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Cargill recalls four tons of ground beef products due to E. coli O26 recent outbreak

The recent outbreak of E. coli O26 linked to three illnesses and the recall of four tons of ground beef products produced by Cargill Meat Solutions is the precise reason these pathogens need to be monitored, says Seattle food safety attorney Bill Marler.

30 Aug 2010

New methodologies for protein measurement needed to address adulteration in infant formula and pet food

Recent incidents of adulteration involving infant formula, other milk products and pet food with the industrial chemical melamine revealed the weaknesses of current methods widely used across the domestic and global food industry for determining protein content in foods. The possible utility of alternative existing and emerging methods is the subject of a new paper published in Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, a peer-reviewed journal of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).

27 Aug 2010

Coalition of organizations request FDA to govern antibiotic usage in food animal production

Today a broad coalition of organizations hand-delivered the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) more than 180,000 letters responding to the agency's request for comments on rules governing the use of antibiotics on industrial farms.

27 Aug 2010

Current egg recall highlights shortcomings in food safety system, sets up call for Senate action in September

Politico: Problems in the nation's response to the current salmonella outbreak and the resulting recall of 600 million eggs is related to the Senate's year-long stall of pending food safety legislation, according to consumer groups and experts. "The House approved its version of the food safety bill in July 2009 — that was more than 60 recalls of Food and Drug Administration regulated products ago, according to a report by the Make Our Food Safe Coalition.

25 Aug 2010

First Edition: August 24, 2010

In today's headlines, a federal court judge blocks the Obama administration's stem cell policy. Meanwhile, state action related to health reform and health policy continues.

24 Aug 2010

Cornell University experts comment on recall of 380 million eggs

Cornell University experts on farm animals and food safety comment on the recall of at least 380 million eggs in the past week due to concerns over salmonella contamination.

21 Aug 2010

New FDA laws on egg safety would have prevented salmonella outbreak, Feds say

The Washington Post: "Salmonella-infected eggs traceable to a large egg producer in Iowa may have caused as many as 1,200 cases of intestinal illness … The eggs went to distribution companies in 17 states, mostly west of the Mississippi River, but were then sold nationwide. ... Many states, as well as egg-producer associations, have voluntary 'egg quality assurance' programs with guidelines similar to those that are now mandatory. … In healthy people, it rarely causes severe illness.

21 Aug 2010

Rodobo International reports 86.5% increase in third quarter 2010 revenue

Rodobo International, Inc., one of the leading independent dairy companies in China, reported financial results for the third quarter ended June 30, 2010.

17 Aug 2010

Delegates explore agricultural cooperation, expanded ties at two-day China-Africa Agricultural Forum

Chinese and African officials concluded the China-Africa Agricultural Forum in Beijing on Thursday, which explored possibilities for agricultural cooperation and addressed food security issues, Xinhua reports.

16 Aug 2010

China-Biotics net sales for first-quarter fiscal 2011 increase 61.8% to $24.9 million

China-Biotics, Inc., a leading developer, manufacturer and distributor of probiotics products in China, today reported its financial results for the first quarter of its 2011 fiscal year, ended June 30, 2010.

9 Aug 2010

First Salmonella lawsuit filed against Yum Brands

The first Salmonella lawsuit has been filed in the pair of Salmonella outbreaks that has sickened 155 people in 21 states. The lawsuit was filed against Yum! Brands (the parent company of Taco Bell) in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Franklin County Circuit Court. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a Scott county resident by food safety law firm Marler Clark.

7 Aug 2010

Health and Safety Watch launches new website to help Canadians access health-related information

Health and Safety Watch Inc., an organization established to help Canadians manage all types of health and safety hazards, today officially launched www.HealthandSafetyWatch.com, a new website designed to give Canadians easy access to real-time information about the 500-plus product, food, and drug recalls, as well as health advisories, that occur every year.

3 Aug 2010

Life Technologies launches new assay to detect deadly strain of E. coli

Life Technologies, a provider of innovative life science solutions, announced at the International Association of Food Protection annual meeting the launch of the MicroSEQ E. coli O157:H7 assay, designed to detect the deadly strain of Escherichia coli (E. coli), using the company's industry-leading real-time PCR technology.

2 Aug 2010

New funding made available to tackle common cause of food poisoning in the UK

Up to £2 Million is being made available today to tackle the most common cause of food poisoning in the UK - Campylobacter. Three of the UK's main public funders of food safety research have come together to invite research proposals to find out more about the organism and how best to control it. To provide safe and nutritious food for a growing world population it is important to reduce the incidence of food poisoning. Campylobacter species are responsible for more than 300,000 cases of food poisoning a year in England and Wales.

28 Jul 2010

Neogen fiscal 2010 net income increases 26% to $17.5M

Neogen Corporation announced today that its net income for its 2010 fiscal year, which ended May 31, increased 26% from the previous year to $17,521,000. Net income in the fiscal year increased to $0.76 per share, compared to the prior year's $0.61, adjusted for a 3-for-2 stock split that was effective Dec. 15, 2009.

20 Jul 2010

Mizzou Advantage researchers examine food-related issues to find solutions for future

Many of society's most challenging health issues, including obesity, nutritional shortages and chronic disease, are related to food. University of Missouri researchers are examining the multiple facets of food and how it impacts our lives - from medicine and research to policy and law to education and business.

15 Jul 2010

Comprehensive evaluation report of EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity & Health released

Five years ago, the European Commission created the EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity & Health, which brought together a variety of concerned stakeholders and challenged them to respond to the rising tide of obesity in Europe.

14 Jul 2010

Federal food safety agencies commended for supporting Food Safety Working Group

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius today commended federal food safety agencies for their accomplishments supporting the charge of President Obama's Food Safety Working Group, which advises the President on how to upgrade the U.S. food safety system for the 21st century.

12 Jul 2010

New food safety requirements for large-scale egg producers: FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that as many as 79,000 illnesses and 30 deaths due to consumption of eggs contaminated with the bacterium Salmonella Enteritidis may be avoided each year with new food safety requirements for large-scale egg producers.

9 Jul 2010

Thermo Fisher Scientific announces new methods to detect petroleum contamination in oysters and fish

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, today announced that its global Food Safety Response Center located in Dreieich, Germany, has developed two new analytical screening methods to detect petroleum contamination in oysters and fish, specifically hydrocarbons and poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), resulting from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

From Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 9 Jul 2010