Food Safety News and Research

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Swine flu slows down global economic activity

Concerns about a Swine flu outbreak lowered retail stocks on Monday.

27 Apr 2009

Contamination of seeds for alfalfa sprouts linked to salmonella

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recommended that consumers not eat raw alfalfa sprouts, including sprout blends containing alfalfa sprouts, until further notice because the product has been linked to Salmonella serotype Saintpaul contamination.

26 Apr 2009

More reasons to eat green vegetables

Vegetables in the Brassica family -- such as broccoli, cabbage, kale and Brussels sprouts -- are inexpensive yet very nutritive, providing beneficial phytochemicals as well as vitamins, minerals and fiber, according to a report presented in the Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety , a peer reviewed publication of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).

15 Apr 2009

Vaccine for Enterotoxigenic E. coli developed

A Michigan State University researcher has developed a working vaccine for a strain of E. coli that kills 2 million to 3 million children each year in the developing world.

14 Apr 2009

CDC reports progress in foodborne illness prevention has reached a plateau

The incidence of the most common foodborne illnesses has changed very little over the past three years, according to a 10-state report released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

12 Apr 2009

Major health care overhaul in China

Chinese officials have unveiled a health-care plan which promises to deliver to all its 1.3 billion citizens, fair and affordable health services by the year 2020.

8 Apr 2009

Expert available to discuss consumption of products containing pistachios

Dr. Steven M. Marcus, executive director of the New Jersey Poison Information & Education System (NJPIES) at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School is available to provide comment on the Federal Food and Drug Administration warning issued today on the consumption of products containing pistachios.

1 Apr 2009

Protecting the public from food-borne illness and food associated hazards are main goal as addressed by food scientist

At the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and National Research Council (NRC) meeting held on March 24, Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) food scientist Dr. Frank Busta addressed food safety gaps in the Food Protection Plan by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

30 Mar 2009

Some 'pharma' advocates want FDA split into two agencies

Some pharmaceutical industry officials and congressional lawmakers are pushing for splitting FDA into two agencies that would focus separately on food and medical products, the AP/Houston Chronicle reports.

23 Mar 2009

FDA shuts down a flour tortilla manufacturer for repeated violations

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that Del Rey Tortilleria Inc., Chicago, Ill., its president, and two general managers have entered into a consent decree of permanent injunction that prevents Del Rey Tortilleria from manufacturing and distributing soft-shell flour tortillas until the company obtains FDA approval.

8 Mar 2009

NRL partners with industry to develop compact biosensor for wide-ranging applications

Scientists at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) are partnering with industry to develop a sensor system for biomolecules that could make a significant contribution to a variety of fields such as healthcare, veterinary diagnostics, food safety, environmental testing, and national security.

3 Feb 2009

New insights into a avian pathogenic E. coli and its risks to human health

Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University associate research scientist Melha Mellata, a member of professor Roy Curtiss' team, is leading a USDA funded project to develop a vaccine against a leading poultry disease called avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC).

29 Jan 2009

Most Australian food recalls due to 'foreign matter'

While consumers in the U.S. seem to be grappling to deal with an almost continuous parade of food recalls and alerts, Australian consumers will be heartened to hear that since 2000 the number of Australian food recalls has fallen to its lowest level in 8 years.

21 Jan 2009

U.S. patent for NanoLantern diagnostic technology

The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) has received a U.S. patent for a diagnostic technology that can rapidly and accurately screen for organisms such as bacteria and other infectious agents.

9 Jan 2009

Intralytix awarded U.S. patent for bacteriophage treatment of colonization by pathogenic bacteria

Intralytix, Inc., announced today that it has been issued a patent by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office covering the use of bacteriophages to reduce the risk of bacterial infection in persons colonized with pathogenic bacteria including MRSA.

10 Dec 2008

New guidelines for tolerable daily intake of melamine

International experts have established a tolerable daily intake (TDI) for melamine, the chemical found recently in contaminated milk products. The TDI is the outcome of a meeting organized by WHO held this week in Ottawa, Canada. The TDI is lower than previous TDIs suggested for melamine by some national food safety authorities.

5 Dec 2008

Cholera outbreaks in Zimbabwe

As of 1 December 2008, the Ministry of Health in Zimbabwe has reported a total of 11 735 cholera cases with 484 deaths since August 2008, affecting all provinces in the country. The overall case fatality rate is 4% but has reached up to 20¨C30% in remote areas. Out of the total number of cases, 50% have been reported from Budiriro, a high density suburb of the capital city, Harare.

2 Dec 2008