Food Safety

Michel Witmer, Groen Agro Control:

"Number of recalls surprises me"

Salmonella, Listeria monocytogens, wrong labeling: the number of recalls in the past months is significantly higher than in other years. Michel Witmer, Groen Agro Control, already wondered about this in September: "How is it possible certain things still occur?" As product manager food he sees a lot, and now he has turned to…

Ukraine adopts law regulating food labelling

Ukraine has taken another step in approximation with EU legislation, this time in the area of information for consumers. Ukraine's parliament (Verkhovna Rada) on Thursday 6…

Ultraviolet light could extend shelf life of food and reduce waste

Food waste is a major problem facing today’s society. LSU AgCenter food scientists are working on ways to extend the shelf life of food products, which will help reduce waste. LSU AgCenter reporter Craig Gautreaux has the story from the LSU campus. Source: LSU AgCenter (Kenneth Gautreaux)

Punjab Food Safety dept tells traders: No stickers on fruits or vegetables

The Punjab Food Safety department has asked traders not to paste stickers on fruit and vegetables, as these can pose health hazards to consumers. The Food Safety Teams have…

How farmers markets can respond to the romaine lettuce scare

Just prior to Thanksgiving, the CDC and FDA took the unusual step of warning shoppers to avoid all romaine lettuce, stating “Consumers who have any type of romaine lettuce in their home should not eat it and should throw it away.” The advice came as a response to an outbreak of E. Coli that has sickened…

Another needle found inside supermarket fruit

Strawberry saga continues

The strawberry contamination saga that rocked Australia in September is still not over, after a needle was found inside fruit purchased from a supermarket on Saturday. The needle was discovered in a strawberry punnet…

Twin cities - Minneapolis and Saint Paul situation

Romaine recall still troublesome for US restaurants

Romaine lettuce is slowly making its way back to the salad bar, but that doesn’t mean business is back to normal quite yet for Twin Cities salad restaurants and grocers. Nearly two weeks after a nationwide recall of romaine lettuce due to an E. coli outbreak, the FDA says most romaine is safe to eat, as long as…

Blockchain and what it has to do with Romaine Lettuce and food safety

Blockchain is the technology and approach that allows people to share a database, which is duplicated across a network of many, many, many computers and other devices. This is…

US: Yuma growers adopt safety labels for romaine lettuce

In the US, romaine lettuce is being tagged with new consumer-protection labels to help reassure people that it is safe to eat after a nationwide E. coli outbreak. Lettuce…

FDA: "Hydroponically- and greenhouse-grown romaine lettuce safe"

Romaine lettuce E. coli outbreak narrowed down to California

With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) having narrowed down the origin of contaminated romaine lettuce, experts urge consumers to be vigilant in determining the source of any lettuce they purchase. “The CDC states that if the origin is not labeled then you should err on the safe side and not…

Canadian test kit promises to identify E. coli-contaminated lettuce

A new rapid testing kit developed at Western University in London, Ontario, can detect E. coli in romaine lettuce long before shipments hit grocery shelves.   The Public Health Agency of Canada has warned against eating romaine lettuce because of an E. coli outbreak, forcing retailers to pull supplies from their stores. Researchers said…

US: Law firm files first E coli lawsuit in romaine lettuce E coli outbreak

On November 26, 2018, The Lange Law Firm filed an E coli lawsuit on behalf of a man who was diagnosed with an E coli infection and hospitalized in Florida, after eating romaine lettuce at Beef O'Brady's in Florida. The E coli victim is a Texas resident. Food safety lawyer Jory Lange has received dozens of calls…

Dead end for police investigation into Auckland strawberry scare

New Zealand: 'All avenues exhausted'

The hunt for the person -or persons- putting needles into strawberries in an Auckland supermarket has proved fruitless. Police launched an inquiry in September when the…

"Exempt indoor grown lettuce from romaine recall"

With the romaine being pulled out of the shops and the product receiving some very bad publicity due to the recent E.coli contamination, greenhouse growers throughout the US and Canada are opening up to show the public what solution they can bring to food safety.  Yesterday we've shown you already how Gotham Greens responded ,…

"Danish fruit and vegetables cleaner than EU imports"

Danish fruit and vegetables contain very little residue of crop protection products, according to the annual report of the Danish Food Council and the Danish Technical University (DTU). 79 percent of the 2,000 products that were analyzed did not contain plant protection agents or had traces that were…

Multiple statements were issued in regards to the E. coli outbreak

"Situations like this remind us why traceability and transparency are so important in our food system"

"Avoid eating romaine lettuce - it may be contaminated with E.coli." This very serious message has been given by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. They are advising consumers to avoid eating romaine lettuce until more is learned about the…

Trans-Tasman alliance to stamp out threats to national biosecurity

Hort Innovation has thrown its support behind a new joint initiative to combat threats to plant biosecurity. Cemented by a Memorandum of Understanding between Australia and New Zealand, the Trans-Tasman collaborative, led by Australia’s Plant Biosecurity Research Initiative (PBRI) and New Zealand’s Better Border Biosecurity…

US industry statement:

"Arizona leafy green industry has gone to ‘unprecedented lengths’ following E.coli outbreak"

Arizona’s leafy green industry is responding to the recent report by the FDA, issuing the following statement on November 2: “During the seven months it has taken the U.S. Food & Drug…

Scientists find antibiotic-resistant bacteria on fresh produce

Resistant germs: Can raw food and lettuce be health risks?

Salads are popular foods for people who strive to eat a balanced and healthy diet. These consumption goods are often being sold pre-cut and packaged in plastic containers.…

Australia: Seeing straight through biosecurity risks

A year-long trial of a 3D X-ray unit has commenced at Melbourne International airport to help detect biosecurity risks faster and more effectively. Minister for Agriculture, David Littleproud said the Rapiscan RTT 110 X-Ray unit was a huge step forward for Australia’s biosecurity. “Our clean green reputation makes Australian produce valued overseas…

Possibly mixed up with jimsonweed leaves

Bulgaria: Food safety agency recalls bagged spinach

The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) has issued a recall for a spinach product on suspicion that it might be mixed with jimsonweed leaves. The agency did some urgent checks after receiving…

Australia: Strawberry tampering culprit charged

Growcom in association with Queensland Strawberries are pleased to be advised police have arrested and charged someone with the original act of product sabotage regarding the needles in strawberries incident. by Growcom CEO David Thomson We congratulate Queensland Police for their efforts and hope this person will be brought to…

US (MI): Growers will be looking for local labs due to new food safety rules

The Produce Safety Rule (PSR) is one of seven rules in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) coming into effect in the next three years. Growers will be calling labs for water testing, and they will be using new FSMA vocabulary that lab techs and support staff may not have heard before. They must…

Western Canada: Five more salmonella cases linked to long English cucumbers

A salmonella outbreak that has stricken 42 people in British Columbia since mid-June has been linked to long English cucumbers, according to the Public Health Agency of…

Detecting E.coli strains using molecular electronics

Finding a fast and inexpensive way to detect specific strains of bacteria and viruses is critical to food safety, water quality, environmental protection and human health. However, current methods for detecting illness-causing strains of bacteria such as E. coli require either time-intensive biological…

US (AZ): Leafy greens industry "ready for a safe and successful harvest season"

During the seven months it has taken the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and Center for Disease Control to analyze and complete its final investigative report on last spring's E.coli outbreak, Yuma's agriculture community has worked to ensure the safety of its produce.   "Even before the FDA showed up on the ground…

Canadian Food Inspection Agency:

Canada herb brand Culantro recalled due to Salmonella

Canada Herb is recalling Canada Herb brand Culantro from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. Individuals should not consume the recalled product…

US: FDA announces measures to prevent future E. coli outbreaks

Earlier this year, the US experienced the largest E. coli O157:H7 outbreak the country has seen in the last decade, leaving hundreds sick and claiming the lives of five people…

New Zealand: New food safety guide for directors, executives and business owners

New Zealand Food Safety released a new publication that provides foundation food safety information for directors, executives and owners of food businesses. New Zealand Food Safety's director of food regulation, Paul Dansted says the guide, entitled Food safety: Good governance guide for directors, executives and business…

US: Draft guidances to help growers comply with FSMA

On October 19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued two draft guidance documents to help farmers and fresh-cut produce processors better understand what they need to do to meet requirements established by the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The first draft guidance is a compliance and implementation…

Healthy Powerfood GbR.:

Five sprout varieties recalled because of E.Coli

For reasons of consumer protection, Healthy Powerfood Gbr. is recalling a total of 5 varieties of sprouts with a shelf life up to and including 29.10.2018. it concerns the…

Lithuanian food watchdog receives four complaints over needles in food

This week, Lithuania's State Food and Veterinary Service has received four complaints on needles found in foodstuffs. Three complaints were related to needles found in…

Canada: Salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers

The Public Health Agency of Canada is collaborating with provincial public health partners, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada to investigate an outbreak of Salmonella infections involving five provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Quebec. The illness…

Potential Salmonella/Listeria contamination

US salad recall includes Whole Foods 365 brand

A California-based grocery chain is recalling almost half a ton of ready-to-eat salads, including the 365 brand sold by Whole Foods, because they contain corn from a third-party supplier that is under recall for potential contamination from Salmonella and Listeria bacteria. GH Foods CA LLC of Sacramento initiated the…

NAFDAC Nigeria warns:

“Consumption of rotten tomatoes causes cancer”

This weekend, the Nigerian National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), warned its countrymen against the consumption of rotten tomatoes, claiming…

Yellow leaf curl virus found

Egypt discusses to stop import tomato variety due to TYLCV

This Sunday, the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture proposed a ban on  the import of a hybrid tomato variety after the infection of thousands of acres with yellow leaf curl virus…

Michel Witmer:

“I’m surprised by the number of recalls”

Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, incorrect labels: in recent months, the number of recalls has been considerably higher than in previous years. Michel Witmer of Groen Agro Control is surprised by this. “How is it possible these things still happen?” he wonders. As a product manager of food, he sees a…

Official bodies ensuring that recalled lettuce not allowed back in Malaysia

Malaysia will monitor all checkpoints to ensure exported vegetables pulled off the shelves in Singapore are not allowed back into the local market. The Agriculture and Agro-based Industries’ enforcement body, the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (Maqis) is responsible here. It all started when iceberg lettuce from a…

Food safety conference delivers key learnings to the fresh produce industry

The theme of this year’s Fresh Produce Safety Conference, hosted by the Fresh Produce Safety Centre Australia & New Zealand in Sydney, was ‘Food Safety: It’s Your Responsibility’. Bringing together over 150 food producers and manufacturers, packers, distributors and retailers, students and researchers, the event…

US (FL): Recruiting insects as allies for plants in food security project

A University of Florida lab spearheaded a campaign to recruit insects as allies that can aid in reducing plant stress to enhance food security. The initial, 12-month “recruiting” effort by Jane Polston, a professor of plant pathology at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, successfully completes the first…

Fresh Produce Safety Conference

Listeria in fresh produce: Are we any the wiser?

‘The role of food safety staff must go beyond compliance and keeping the regulatory guys happy,’ said Suresh DeCosta, Director of Food Safety, Lipman Family Farms (USA) and…

Australia: A preliminary wash-up of the strawberry tampering issue

It has not been an easy period for the Australian horticulture industry with the strawberry tampering crisis dominating headlines and political agendas and causing significant angst for growers. by Growcom CEO David Thomson Queensland health continues to maintain that only three brands were affected and that consumers can manage…

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