Specialty food firms could feel brunt of increased regulation Jun 27, 2009
They are concerned such rules will pressure smaller operators and micro-businesses, even though recent food contamination incidents have occurred at larger corporate farms and production plants ... HR 2749 has the backing of food safety advocates, consumer protection organizations and federal lawmakers worried about recent food contamination incidents. (Phoenix Business Journal, AZ)
Infant formula adulteration with melamine underscores need for better detection methods Jun 18, 2009
Some have separated considerations of "quality" from those of "safety." However, at a time when public health is threatened by recurring incidents of deliberate or inadvertent food contamination, it is less plausible to do soand consumers see little distinction between the two. Both quality and safety need to be addressed not only in terms of microbial contamination (such as Salmonella or E. coli), but in terms of the standards for ingredients used to make or fortify foods for human and animal... (EurekAlert! -- Business News)
Remove additives 'to cut cancer risk' Jun 16, 2009
He told a group of politicians and industry stakeholders in Canberra on Tuesday that there needed to be a closer examination of the health impacts of the five pillars of food contamination - hormones, antibiotics, GM organisms, pesticides and slaughterhouse waste. Removing the "five pillars" would lead to a healthier population, would reduce the incidence of cancer, while healthcare costs would be lower, he said. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Getting Rid Of Your Grocer May 10, 2009
Consumers who are concerned about quality of grocery produce and its origin should support and help grow this movement-- particularly with their worries about food contamination from pesticides and disease. USDA inspection of imported produce is all but a joke. (CBS News)
US-EU cheese spat ends May 8, 2009
After numerous food contamination scandals in Europe notably the "mad cow" scare regulators there adopted a more precautionary approach, which Mr. Lenain describes as "when you don't know something, you just don't do it.". The National Cattlemen's Beef Association, of the US, says Europe is wrong to ban hormone-treated beef. (Christian Science Monitor)
Food Safety and Your Health May 3, 2009
Food contamination is mostly preventable with the implementation of some health conscious practices. Wash hands after using the bathroom and before handling food. (Suite101.com)
Perdue Talks Food Safety at Lane Packing May 2, 2009
The bill will also require full disclosure of food contamination records and mandatory testing for food-borne diseases, such as salmonella. If a company finds salmonella in a plant, they have 24 hours to notify the state. (13WMAZ.com, GA)
Litchfield Focus: Farming Apr 28, 2009
As for the interaction between regulations and local agriculture, Mr. Roraback cited an example of Litchfield farmers' discovery that they could not sell produce to the West Street Grill because there was not enough documentation to track where the produce came from in case of a related food contamination. The protocol has since been changed, provided that the farmers issue a certificate with the produce, but it illustrated what Mr. Roraback called "regulatory overkill," a societal choice made... (Litchfield County Times, CT)
Harris Teeter recalls pistachios over salmonella fears Apr 13, 2009
The Obama administration says it is taking a more aggressive stance with the FDA to prevent sickness and death from food contamination. at s Texas and Georgia plants resulted in the recall of more than 2,200 products earlier this year. (Raleigh Triangle Business Journal, NC)
Food safety for this century Apr 11, 2009
In this and other food contamination cases, private auditors working for the producer fail to detect obvious problems. Mackay offered several proposals for improving food safety regulation, not least a requirement that the government itself inspect annually any plant making a high-risk food like peanut butter. (Boston Globe)
Six patients still hospitalised after eating contaminated rojak Apr 10, 2009
" onclick="Next();" src="/images/butt_next. After SARS, I think we drop to maybe 5/10 or worse. (Channelnewsasia.com)
Nut Co.: Kraft Found Salmonella In 2008 Apr 4, 2009
Food contamination can happen at any time. Perhaps we should look at our own kitchens and the improper handling of food that takes place in our homes. (CBS News)
'Organic food' -_What does it mean? Apr 3, 2009
Food contamination incidents, such as the recent foodborne illness outbreaks from peanut butter, tomatoes and spinach, raise the issue of food safety. Just because an item is grown organically does not mean it is automatically handled more hygienically than conventional grown food. (Leavenworth Lamp, KS)
Unrequired Test Detected Tainted Pistachios Apr 2, 2009
4:06 P.M. GMT march 31, 2009 4:37 P.M. GMT march 31, 2009 Here's a look at some recent cases of food contamination recalls. Sponsored Links. (Click2Houston, TX)
Pistachio Company: Raw Nuts May Be Source Apr 1, 2009
Does the latest case of food contamination sound familiar. of food contamination recalls. (KIRO TV, WA)
Food waste plagues recycling efforts Mar 30, 2009
Despite recent efforts by the administration to improve efficiency by adopting a new vendor that hand-sorts garbage off campus, food contamination in recycling bins poses a challenge to the University as it looks to expand its recycling options. Placing food waste into recycling bins increases the number of items ending up in landfills instead of recycling plants. (Washington University Student Life, MO)
Texas AG sues Wei-Chuan Mar 28, 2009
Court documents filed by the attorney general s office also accuse Wei-Chuan of not adequately preventing food contamination by having a facility that is not easily cleaned nor free of debris. The state is seeking civil penalties of up to $25,000 per day per violation of the Texas Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act. (Houston Business Journal, TX)
Critical violations found at downtown restaurant Mar 27, 2009
-Critical violation: Likely to contribute to food contamination or food-borne illness. The Health Department has the authority to close the facility until it is corrected. (Erie Times-News, PA)
Orchard needs license Mar 25, 2009
If anything, public health agencies are too lax in overseeing the serious threat of food contamination. Millions of Americans are poisoned by food-borne illnesses each year, and thousands die as a result. (Herald Online, SC -- Opinion)
Plant pathologists call for more data to support pre-harvest food safety interventions Mar 25, 2009
"New targeted research will provide the necessary tools and strategies, as well as creative cross-disciplinary approaches necessary, to design effective solutions to microbial contamination of food plants, which is vital to the protection of U.S. crops." While increased funding for food inspections is important, checking processing sites will not prevent food contamination if human pathogens are already colonizing the plant. Fletcher, along with other key plant pathologists, provided case... (EurekAlert!)
Blakely plant got good reviews from firm it hired Mar 21, 2009
AIB issued a statement Thursday saying that while its inspection of Peanut Corp. included the review of written records and policies and a visual assessment of plant conditions, it did not test for food contamination. The owner of King Nut Co., said his company could do little more than rely on Peanut Corp. to supply safe products. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
Failure to report salmonella about to become felony Mar 19, 2009
The bill will mandate, not request, state access to records regarding the destruction of food contamination such as salmonella, which could include salmonella testing and logs on the use of roasters. The legislation is the result of the scandal involving a that is blamed for a number of deaths and illnesses around the country. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Metro)
Read the 'JER' transcript Mar 17, 2009
It's like food contamination and the Food and Drug Administration. These regulators are responsible for thousands and thousands and thousands of individuals and institutions. (Fox News)
Man's foray into kuchen sales lands him in hot water with the health department Mar 13, 2009
These poisonous diseases can be caused by lax food handling, food contamination, inadequate hot and cold storage and staging, preparing food too far ahead of service and sanitary issues of poor hygiene and infected personnel, Hepper said. These areas of concern aren t limited to farmers markets, but include carnivals, fairs, carnivals, circuses or similar transient or seasonal concessions. (Rapid City Journal, SD)
State starts new food-safety guidelines Mar 12, 2009
Senate Bill 80, which recently passed, would mandate, not request, state access to records regarding the destruction of food contamination such as salmonella, which could include salmonella testing and logs on the use of roasters. The bill also would demand that a company that finds salmonella notify the state within 24 hours. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
Outbreak spurs changes in Ga. food inspection Mar 11, 2009
It would allow Georgia's agriculture commissioner to instruct local health officials, such as those working for a county health department, to check out possible cases of food contamination. They would not be allowed to shut down food operations, but could alert state or federal officials to anything "suspicious," said state Rep. (MSNBC -- Health)
Peanut inspections riddled with holes Mar 8, 2009
Haphazard enforcement allows dangerous conditions to flourish inside Georgia processing plants, said Bill Marler, a lawyer in Seattle who specializes in food contamination cases. He represents several clients who say they were sickened by Peanut Corp. products. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Caution: Stomach microbe is back Mar 7, 2009
The county's environmental resources department responds to the reports when food contamination is suspected. It's possible for outbreaks to occur at restaurants, cafeterias, family picnics or anyplace where food is served, said Sonya Harrigfeld, environmental resources director. (Modesto Bee, CA)
Peanut Corp. clients face big losses Mar 7, 2009
Dama s Atlanta Nut Co. is one of about 100 businesses in Georgia and 500 nationwide that did business with Peanut Corp., the company at the center of one of the largest food contamination outbreaks in U.S. history ... Peanut Corp. s bankruptcy proceedings, scheduled to begin Thursday in Virginia, mark the next chapter in an epic episode of food contamination that has sickened 677 people in 45 states and may have contributed to nine deaths. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Health Ministry gears up for food safety monitoring Mar 6, 2009
BEIJING, March 6 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Health issued a circular to health authorities Thursday urging them to step up prevention of food contamination and monitoring of food quality-related illnesses ... Health Minister Chen Zhu said the ministry would create a national database of information about food contamination, food-related illnesses and diet surveys within two years. (Xinhuanet, China)
Atlanta Woman Finds 'Mammal Bone' in Blue M&M Mar 5, 2009
Potts is also awaiting a response from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which oversees food contamination complaints. "I just want to follow this to its logical conclusion," she said. (Fox News)
Another View: Ingredients for a safe food supply Feb 28, 2009
But recent stories of food contamination have troubled many American consumers and, in some cases, affected their confidence in our food supply. People need to know that the brands they buy and the foods they eat are safe, which is why product safety is priority one for our industry. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Opinion)
China warns illegal food additives a problem Feb 25, 2009
The scandal, which unfolded in September, was one of the country's worst food contamination crises. It prompted the drafting of a new food safety law. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- World)
China investigating kidney ailments in babies Feb 19, 2009
The scandal, which unfolded in September, was one of the country's worst food contamination crises. It involved products from the country's biggest dairies and underscored the government's chronic problems with policing product quality. (International Herald Tribune)
READERS WRITE Feb 19, 2009
As we consider losses to our investment holdings, rising unemployment, international violence, food contamination the list of bad news seems endless. But I have rediscovered a great antidepressant. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Opinion)
Senate bill plans food contamination tests Feb 19, 2009
Senate bill calls for food contamination tests. By. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
China clears Danone, milk products of melamine Feb 16, 2009
Last year's milk scandal, over nitrogen-rich melamine that was added to milk to fool protein tests, was China's worst food contamination crisis. It also exposed loose controls over large companies like Mengniu and Yili Industrial Group Co., whose products were recalled. (USA Today -- News)
Peanut plant boss now a recluse after outbreak Feb 14, 2009
His appearance before a House subcommittee was the first opportunity to put a face to the latest food contamination scare: a round, slightly swollen, seemingly sleepless face of a man fidgeting in his seat, or tapping his fingers on the desk before him, or folding his arms awkwardly, or jerking his head to the side as if he heard his name called. "I'm assuming he will talk when the time is right," said his brother Michael of Midlothian, Va. (MSNBC -- Health)
Many moms avoiding all peanut butter foods Feb 13, 2009
The survey showed that while 68 percent of people questioned believed instances of food contamination had increased in the past five years, 87 percent felt that the United States had one of the best food safety systems in the world ... Companies with strong brands were more likely to withstand an incident of food contamination than companies not as well known, according to the survey ... Consumers were also more likely to judge an incident of food contamination at a well known company as an... (MSNBC -- Health)
Peanut boss takes the Fifth Feb 13, 2009
He stays mum when queried about food contamination. By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR AND BRETT J. BLACKLEDGE, Associated Press First published in print: Thursday, February 12, 2009. (Albany Times Union)
Lax Regulation In Peanut Factories Feb 12, 2009
And yet this plant's food safety record is spotless: no food contamination in 37 years. To keep it that way, Plant Food Analyst Carla McCarter takes hundreds of swab samples every week, doing routine Salmonella checks on their peanut butter. (CBS News)
Peanut butter officials spurn Congress' questions Feb 12, 2009
" Lou Tousignant told lawmakers his father, Clifford, 78, a decorated Korean War veteran, also died from salmonella linked to peanut butter. "We should not be sitting here in front of you today, any of us," he said, adding that stories of food contamination are not new. "How can we truly be leaders of the free world if we can't keep our own citizens safe from the food that we eat every day. " "This was not an accident," said Peter Hurley, a Portland, Oregon, police officer whose 3-year-old son... (CNN -- Health)
