Food Safety News and Research

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TFAH commends Childhood Obesity Task Force's report

Trust for America's Health commends the Childhood Obesity Task Force's report, Solving the Problem of Childhood Obesity Within a Generation, which includes proposed recommendations for reducing the rate of childhood obesity from 17% to 5% by 2030. The report includes a total of 70 recommendations for specific action steps, many of which can be implemented right away and are minimal or no-cost.

12 May 2010

African countries meet in Brazil to discuss food security

Representatives from African countries kicked-off a meeting about food security on Monday in Brazil, PANA/Afrique en ligne reports. The meeting is part of a series of Brazilian initiatives, which aim to strengthen ties between the country and Africa and help the continent expand its agricultural capabilities (5/11).

12 May 2010

MOCON's net sales for first-quarter 2010 increase 15% to $7,093,000

MOCON, Inc. today reported its operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

6 May 2010

New tools developed to enrich cereal products with bioactive compounds

The bioactive compounds of cereals are concentrated in the peripheral layers of the grains (bran) but most of them have a low bio-accessibility. In the HEALTHGRAIN project of the European Union, new tools for process monitoring were developed that support commercial implementation of innovative milling techniques including partial grain debranning, fine grinding and classification of grain fractions, resulting in flours and ingredients with enhanced nutritional properties.

6 May 2010

Iowa State University researcher works on faster method to detect salmonella from contaminated foods

Using technology available through a local company, an Iowa State University researcher is working on a faster method to detect and genetically identify salmonella from contaminated foods.

5 May 2010

IFT supports FDA's salt reduction initiative

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) today offered its support to help the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) meet the challenges of reducing the amount of sodium in foods.

4 May 2010

FDA sets new safety standards for transportation of food

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is asking commercial food transporters to follow new guidance the agency is issuing today to reduce the chances of physical, chemical, biological and other risks during transportation of foods while the agency reviews current food safety transportation regulations.

3 May 2010

Researchers explore use of nanomedicine techniques for treatment of diseases in children

"Children are not small adults"—pediatricians say that's what makes their specialty different from the practice of medicine in adults. For similar reasons, researchers exploring the medical uses of nanotechnology believe that the use of molecular-level nanomedicine techniques in children will also require its own specialty.

3 May 2010

AES CHEMUNEX to distribute SDIX's RapidChek food pathogen detection systems in Europe

Strategic Diagnostics Inc., now doing business as SDIX, a leading provider of biotechnology-based products and services for a broad range of life science, biotechnology, diagnostic, and food safety applications, today announced it has signed a distribution agreement with AES CHEMUNEX.

27 Apr 2010

SQI Diagnostics signs development agreement with Silliker

SQI Diagnostics Inc., a medical systems automation company focused on evolving laboratory-based biomarker testing, today announced that it has entered into a development agreement with Silliker, Inc., a leading internationally accredited company dedicated to improving nutrition, food safety and quality, for the commercialization of a botulism toxin panel that will run on SQI's SQiDman analytical system.

26 Apr 2010

ITI granted AOAC approval for additional Salmonella matrices

Idaho Technology, Inc. (ITI) has received AOAC Performance Tested Method approval for two additional Salmonella matrices—stainless steel environmental samples and dry pet food. These matrices join the list of already approved matrices in the Salmonella LT Food Security System including chocolate, cooked ham, fresh raw chicken, lettuce, raw ground beef, and liquid whole eggs. This assay uses real-time PCR technology to identify the presence of Salmonella in less than one hour after a pre-enrichment period.

20 Apr 2010

Trans fats back on the agenda in UK

Dariush Mozzaffarian and Meir J Stamper, wrote an article in the British Medical Journal urging the government to ban industrial trans fatty acids or TFAs. This adds to the plea of doctors and medical charities across the country, who want to follow the example of Denmark and New York City where TFAs have been eradicated without affecting the price, taste or availability of products.

19 Apr 2010

UDH to participate in Abbott's new PLEX-ID BPEP

Abbott today announced that the Utah Department of Health is one of five sites in the United States to participate in Abbott's new PLEX-ID Biopreparedness Evaluation Program, which involves Abbott, the Association of Public Health Laboratories and five state public health labs.

16 Apr 2010

Melamine concentrations in eggs do not exceed FDA limits

Eggs from chickens that consumed extremely high levels of melamine in their feed still did not contain levels of the potentially toxic contaminant that exceeded U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limits.

16 Apr 2010

Escherichia coli cases drop in 2009

As per a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) a 12 % drop in rates of Escherichia coli (E.coli) infection has been noted in 2009 as compared to statistics for 2008. This is being seen by federal health officials as a sign that the new food safety measures are effective. Most of the pathogens under study are from the bacteria family like E.coli 0157, salmonella, campylobacter, listeria and vibrio. It was found that food poisoning rates for the most common pathogens have changed little from statistics collected in 2004.

16 Apr 2010

To ban or not to ban trans fats

Now it is doctors too who have joined the move towards banning trans fats from food. Trans fats are hydrogenated solid fats that are found in deep fried foods, margarine, bakery products, fast foods etc. they are used because they are cheap and keep better. However it has long been known that these fats are bad for the heart leading to heart attacks, strokes and high blood cholesterol etc.

16 Apr 2010

FDA publishes guidance to prevent Salmonella Enteritidis in shell eggs

On April 13, 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration published guidance for small egg producers to help them comply with a 2009 federal egg safety regulation designed to prevent Salmonella Enteritidis in shell eggs during production, transportation, and storage.

16 Apr 2010

Thermo Fisher Scientific opens global food testing laboratory in Dreieich, Germany

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, today opened a global food testing laboratory devoted solely to helping contain costly and life-threatening chemical contamination crises. The Food Safety Response Center, located in Dreieich, Germany, is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and staffed by world-class chemists who will quickly mobilize to aid governments and businesses facing an unknown food safety threat involving chemical contaminants.

From Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 15 Apr 2010

AB SCIEX announces formal opening of Asia Pacific Application Support Center in Shanghai

AB SCIEX, a global leader in life science analytical technologies, today announced the formal opening of its Asia Pacific Application Support Center in Shanghai. With state-of-the-art, award-winning facilities, the new Application Support Center serves as a regional center of excellence for comprehensive service, support and application development to enable the science community in China and the region to continue its increasing use of mass spectrometry and complementary technologies for a broad range of applications.

12 Apr 2010

Level of bacteria on fresh produce can vary according to income level: Study

No one wants a mixed salad tossed with extra bacteria, mold and yeast, but those are just what you might find when you try to eat a healthier diet in poorer neighborhoods. A new study shows that the level of bacteria found on the fresh produce can vary according to the income level of the neighborhoods where it is for sale.

9 Apr 2010