Expanded salad recall due to Cyclospora

On June 22nd, the FDA warned to avoid certain "Garden Salad" products from three Midwest retailers due to Cyclospora. Now, Hy-Vee, Inc., based in West Des Moines, Iowa, is recalling an additional 12 salads across its eight-state region due to the potential that they may be contaminated with Cyclospora.…

"You don't need chemicals to clean fresh food products"

According to estimates of the global incidence of foodborne diseases, over 23 million people in Europe fall ill each year as a result of eating contaminated food. For some 5,000 people, consumption will even result in death. Quite often it does not take new, extraordinary things to prevent this, but…

FDA warns to avoid certain “Garden Salad” products from 3 Midwest retailers due to cyclospora

The FDA issues a warning to consumers to avoid certain store brand packaged and labeled “Garden Salad” products from three retailers in the Midwest due to Cyclospora. Frank…

Detecting pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables with smartphone pics

With the improvement of living standards, people's demand for food has grown from being full to eating well and safely. For fruits, vegetables, and tea leaves, some people will worry about pesticide residues on them, but in the near future, the ability to self-check pesticide residues at home will become…

The internal issues affecting capsicums

Internal fruit rot can be a significant issue for capsicum growers. In response to this, a project is aiming to deliver capsicum growers with an integrated disease management strategy to control internal rot, as well as developing a predictive model that will help growers identify crops at risk and…

LGMA forms adjacent lands subcommittee to make romaine safer

The California LGMA has appointed a special new subcommittee to focus on how land adjacent to leafy greens farms may be contributing to foodborne illness outbreaks associated with romaine lettuce. This action is part of a comprehensive review of all existing food safety practices required under the LGMA…

"Everyone is now very aware of how quickly diseases can spread"

Dutch hygiene equipment specialist Elpress has granted sales rights to CMW for the UK horticulture sector. Elpress has been an innovator in hygiene equipment for more than thirty years. Their experience in the healthcare, dairy, meat and food processing industries with equipment designed and manufactured…

US: FDA report provides clues to prevent future outbreaks

California leafy greens growers are pledging to incorporate findings from a report issued today by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) into its ongoing process to…

Is COVID-19 changing our relationship with food?

How have our eating, cooking and food purchasing habits changed due to the coronavirus pandemic and the resultant lockdown measures in the UK, Europe and much of the world? Researchers at the James Hutton Institute are part of an EU consortium which has launched an international study to answer these…

Food system innovations – and how to get there

An international group of almost fifty scientists identified 75 emerging innovations and has drawn up 8 action points with the aim of accelerating the transition to a sustainable and healthy food system. They published their action points in Nature Food. "The emerging innovations will contribute to…

GlobalGAP starts world consultation tour for standard revision version 6

The development phase of GlobalGAP’s IFA standard version 6 is in full swing. GlobalGAP aims to include as many stakeholders into the revision process as possible. The goal is to create a version 6 that will be practical and easy to use for everyone. To reach this goal, GlobalGAP is drawing on all its…

The modern mouse trap

In the Netherlands, rat poison has been banned for outdoor use as pest control since 2018. Soon, a European ban on the use of this poison will follow. The rat and mouse nuisance, however, threatens to only increase in the coming years. That is what the Dutch Animal Infestation Knowledge and Advice Centre reported in 2019. Time…

Longer lasting lettuce

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have identified five Romaine lettuce varieties that both brown less quickly after fresh-cut processing and are slower to deteriorate postharvest. They are also determining the genetic basis for deterioration. The researchers have identified the location of genes associated with…

UAE Webinar on food safety

The Netherlands Business Council UAE (NBC) in partnership with the Benelux Council, the Embassy and the Consulate General of the Kingdom of The Netherlands held a special Webinar on Food Security in the UAE on Sunday, the 10th of May. Keynote speaker was H.E. Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri, Minister of State for Food…

Washing crates to beat ToBRFV

People have been aware of the existence of the 'Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus' (ToBRFV) for several years. The virus has now spread across several continents and is also appearing ever more often in the Netherlands. For some time now, Limex has been intensively involved with nurseries that are concerned about ToBRFV. The team…

Cleaning your aquaponic system

It’s that time of year for spring cleaning, time to refresh your aquaponic system and make it more abundant and attractive. Here are ten steps to keep the system going strong and clean.  Manage temperature…

FreshPlaza

New Zealand: Remote audits for NZGAP certification

New Zealand Good Agricultural Practice (NZGAP) has joined the rest of New Zealand in the move to contactless interaction.  Working closely with the AsureQuality and SGS auditors, NZGAP has been able to keep growers audited during the COVID-19 lockdown and ongoing health and safety restrictions. Papakura based…

CAN (ON): Alliance-funded fruit and vegetable technology adapted to sanitize N95 masks amid COVID-19 pandemic

Prof. Keith Warriner is a food scientist, but when he heard about the shortage of N95 masks for front-line health-care workers battling COVID-19, he saw an opportunity to contribute. Warriner and several collaborators have adapted technology that uses UV light, hydrogen peroxide and ozone to…

The Produce Box gains customers and farmers amid COVID-19 crisis

In the new normal of the COVID-19 pandemic, food deliveries have become more commonplace for many consumers. While The Produce Box has been connecting customers with fresh produce, meat and other items since 2008, new demand for local produce and meat products has fueled a 300 percent growth rate for its…