analysis of more than 79,000 food samples found that most – 97 percent – were within legal limits of pesticide residues. More than half (54 percent) were pesticide free. The report analyzed food samples from 27 EU member states, plus Iceland and Norway. Organic foods were much less likely to exceed the maximum residue level (MRL) compared to non-organic products (0.8 percent vs. 3.1 percent). But the noncompliance rate of food imported from non-EU countries was five times higher than foods that originated in the EU (7.5 percent compared to 1.4 percent). The EFSA said the presence of pesticide residues in food in 2012 was “unlikely to have a long-term effect on consumer health”. "Over 97% of foods in EU contain pesticide residues within legal limits", News release, European Food Safety Authority, December 11, 2014, © EFSA

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KFC Launches PR Campaign In China To Prove Its Operations Are Hygienic December 10, 2014: 12:00 AM EST After a food safety scare at one of its Chinese suppliers, KFC has invited fried chicken lovers in the country – the biggest market for parent company Yum Brands -- to come and see for themselves that the restaurant chain maintains high standards of hygiene. The problem arose when a TV report alleged that workers at a KFC chicken supplier were adding expired meat to products. Customers can book a tour showing employee hand-washing, clean cooking oil, safe chicken raising practices, and use of purified water. Alexandra Harney, "KFC calls on Chinese diners to inspect its kitchen", Reuters, December 10, 2014, © Thomson Reuters

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Study Links BPA Intake From Plastic Containers To Hypertension December 8, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Add a new item to the list of health concerns related to the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), a common constituent of plastic bottles, packaging and food and beverage cans. A new study found that the BPA levels in the urine of people who drank soy milk from a can rose dramatically within two hours, along with blood pressure. Those who drank the same beverage from glass bottles without BPA linings, however, experienced no increase in blood pressure. The researchers said a single instance of BPA intake and increased blood pressure is probably not of concern. But drinking from multiple cans or plastic bottles every day could contribute to hypertension. Anahad O'Connor, "BPA in Cans and Plastic Bottles Linked to Quick Rise in Blood Pressure", The New York Times, December 08, 2014, © The New York Times Company

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GM Potato Approved By USDA For Planting November 7, 2014: 12:00 AM EST The USDA has approved for commercial planting a genetically engineered potato -- dubbed Innate -- that contains less of the suspected carcinogenic chemical acrylamide, which is produced when potatoes are fried. Developed by the privately held J. R. Simplot Company, the new biotech spud also resists bruising, a trait that could reduce costs for growers. The USDA approval is a boon for growers, but is not without controversy. Consumers have been questioning the safety of genetically engineered foods and asking that the products made from them be clearly labeled. Andrew Pollack, "U.S.D.A. Approves Modified Potato. Next Up: French Fry Fans.", The New York Times, November 07, 2014, © The New York Times Company

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Medicinal Plants Sampled In Pakistan Found To Be Contaminated With Toxins November 4, 2014: 12:00 AM EST A study of common medicinal plants grown in Pakistan finds that about 43 percent are naturally contaminated with toxins produced by molds. The study’s findings are sobering because 64 percent of people worldwide use medicinal plants to treat illnesses and relieve pain. The fast-growing herbal medicine market is worth $60 billion globally. Nearly a third of samples collected contained carcinogenic aflatoxins; a quarter contained ochratoxin A, which is harmful to the liver, kidneys and immune system. Toxins were found on samples of licorice, Indian rennet and opium poppy. Bashir Ahmad et al., "Evaluation of mycotoxins, mycobiota, and toxigenic fungi in selected medicinal plants of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. ", Fungal Biology, November 04, 2014, © The British Mycological Society

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FDA Recalls Of Dietary Supplements Often Fail To Get Dangerous Products Off Shelves November 3, 2014: 12:00 AM EST The FDA recalled 274 dietary supplements between January 2009 and December 2012 because they were adulterated with ingredients that had a reasonable possibility of causing serious harm or death. In a new study that focused on 27 (9.9 percent) of the recalled supplements, Harvard Medical School scientists using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry found that two-thirds containing adulterants were still on store shelves an average of 34.3 months (range 8-52 months) after the FDA recall. Supplements still being sold were adulterated in 85 percent of sports enhancement products, 67 percent of weight loss products, and 20 percent (1/5) of sexual enhancement products. Sixty-five percent of U.S.-produced supplements remained adulterated with banned ingredients. Pieter A. Cohen et al., "Presence of Banned Drugs in Dietary Supplements Following FDA Recalls. ", JAMA, November 03, 2014, © American Medical Association

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McDonald’s Profit Continues To Sag As It Works To Become More “Relevant” October 21, 2014: 12:00 AM EST McDonald’s stock dropped after the company posted a 30 percent drop in third quarter profit and significant declines in restaurant traffic globally. CEO Don Thompson acknowledged the company, which serves 70 million customers a day, has some image problems – is it still relevant? -- especially in an era of growing consumer interest in fresh, unprocessed food. To help solve the problem, Thompson said McDonald's is simplifying menus, tailoring food to local tastes, offering custom burger and sandwich options, rolling out mobile services, and launching a social media "dialogue" with customers. Lisa Baertlein, "McDonald's CEO acknowledges image problems after tough results", Reuters, October 21, 2014, © Thomson Reuters

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Harmful Metals Found In Brazilian Chocolate Products September 24, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Traces of potentially harmful metals are making their way into Brazilian chocolate products, scientists report in a new study. Chocolate has been praised in recent years for its healthful ingredients, especially flavonoid- and antioxidant-rich cocoa. But cocoa crops also take up cadmium and lead, naturally occurring metals that can cause serious health issues, including organ damage. The researchers analyzed 30 milk, dark and white chocolate products bought in Brazil, most of which were Brazilian. Dark chocolates were found to have the highest amounts of lead and cadmium, but all levels fell below maximum consumption limits set by Brazil, the European Union and the World Health Organization. “The results showed that chocolate might be a significant source of cadmium and lead ingestion, particularly for children,” the scientists warned. Javier E. L. Villa et al., "Cadmium and Lead in Chocolates Commercialized in Brazil", Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, September 24, 2014, © American Chemical Society

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French Bakery Workers At High Risk Of Job-Related Asthma September 8, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Research presented at a recent European medical conference confirms that flour was the main cause of occupational asthma in 20 percent of 330 cases in France. Known as “baker’s asthma”, the condition occurs when flour – including its dust and enzymes – irritates the respiratory system, causing allergy-related symptoms. The second leading cause of occupational asthma was cleaning products containing ammonia (15 percent of cases). Workers in food manufacturing were at greater risk for asthma than farm workers, and women were at greater risk than men. Alexandra Sifferlin, "Flour Is the Main Cause of Work Related Asthma in France", Time, September 08, 2014, © Time, Inc.

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Doctors Warn Of Dangers Of Some Chinese Herbal Potions August 28, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Physicians in Australia who saved the life of a woman who nearly died after ingesting a Chinese herbal preparation prescribed for back pain have issued a warning about nontraditional medications. A Chinese herbal medicine practitioner told the woman to boil a mixture of wolfsbane, and other plant and animal material containing aconite, prior to ingestion.  She was admitted to the emergency room after experiencing facial tingling and numbness, followed by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain, and eventually severe cardiovascular toxicity. Both patients and physicians need to be aware of the potential dangers lurking in Chinese herbal preparations, the doctors stressed. Angelly Martinez et al., " Life-threatening cardiovascular toxicity following ingestion of Chinese herbal medicine. ", Emergency Medicine Australasia, August 28, 2014, © Australasian College for Emergency Medicine and Australasian Society for Emergency Medicine

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Scientists Advise Only Limited Use Of Fluorochemicals In Food Packaging August 27, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Scientists in Denmark and elsewhere have issued a statement urging only essential use of fluorochemicals in food production and other applications. Fluorochemicals, applied  mainly as water-resistant coatings on food packaging, are difficult to break down and tend to accumulate in humans and the environment. They have been linked to harmful health effects such as cancer and fertility problems. Alternatives to fluorochemicals are being tested, but scientists urge that producers and suppliers investigate them thoroughly and make existing data on chemical and toxicological properties publically available. Xenia Trier, "Leading scientists call for a stop to non-essential use of fluorochemicals", DTU Food, August 27, 2014, © Technical University of Denmark

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McDonald’s Restaurants In Moscow: Pawns In A Larger Geopolitical Game? August 20, 2014: 12:00 AM EST A Russian food monitoring agency that has a history of banning food from countries out of favor with the government has closed four McDonald’s restaurants in Moscow because of “sanitary violations”. In the past, the agency has prohibited wine from Georgia and dairy products from Belarus after they sought closer relations with western nations. Recently the agency outlawed canned vegetables, fruit, fish, juice and certain beer and vodka from Ukraine. McDonald's said it was trying to figure out what it needs to do to get the restaurants re-opened “as soon as possible". Alec Luhn, "Russia closes McDonald's restaurants for 'sanitary violations'", The Guardian, August 20, 2014, © Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies

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Excessive Lead In Baby Cereal Sold In China Prompts Heinz Recall August 19, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Food safety officials in China’s Zhejiang province found “excessive amounts of lead” in 1,472 boxes of U.S. food maker H.J. Heinz’s AD Calcium Hi-Protein Cereal for babies, prompting a recall. The company, which issued an apology to customers, said it would recall four batches of the cereal as a precautionary measure. Safety officials urged Heinz to compensate customers who had purchased the tainted cereal. Sui-Lee Wee, "Heinz recalls four batches of infant food in China", Reuters, August 19, 2014, © Thomson Reuters

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Chinese Shoppers See California As An Exporter Of High-Quality Foods August 18, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Food shoppers in China and Hong Kong are paying closer attention to nutrition, sustainability, safety and – logically enough – country of origin, a fact that is driving demand for better quality food products. That’s good news for California food exporters, who are perceived by the Chinese as high quality producers. California has exported about $4 billion worth of food products – fresh produce, health foods, organic foods and premium wines – to Hong Kong and China so far in 2014, a nearly 20 percent increase over 2012. Forecasters see a similar double-digit increase by the end of the year. Stephen Las Marias, "Hong Kong, China Food Imports from California to Exceed $4B amid Mounting Food Scares", Asia Food Journal, August 18, 2014, © Contineo Media Pte Ltd.

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U.K.’s FSA Confident That Hygiene Problems At Chicken Abattoir Have Been Put Right August 12, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Britain’s Food Standards Agency admitted it goofed when it recently cleared one of the country’s biggest chicken processors of charges of lapses in hygiene. Workers at the processing plant had claimed that chickens dropped on the floor had been returned to the production line, a clear “breach of the legislation” the FSA has now acknowledged. A report by the newspaper Guardian was followed by an FSA inspection that found no problems at the Scunthorpe abattoir. In reversing the favorable ruling, the agency issued no penalties because Scunthorpe, which supplies chicken to leading U.K. retail chains, promised that the problems have been patched up. Felicity Lawrence et al., "UK food watchdog admits chicken factory breached hygiene laws", The Guardian, August 12, 2014, © Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies

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U.S. Is No. 5 On List Of Countries Who Are Major Food Safety Violators August 7, 2014: 12:00 AM EST A food source monitoring company found 3,400 verified food safety violations worldwide in 2013, many of them in The U.S.  Food Sentry said India topped the list with 380 incidents, followed by China (340), Mexico (260), France (190) and the U.S. (180). Other top ten countries were Vietnam, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Turkey and Spain. Incidents involved raw or minimally processed foods, including seafood, vegetables, fruits, spices, dairy, meats, grains, and nuts and seeds. Food Sentry said the data are significant for Americans because “we import from every single one of the countries in the top 10”. "U.S. Makes Top 10 List of Worst Food Safety Violators", Food Safety News, August 07, 2014, © Food Safety News/Marler Clark

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Scientists Find A Natural Way To Kill Deadly Foodborne Pathogens August 2, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Washington State University scientists who tested the impact of a common cooking spice on dangerous bacteria may have found a natural way to prevent at least some foodborne illnesses. In the study, Cinnmomum cassia (cinnamon) oil in low concentrations destroyed the top six strains of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli bacteria. Ten drops of the oil diluted in a liter of water killed the bacteria within 24 hours. The researchers said the oil can be incorporated into films and coatings for packaging both meat and fresh produce, and can be added into the washing step of meat, fruits or vegetables to eliminate microorganisms. Lina Sheng & Mei-Jun Zhu, "Inhibitory effect of Cinnamomum cassia oil on non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli. ", Food Control, August 02, 2014, © Elsevier B.V.

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Nearly Two-Thirds Of Non-organic Bread Products In U.K. Contain Pesticide Residue July 16, 2014: 12:00 AM EST A study based on British government data has found that the number of bread products containing pesticide residues has more than doubled since 2001, from 28 percent to 63 percent. Issued by the Pesticide Action Network (PAN) UK and the Organic Naturally Different campaign, the study analyzed test data collected between 2000 and 2013 on 2,951 bread samples. About 62 percent of the non-organic samples contained pesticide traces; 17 percent contained more than one trace. Seven percent of the organic samples – three of 42 products tested –  contained a single residue, and none contained multiple residues. Cross-contamination from non-organic crops, either during production or storage, is probably the reason for the tainted organic samples. "Two thirds of bread products contain pesticide", telegraph.co.uk, July 16, 2014, © Telegraph Media Group Limited

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Fungal Pathogens Can Be As Dangerous As Bacteria, Viruses July 8, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Last September, Chobani recalled Greek yogurt manufactured in its Idaho plant after customers complained of severe gastrointestinal discomfort. The company said the yogurt had been contaminated by a relatively harmless fungus dangerous only to people with unhealthy immune systems. After complaints from otherwise healthy individuals, however, scientists took a closer look. They found that the yogurt had been tainted by one particular fungal strain that, unlike other strains, showed an ability to cause lethal infections in mice when spores were injected into the bloodstream. They also  survived passage through the GI tract when ingested orally. The conclusion? “Fungal pathogens can threaten our health systems as food-borne pathogens." Soo Chan Lee et al., "Analysis of a Food-Borne Fungal Pathogen Outbreak: Virulence and Genome of a Mucor circinelloides Isolate from Yogurt. ", mBio, July 08, 2014, © Lee et al.

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Some Nutritional Sports Supplements Contain Banned Substances Not Listed On Label June 23, 2014: 12:00 AM EST A study by Australian scientists shows that some sports-related nutritional supplements sold in that country contain banned substances – specifically androgens – not listed on labels. The undisclosed contents put the general public at risk along with athletes who would test positive for illegal substances. The researchers tested 79 nutritional supplements purchased randomly from Sydney-based stores. They included protein powders, amino acids, creatines, fat metabolizers, "testosterone-boosters”, carbohydrates and stimulant/nitric oxide "pre-workout"-based supplements. Six of the tested products were androgen-positive but androgen was not listed on the label. Alison Heather et al., "Nutritional sports supplements sold in Australia test positive for banned androgens", News release, study presented at the joint meeting of the International Society of Endocrinology and the Endocrine Society, June 23, 2014, © Heather et al.

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New Technologies Help Eradicate Contamination Of Imported Herbs, Spices June 23, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Noting that the consumption of spices in the U.S. has “grown substantially” in the last 25 years, scientists who took part in a recent panel discussion said that as spice use has grown, so has spice safety. According to the FDA, 86 percent of households now use dry or fresh herbs, spices and seasonings. About 60 percent of these are imported, sourced from small farms; 12 percent of those are contaminated with microorganisms and pathogens. Contamination resulted in 14 illness outbreaks around the globe between 1973 and 2010. But new and improved manufacturing technologies – e.g., pulsed light, cold plasma, and controlled condensation steam processes – have all helped to eradicate pathogens during the production process, though the processes can be difficult to monitor or evaluate. "Farm to table oversight, new technologies improving spice safety", News release, panel discussion at the Institute of Food Technologists annual meeting, June 23, 2014, © Institute of Food Technologists

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FDA’s Plans To Limit Contamination Of Animal Food Has Farmers, And Brewers, Nervous June 20, 2014: 12:00 AM EST The leftover raw material of the beer brewing process – known as spent grain – is not wasted by breweries. For centuries, it has been either sold or donated to grateful local farmers to use as cheap, nutritious animal feed. But donating spent grain makes breweries animal food producers, in the eyes of the FDA at least, and subjects them to rules designed to nip food contamination in the bud. Though there has been no evidence that spent grain is a source of foodborne pathogens, last fall the FDA proposed regulations requiring breweries to develop a written plan to minimize contamination. Brewers assumed that would mean they would have to dry the spent grain before donating, an expensive process. The FDA will issue new rules at the end of summer, taking into account the 2,000 panicky comments received. It insists that the cost of compliance will be minimal. But wary brewers – and farmers – are anything but reassured. Shelby Pope, "Going Against The Grain: FDA Threatens Brewers' Feed For Farmers", KQED, June 20, 2014, © NPR

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Physicians Group Says Diet Supplements Can Be Harmful To The Liver June 17, 2014: 12:00 AM EST New guidelines on diagnosis of drug-induced liver injury warn of the impact of herbal and dietary supplements. Most of the products on the market are not well-regulated, the American College of Gastroenterology said, sometimes containing traces of heavy metals and prescription drugs. Drug-induced liver injury has been on the rise over the last decade along with the explosive growth in the use of supplements. The authors of the guidelines cited the example of catechins, a generally safe polyphenol found in green tea, an average cup of which contains 50-150 mg. But some green tea extract pills sold to help with weight loss contain more than 700 mg – particularly dangerous when taken several times a day. Naga P Chalasani et al., "ACG Clinical Guideline: The Diagnosis and Management of Idiosyncratic Drug-Induced Liver Injury. ", The American Journal of Gastroenterology, June 17, 2014, © The American College of Gastroenterology

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Quick, Accurate E. Coli Detection Test Would Benefit Cattle Industry, Beef Consumers June 16, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Researchers at Kansas State University have developed a molecular assay that can detect and quantify major genes specific for the deadly bacteria E. coli in cattle feed. If widely adopted, the test would identify pathogenic Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 before it had a chance to contaminate beef. That would not only benefit the cattle industry by preventing costly recalls, it would benefit consumers by ensuring the safety of the beef supply.  The new test is rapid and less labor-intensive than current detection methods, and can be automated to allow testing many samples in a short period of time. T.G. Nagaraja et al., "Better methods to detect E coli developed", News release, Kansas State University, June 16, 2014, © Kansas State University

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New Device Detects Deadly Pathogen On Ready-To-Eat Food Surfaces June 11, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Scientists in France and the U.K. have developed a device that detects foodborne pathogens, particularly Listeria monocytogenes, on food industry surfaces that could be used to prevent contaminated products from reaching the market. Listeria is transmitted by foods such as milk, cheese, vegetables, raw and smoked fish, meat and cold cuts. It has a 92 percent hospitalization rate and a mortality rate of 18 percent, making it the deadliest of all foodborne pathogens. The new device samples single cells and biofilms on food surfaces, then removes cells before they are introduced to an antibody. If Listeria monocytogenes is present, a camera detects a fluorescent signal when cells react with the antibody. Salomé Gião et al., "New sensor to detect harmful bacteria on food industry surfaces", News release, University of Southampton, June 11, 2014, © University of Southampton

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Owner Of Egg Company Guilty Of Food Safety Violations Faces Fine, Possible Jail Time June 3, 2014: 12:00 AM EST The owner of Quality Egg LLC and his son, the chief operating officer, have pleaded guilty in federal court to misdemeanor charges of introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce. Austin DeCoster and son Peter could be sentenced to up to a year in jail, in addition to paying $100,000 each in fines and paying further restitution to the victims of a 2010 salmonella outbreak that sickened thousands. The company, which also pleaded guilty to charges of bribing a U.S. Department of Agriculture inspector and selling misbranded food, has agreed to pay a $6.8 million fine, the largest federal food safety-related penalty ever imposed. Margery Beck, "Egg titan, son plead guilty in food safety case", Associated Press, June 03, 2014, © The Associated Press

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Groundswell Of Consumer Concern Convinces Bakers To Stop Adding ADA To Bread June 2, 2014: 12:00 AM EST The chemical known as azodicarbonamide (ADA) has been added to bread for many years to help keep the flour white, the dough stronger, and the bread softer and fuller. The substance is approved by the FDA; its constituent amount in bread is strictly regulated. But negative public opinion arose in April when it was publicized that ADA was used in the manufacture of yoga mats. Subway, targeted in a social media campaign, was the first store affected by the publicity. It has decided to stop using ADA to make its loaves. Though no food safety danger has been reported, the trend has spread to other bakers, including Pioneer Foods, Famous Brands, and the in-house bakeries of Pick n Pay and other retail chain grocers. Amanda Visser, "Consumers nudge bakers to cut bread additive", BusinessDay (South Africa), June 02, 2014, © BDFM Publishers (Pty) Ltd

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3M’s Petriflm Salmonella Test Validated By Independent Product Evaluator May 19, 2014: 12:00 AM EST According to the 3M company, nearly half of all pathogen tests in the U.S. food industry focus on Salmonella. With that in mind, the company announced that its new food safety test developed to detect the presence of deadly Salmonella bacteria in raw foods has won the approval of a health and safety evaluation organization. AOAC International has validated the effectiveness of 3M’s Petrifilm Salmonella Express System, launched last June, in detecting Salmonella in raw ground beef, cooked breaded chicken nuggets, raw ground chicken, raw ground pork, pasteurized liquid whole egg, fresh shrimp, fresh spinach, dry pet food and stainless steel. The Petrifilm system provides food processors and reference labs test results in 40 hours and biochemically confirmed results in 44 hours. "3M Petrifilm Salmonella Express System Receives First AOAC Official Methods of Analysis Validation", News release, 3M, May 19, 2014, via Business Wire, © 3M

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Edible Antimicrobial Films Might Someday Protect Meats From Pathogens May 1, 2014: 12:00 AM EST An edible, tasteless, transparent polymer film derived from a fungus might provide at least part of a solution to the problem of foodborne pathogens in the meat and poultry industries. U.S. researchers tested whether polymer films made from pullulan and permeated with essential oils derived from rosemary, oregano and zinc oxide or silver nanoparticles protected meats from harmful microbes. They found that meats vacuum-wrapped with the films not only killed germs already on the meats, but they protected the meats from further microbial incursions. The next step is to figure out how to “co-extrude” the antimicrobial films with conventional plastic films to combine the oxygen barrier of the plastic with the antimicrobial properties of the edible film. Mohamed K. Morsy et al., "Incorporation of Essential Oils and Nanoparticles in Pullulan Films to Control Foodborne Pathogens on Meat and Poultry Products. ", Journal of Food Science, May 01, 2014, © Institute of Food Technologists

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Wash Your Hands Or Trip The Alarm: P&G Seeks To Reduce Germ Spread In Public Restrooms April 28, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Using some scary public restroom germ facts, Procter & Gamble announced it is experimenting with a soap dispenser alarm system that makes a noise when people don’t wash their hands after going to the bathroom. Though public toilets have more than three million germs per square inch that can cause flu, pneumonia and tuberculosis, a third of people who use them fail to wash their hands. Market tested in the Philippines, the system locks the door on public restroom stalls in restaurants, schools and offices using pressure sensors connected to wall-mounted soap dispensers. To quiet the alarm, you have to use some soap. Barrett J. Brunsman, "Did you wash your hands? P&G testing soap alarms in public restrooms", Cincinnati Business Courier, April 28, 2014, © American City Business Journals

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Vermont’s GMO Food Labeling Legislation Likely To Be Challenged April 23, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin is expected to sign a bill passed by the legislature that requires food labels to clearly state the GMO ingredients in foods produced in the state. The law, which would go into effect on July 1, 2016, includes the requirement that products with GMO ingredients cannot claim to be “natural”. However, meat and dairy products from animals fed GMO feed need not be labeled GMO. And the law does not apply to medical foods or restaurant foods. While the law was welcomed by anti-GMO groups, some legal experts say it is highly likely it will face a 1st Amendment challenge. Elaine Watson, "Vermont GMO labeling bill heads to governor's desk. But can it withstand a First Amendment challenge?", Nutra Ingredients-usa.com, April 23, 2014, © William Reed Business Media SAS

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Advisories To Pregnant Women About Persistent Contaminants Are Mostly Ineffective April 17, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Canadian and Swedish researchers have found that advising pregnant women about the potential dangers to infants of exposure to quickly eliminated contaminants in fish – e.g., mercury – are generally effective. But advisories don’t work well when it comes to “persistent organic pollutants”: chemicals such as DDT and PCBs banned long ago but still in the environment and the food chain. Persistent pollutants can remain in the body for years, even decades because the human body has a difficult time eliminating them. Women who stop eating fish shortly before or during their pregnancy may only lower their child's exposure to persistent pollutants by 10 to 15 percent. Matthew J. Binnington et al., "Evaluating the Effectiveness of Fish Consumption Advisories: Modeling Prenatal, Postnatal, and Childhood Exposures to Persistent Organic Pollutants. ", Environmental Health Perspectives, April 17, 2014, © Binnington et al.

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FDA Allows Irradiation Of Shellfish To Control Foodborne Pathogens April 15, 2014: 12:00 AM EST The FDA, after extensive testing, has decided that ionizing irradiation of shellfish to control foodborne contamination is safe. The agency tested the technology for potential toxicity and microbiological risk, and for its impact on nutrients. It then decided to amend current regulations to allow the use of irradiation on crab, shrimp, lobster, crayfish and prawns, whether raw, frozen, cooked, partially cooked, shelled or cooked and ready to cook, including those processed with spices and other ingredients. Irradiation reduces, but does not eliminate entirely, pathogenic microorganisms such as Listeria, Vibrio and E. coli. On shellfish. Lydia Zuraw, "FDA Allows Irradiation in Crustaceans for Foodborne Pathogen Control", Food Safety News, April 15, 2014, © Food Safety News/ Marler Clark

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Hand And Cutting Board Hygiene Can Prevent Spread Of Drug-Resistant Poultry Bacteria April 15, 2014: 12:00 AM EST A study of household and hospital kitchens by Swiss researchers found that cutting boards and gloves were major vehicles for transmission of multi-drug resistant bacteria, including E. coli. The researchers analyzed 298 cutting boards used in the preparation of various meats and fish, and 20 pairs of food-handling gloves used in preparation of poultry. They found that 6.5 percent of hospital cutting boards used to prepare poultry were contaminated with drug-resistant E. coli. They found drug-resistant E. coli on 3.5 percent of the household cutting boards. And they found that half of the hospital kitchen gloves were contaminated with drug-resistant E. coli. The researchers said the findings emphasize the need for hand hygiene after handling raw poultry and after handling cutting boards. Sarah Tschudin-Sutter et al., "Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL)–Producing Enterobacteriaceae: A Threat from the Kitchen. ", Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, April 15, 2014, © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America

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Wal-Mart Protests China Fines; Calls On Government To Do More To Ensure Food Safety April 13, 2014: 12:00 AM EST After being fined $9.8 million over the previous three years by Chinese authorities, U.S. retailer Wal-Mart told China’s regulators that they also need to improve their product safety rules and policies. Some of the retailer’s alleged violations include misleading prices, selling products that did not meet quality standards and selling donkey meat that was later discovered as fox meat. In China, unlike in the U.S. and most other countries, manufacturers are not accountable for food safety problems. Instead, foreign-owned retailers, Wal-Mart in particular, often bear the brunt of government regulators’ actions. In contrast, regulators do not frequently visit stores owned by local grocery companies or often issue fines against them. Some market analysts said Wal-Mart’s risky move has enough basis, especially after the retailer had implemented various steps to ensure the quality and safety of food products it sells in the country. Laurie Burkitt and Shelly Banjo , "Wal-Mart Cries Foul on China Fines", Wall Street Journal, April 13, 2014, © Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

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ConAgra Foods May Face Criminal Charges Over 2007 Tainted Peanut Butter Recall April 2, 2014: 12:00 AM EST A federal investigation launched in 2011 over a 2007 recall of Salmonella-tainted Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter may result in criminal charges against the owner of the Sylvester, Ga., production plant, ConAgra Foods, Inc. The company said in a statement, however, that it was negotiating with the U.S. Department of Justice and it believes the outcome will be a “misdemeanor criminal disposition” of the case. The focus of the investigation was a damaged  roof that may have led to water-contamination of the production process. The tainted peanut butter purportedly caused 288 foodborne illnesses across 39 states. "Federal Criminal Charges Against ConAgra Still Possible Over Peter Pan Outbreak", Food Safety News, April 02, 2014, © Food Safety News/Marler Clark

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GlaxoSmithKline Recalls Alli Weight Loss Products After Tampering Discovered April 1, 2014: 12:00 AM EST The consumer healthcare division of GlaxoSmithKline has recalled all of its Alli weight loss products after discovering some of the packages have been tampered with. Consumers in seven U.S. states inquired about bottles of Alli that contained tablets and capsules in various shapes and colors that were not the same as the regular contents, which are turquoise blue capsules with a dark blue band. Some of the bottles inside the boxes were missing labels and had fake tamper-proof seals. The company has asked all retailers and pharmacies to remove Alli products from their shelves immediately. "GlaxoSmithKline Recalls Alli", Nutraceuticals World, April 01, 2014, © Rodman Media

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How Supplement Ingredient Suppliers Can Prevent Product Adulteration March 24, 2014: 12:00 AM EST French company Naturex, which supplies plant-based ingredients to the dietary supplement industry, offers some advice to manufacturers about preventing the “constant challenge” of product adulteration. It is of primary importance that ingredients suppliers use reliable partners (i.e., farmers) who maintain careful control over raw materials and “respect the environment”. During manufacturing, it is important to test and analyze products at key phases. Suppliers should implement a certification program that guarantees ingredients quality. And lastly, suppliers need to maintain and apply industrial expertise – basically, a sophisticated knowledge base – with regard to botanical ingredients to ensure consistency and efficacy. "Botanical adulteration: 4 steps to ensuring your customers get what they pay for ", Naturex, March 24, 2014, © Naturex

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China’s Lax Food Safety Enforcement Drives Western Retailers To Take Action March 20, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Inadequate government oversight of the food processing industry in China has forced Western food retailers like Walmart and Carrefour to take inspection matters into their own hands.  Walmart, for example, is boosting supplier inspections after a recent donkey meat recall – the meat turned out to contain fox DNA – and now conducts more DNA tests of meat in China than it does anywhere else in the world. The company expects to spend $16 million over three years to increase food safety in China after being stung by previous scandals there. The FDA is beefing up its inspection presence in China as well. The best solution, however, would be for the Chinese food processing industry to take more responsibility in food safety and for the government to strengthen its enforcement of standards. Liza Lin , "Keeping the Mystery Out of China's Meat", Bloomberg Businessweek, March 20, 2014, © Bloomberg L.P.

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Baby Food Recalled Because Of Choking Hazard March 5, 2014: 12:00 AM EST A defect in the manufacturing of plastic spouts for baby food pouches has led Plum Organics to issue a partial recall. The company said it had received 14 complaints from consumers about damaged spouts, fragments of which can come loose and present a choking hazard to young children. Recalled products included about 12,000 cases of World Baby Italy and World Baby Thailand products shipped to grocery stores and retailers. Plum Organics last issued a recall in November 2013 because of concerns about spoilage. "Plum Organics Children’s Products Recalled for Possible Choking Hazard", Food Safety News, March 05, 2014, © Food Safety News

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Food Technologists Promote Food Traceability To Protect Populations From Foodborne Illness February 21, 2014: 12:00 AM EST The Institute of Food Technologists has published a supplement to the Journal of Food Science that is designed to “catalyze and jump start” a multi-disciplinary approach to improving food traceability as a way to protect people from foodborne pathogen. The traceability problem has become acute now that the food supply chain contains hundreds of ingredients from around the globe. The IFT supplement features peer-reviewed articles on three Traceability Research Summits where dozens of experts from the food and technology industries discussed the meaning of traceability, how to achieve it pragmatically, and why it is important. Such a collaboration is necessary to protect the public from foodborne illness outbreaks and recalls. To that end, governments are already implementing new regulations that focus on food traceability. "Special Supplement: Making Food Traceability Work", Journal of Food Science, February 21, 2014, © Institute of Food Technologists

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Velveeta Manufacturer Recalls Product Because Of Labeling Error January 22, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Truitt Brothers Inc., a Kentucky company that manufactures Velveeta products for Kraft, has recalled a product because ingredients made from soy – a potential allergen – were not stated on the labels. The product – Kraft Velveeta Cheesy Skillets Singles Ultimate Cheeseburger Mac – was  shipped between May 2013 and January 2014. It has not been associated with any illnesses, according to Kraft. "Velveeta Recall Issued Over Mislabeled Products", Associated Press, January 22, 2014, © HuffPost Business - AOL Money & Finance

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Though A Debatable Issue, Whole Foods To Ban Use Of Sludge-Based Fertilizers By Its Growers January 21, 2014: 12:00 AM EST The safety of sludge (AKA biosolids) – the byproduct of processing municipal waste, including human body waste – as a fertilizer is a debatable issue. But Whole Foods Market, perhaps influenced by anti-sludge activists, has decided it’s definitely bad for customers, and for business. Anti-sludgists say biosolids are loaded with heavy metals and pharmaceuticals that render fertilizers toxic and dangerous. Scientists who have studied biosolids, however, disagree, saying they offer big environmental benefits. At any rate, a new produce rating system being launched by Whole Foods in September will bar its growers from using biosolids. The company acknowledges that none currently use the stuff on their fields. Eliza Barclay, "Whole Foods Bans Produce Grown With Sludge. But Who Wins?", Report, NPR, January 21, 2014, © NPR

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