Food Safety

Pasteurization

The importance of maintaining nutritional and sensory quality in pasteurized food

While thermal pasteurization can affect quality in nuts and seeds, finding the right non-thermal process can render product with no noticeable product changes

Penny Clark

January 2, 2020

For nuts and seeds, non-thermal pasteurization is a must in preserving flavor, texture and appearance.

Food Safety

Listeria outbreak linked to hard-boiled eggs

Almark Foods recalls pails of eggs; restaurants and stores warned to sanitize surfaces

Rose Shilling

December 23, 2019

Public health officials are investigating a listeria outbreak linked to hard-boiled eggs used in salads at restaurants and grocery stores.

Food Safety

Whole Foods recalls boxes of holiday cookies that don’t list allergens

Chocolate sandwich cookies with peppermint or caramel sold nationwide

Rose Shilling

December 20, 2019

Whole Foods Market recalled two varieties of limited edition 365 Everyday Value dark chocolate sandwich cookies that may contain milk or coconut, allergens that aren’t listed on the packages.

What processors need to know about environmental monitoring

Richard F. Stier

December 17, 2019

Do we need to establish a program for environmental monitoring for pathogens?

Regulatory Watch

IFSAC releases 2017 report on foodborne illness sources

Sharon Spielman

December 17, 2019

In an ongoing effort to understand sources of foodborne illness in the U.S., the Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration (IFSAC) collects and analyzes outbreak data to produce an annual report with estimates of foods responsible for foodborne illnesses caused by pathogens.

Regulatory Watch

MFRPS revised by FDA

Sharon Spielman

December 16, 2019

The FDA has issued revised food safety standards for state regulatory programs that oversee food facilities that manufacture, process, pack or hold foods.

Food Safety

Romaine E. coli update: Illnesses subsiding, FDA tracking 3 separate outbreaks

FDA awaiting final results from Salinas farm samples

Rose Shilling

December 13, 2019

As the FDA awaits final results from extensive E. coli tests of romaine lettuce farms in one California growing region, it says outbreak illnesses are slowing, though two separate outbreaks have popped up.

Food Safety

Recalled El Monterey breakfast burritos might contain plastic pieces

Problem discovered through consumer complaints

Rose Shilling

December 11, 2019

Ruiz Food Products Inc. recalled about 55,000 pounds of frozen El Monterey egg, sausage and cheese burritos that may contain pieces of white plastic, the USDA announced.

Study: Transportation hit the hardest by cyberattacks

Three industries were targeted the most by cyberattacks— transportation, where state-sponsored threat actors seek to disrupt the logistical and supply capability of rivals, and banking and legal, which are industries rich with sensitive information.

November 25, 2019

Mimecast Ltd., Lexington, Mass., released its quarterly report, “Threat Intelligence Report: Risk and Resilience Insights,” which provides technical analysis and observations of evolving threats from the Mimecast Threat Center from July to September.