Food Safety News and Research

RSS

Bruker launches GC CARE gas chromatography columns

At Pittcon 2011, Bruker has significantly expanded its gas chromatography solutions with the release of Bruker GC CARE gas chromatography columns.

16 Mar 2011

FDA clears Intralytix phage-based EcoShield food safety product

Intralytix, Inc. announced today that it has received regulatory clearance from the Food and Drug Administration for its phage-based EcoShield food safety product, effective against E. coli O157:H7.

16 Mar 2011

Bits of plastic in Lean Cuisine meals bring recall

The recall notice was issued Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and affects about 10,260 pounds of frozen spaghetti and meatballs. Food maker Nestle, in its statement, says the affected packages were produced in October. The health risk associated with this recall is low, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service explained. If the product is consumed, there is only a remote probability of adverse health consequences.

15 Mar 2011

CCMAS endorses IDF/ISO Guidelines for melamine determination in milk products, infant formula

In response to the crisis caused by milk adulterated with melamine that affected thousands of children in 2008, the International Dairy Federation and the International Organization for Standardization developed a technical specification/reviewed method : ISO/TS 15495 | IDF/RM 230:2010, Milk, milk products and infant formulae - Guidelines for the quantitative determination of melamine and cyanuric acid by LC-MS/MS.

15 Mar 2011

Viewpoints: Are waivers weakening health law?; Ill. 'Dangerous Docs'; Arizona transplants

It is irresponsible for the feds to dole out hundreds of millions without the assurance of insurance, payment and system reform, as well as universal coverage. That's the problem with Republican proposals to use a "block grant" approach in giving Medicaid dollars to the states to do with as they will. The president should use his precious time to encourage the law's implementation as soon as possible in areas of the country that are already on this road -- like our own Upper Midwest -- not to coddle his political enemies.

9 Mar 2011

Scientists sequence Clostridium botulinum genome that produces neurotoxin

Scientists on the Norwich Research Park have sequenced the genome of a novel strain of Clostridium botulinum, one of the most dangerous pathogens known to man. The strain produces an unusual botulinum neurotoxin, known as type A5 neurotoxin, which was isolated by the Health Protection Agency, following a case of wound botulism.

8 Mar 2011

Food safety lawyer calls on DeFranco & Sons to pay medical bills for hazelnuts victims

Food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker is calling on DeFranco & Sons, a Los Angeles, California wholesaler to pay medical bills and other costs incurred by victims of the multi-state E. coli O157:H7 outbreak associated with eating in-the-shell hazelnuts, also known as filberts.

6 Mar 2011

Thermo Fisher Scientific plans for new manufacturing facility in China

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, today announced plans for a new manufacturing facility in China within the Suzhou Science and Technology Town - part of the company's strategy to aggressively expand its presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

From Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 2 Mar 2011

Baxter announces European rMRP approval of PREFLUCEL seasonal influenza vaccine

Baxter International Inc. announced today the approval of a European repeat mutual recognition procedure (rMRP) by the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety for Baxter's PREFLUCEL seasonal influenza vaccine. The 13 participating European Union countries, including Germany, Spain, United Kingdom and Nordic countries, will formally implement the license on a national level to make PREFLUCEL available for the 2011-12 influenza season.

From Baxter International Inc. 2 Mar 2011

UIC researchers receive USDA grant to reduce obesity in preschool children

The preschool years are a critical period for addressing weight-related behaviors among at-risk groups, say researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Among young children, obesity has tripled since 1980, and the prevalence is highest among black and Hispanic children.

1 Mar 2011

$1 million USDA grant aims to reduce obesity in preschoolers

1 Mar 2011

Tomato consumption can reduce cancer, osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases

Eating more tomatoes and tomato products can make people healthier and decrease the risk of conditions such as cancer, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease, according to a review article the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine.

1 Mar 2011

Temporary budget compromise would not defund health law

News outlets covered the ongoing saga of whether Congress and the president will avert a government shutdown.

28 Feb 2011

Bioniche presentation focuses on implementing E. coli cattle vaccine to reduce risk of human infection

Bioniche Life Sciences Inc., a research-based, technology-driven Canadian biopharmaceutical company, gave a presentation about its E. coli O157 cattle vaccine at the First International One Health Congress in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

16 Feb 2011

FDA requests $4.3 billion to protect and promote health of Americans as part of FY 2012 budget

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is requesting a budget of $4.3 billion to protect and promote the public health as part of the President's fiscal year 2012 budget — a 33 percent increase over the FDA enacted budget for FY 2010. The FY 2012 request covers the period of Oct. 1, 2011, through Sept. 30, 2012.

15 Feb 2011

New Republican spending cuts include well-known health programs

House Republican leaders pushed out a new round of proposed spending cuts Friday night as they sought to meet demands by conservatives in the party to trim $100 billion from the current spending levels. Health programs were among the targets.

14 Feb 2011

Americans willing to pay more, but up to a limit, for safer food

Government regulators could more realistically assess the value of improving food safety if they considered the fact that consumers typically want to avoid getting sick - even if it means they have to pay a little extra for safer food, researchers say.

10 Feb 2011

IFT announces support for the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) today announced its support for the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) as a landmark opportunity to ensure that Americans focus on healthier food choices and increased physical activity.

1 Feb 2011

Synutra International renews manufacturing license for its primary production facility

Synutra International, Inc., a leading infant formula company in China and a producer, marketer and seller of nutritional products for infants, children and adults, today announced that it has renewed its manufacturing license for its primary production facility with the Shandong Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision.

29 Jan 2011

Improper food handling can lead to gastrointestinal illness in children

In the confined space of a classroom, gastrointestinal illnesses can spread quickly, causing sufferers many painful and uncomfortable symptoms. But what is to blame for a school-based outbreak? In most cases, improper food handling is the culprit, says a Ryerson University public health expert.

28 Jan 2011