Food Safety

TECH FLASH

CFIA reports cow with bovine spongiform encephalopathy

The cow that tested positive for the condition was born two years after Canada instituted tougher bans on animal feed to prevent the disease.

Jeremy Gerrard

February 25, 2015

USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the UK’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council announce a partnership to research animal disease prevention.

TECH FLASH

Federal agencies develop improved method to attribute foodborne illness

A new report says a better understanding of the types of foods that contribute to the problem is necessary.

Jeremy Gerrard

February 25, 2015

The agencies analyzed 1,000 outbreaks that occurred from 1998 to 2012 to assess which categories of foods were most responsible for making people sick.

TECH FLASH

Annual Pest Invasion this April

Hosted by McCloud Services, the annual event held in Oakbrook, IL will focus on food safety and pest management in the food industry.

Jeremy Gerrard

February 25, 2015

The event seeks to bring together individuals from the entire food supply chain of custody, including food industry, pest management and environmental health professionals.

Manufacturing News

Recent accidents spur OSHA to launch new initiatives

A workplace injury in Florida mirrors another recent incident involving lockout/tagout standards

February 5, 2015

The unexpected startup of robotic equipment—palletizers included—can result in a release of stored energy.

Food Safety Column

Cleaning is more important than ever

Richard F. Stier

February 4, 2015

Food plant cleanup has come a long way in the past 40 years.

Food Safety

Avoid labeling-related recalls

Tips and techniques to get labels right the first time, every time.

Wayne Labs

February 4, 2015

More than 60 percent of FDA recalls are due to labeling issues.

TECH FLASH

EFSA support safety of BPA

A recent European Food Safety Authority report on Bisphenol A indicates no health concern at current dietary contact levels of exposure.

Jeremy Gerrard

January 23, 2015

However, there is considerable uncertainty regarding exposure safety from non-dietary sources.

TECH FLASH

USDA proposes measures to reduce Salmonella, Campylobacter

The new standards will apply to ground chicken and turkey products as well as raw chicken breasts, legs and wings.

Jeremy Gerrard

January 23, 2015

FSIS estimates an average of 50,000 illnesses will be prevented annually in the US after the standards are implemented.

Food Safety

Chemical cleaning in the FSMA age

Debra Schug

January 8, 2015

US Founding Father Benjamin Franklin famously said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” which could be the motto of the pending Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

Manufacturing News

In January 2011, the Food Safety Modernization Act came into being, and six core teams were formed to focus on six key sections: preventive standards, inspection and compliance, imports, federal/state integration, fees and reports, and studies.