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Seafood provides essential nutrients but consumers still keep watchful eye on safety

Seafood continues to be a proven strong nutrient-rich food providing essential vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids, but consumers and some toxicologists still keep a watchful eye on safety, according to a July 16 panel discussion at the 2013 Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting & Food Expo- held at McCormick Place.

18 Jul 2013

Social media and DNA fingerprinting played important role in alerting strep outbreak

Facebook posts helped alert public health officials to a strep throat outbreak among a high school dance team in 2012, and DNA fingerprinting led investigators to pasta prepared by a previously ill parent as the likely source.

18 Jul 2013

FDA approves QIAGEN’s therascreen EGFR test as companion diagnostic for NSCLC patients

QIAGEN N.V. (NASDAQ: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) today announced it has received approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market the therascreen EGFR test as a companion diagnostic to guide the use of Boehringer Ingelheim's new targeted therapy, GILOTRIF™ (afatinib), for treatment of metastatic NSCLC in patients whose tumors have certain EGFR gene mutations.

From QIAGEN Manchester Limited 15 Jul 2013

Chickens purchased from farmers markets carry higher bacterial loads

Raw, whole chickens purchased from farmers markets throughout Pennsylvania contained significantly higher levels of bacteria that can cause foodborne illness compared to those purchased from grocery stores in the region, according to a small-scale study by researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences

12 Jul 2013

Lawson Farm of Irasburg shut down for selling animals with illegal drug residues for food

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced that the United States District Court for the District of Vermont entered a consent decree of permanent injunction against Lawson Farm of Irasburg, Vermont, its owner, Robert Lawson, and its manager, George R. Lawson, for selling cows and bull calves for human food that contain illegal drug residues in violation of federal law.

10 Jul 2013

Codex Alimentarius Commission approves new standards to protect consumers' health

The UN food standards body Codex Alimentarius has agreed on new standards to protect the health of consumers worldwide. These include standards on fruit, vegetables, fish and fishery products and animal feed.

9 Jul 2013

FDA to restrain shipments of pomegranate seeds from Turkey after hepatitis A outbreak

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will detain shipments of pomegranate seeds from Goknur Gida Maddeleri Ithalat Ihracat Tic [Goknur Foodstuffs Import Export Trading] of Turkey when they are offered for import into the United States.

1 Jul 2013

Researchers identify factors influencing E. coli contamination of spinach prior to harvest

A team of researchers from Texas and Colorado has identified a variety of factors that influence the likelihood of E. coli contamination of spinach on farms prior to harvest. Their research is published in the July 2013 issue of the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

21 Jun 2013

Microfluidic devices can trap and sort bacteria and viruses in food and water

A new process for making a three-dimensional microstructure that can be used in the analysis of cells could prove useful in counterterrorism measures and in water and food safety concerns.

20 Jun 2013

Brain circuits involved in compulsive behavior reveal a surprising connection with obesity

What started as an experiment to probe brain circuits involved in compulsive behavior has revealed a surprising connection with obesity.

11 Jun 2013

New analytical techniques show certain foodstuffs exceed permitted levels of mycotoxins

Researchers from the University of Granada (Spain) have analysed the presence of patulin, a type of toxin produced by fungi, in several commercial apple juices. The results show that more than 50% of the samples analysed exceed the maximum limits laid down by law.

10 Jun 2013

New approach to beef trade could positively transform livelihoods for farmers, reduce threat to wildlife movements

A new study by the Wildlife Conservation Society's Animal & Human Health for the Environment And Development (AHEAD) Program, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and regional partners finds that a new approach to beef production in southern Africa could positively transform livelihoods for farmers and pastoralists, while helping to secure a future for wildlife and wildlife-based tourism opportunities.

3 Jun 2013

It is possible to reduce salt content without reducing the taste

It is entirely possible to reduce the salt content in a range of foods by up to 30% without reducing the taste.

3 Jun 2013

Queen's University Belfast scientists awarded research grants to tackle tropical diseases

Queen's University Belfast has been announced as a Grand Challenges Explorations winner, an initiative founded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Scientists at the University's Institute for Global Food Security have been awarded grants to pursue two Innovative global health and development research projects aimed at tackling tropical diseases.

31 May 2013

New app for iPhone helps detect toxins, proteins, bacteria and viruses

Researchers and physicians in the field could soon run on-the-spot tests for environmental toxins, medical diagnostics, food safety and more with their smartphones.

27 May 2013

Research: Frequency of candy consumption is not associated with adverse health risks

At a time when the spotlight is focused on obesity more than ever, new research suggests that frequency of candy consumption is not associated with weight or certain adverse health risks.

21 May 2013

FDA seeks injunction in court against New York City Fish

The U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is seeking a preliminary injunction in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York against New York City Fish, Inc., and several key employees for manufacturing and distributing ready-to-eat fish products under insanitary conditions causing them to become adulterated.

18 May 2013

Juice products from Juices Incorporated have potential health risk, FDA warns

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to consume any juice products or other beverages from Juices Incorporated (aka Juices International and Juices Enterprises) of Brooklyn, N.Y.

13 May 2013

Farming practices for food safety threaten valuable ecological systems

Meticulous attention to food safety is a good thing. As consumers, we like to hear that produce growers and distributers go above and beyond food safety mandates to ensure that healthy fresh fruits and vegetables do not carry bacteria or viruses that can make us sick.

6 May 2013

New technique developed at MU may make food contamination testing more rapid, accurate

Sales of chicken products in China plummeted recently during an outbreak of a deadly new strain of bird flu. From bird flu to mad cow disease, numerous food scares have made global headlines in recent years.

19 Apr 2013