Health experts have long promoted one simple, consistent message when it comes to salt intake: cut back. Now, a review from the Institute of Medicine suggests that a diet too low in sodium may actually be unhealthy for those at risk for heart problems. This conclusion was drawn by a committee designated by IOM tasked… Continue Reading
Levels of inorganic arsenic found in samples of chicken may be responsible for a slight increase in cancer risk to consumers over their lifetimes, according to a study by researchers at John Hopkins University published this week. That research comes on the heels of a lawsuit filed against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration two… Continue Reading
With wet distillers grain becoming ever more available as a feed source due to the government subsidized ethanol industry, it’s not good news that they might be increasing levels of dangerous E. coli O157:H7 in cattle hides and manure. A primary co-product of the ethanol production process, distillers grains are the product remaining after the ethanol… Continue Reading
Ground turkey from birds raised without antibiotics is less likely to be contaminated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria than conventional ground turkey, according to a new study published by Consumer Reports today. The group tested 257 samples of raw ground turkey meat and patties, purchased from major retailers nationwide, for Enterococcus, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, and… Continue Reading
Ginkgo biloba, the popular dietary supplement purported to have memory-enhancing properties, has been linked to cancer in rats and mice, according to a new government study. After administering ginkgo regularly to rodents over a two-year period, researchers at the National Toxicology Program (NTP) found that the animals were more likely to develop thyroid and liver… Continue Reading
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on Tuesday they will hold a public meeting to discuss a recently completed draft risk assessment on Listeria monocytogenes in foods sold at retail delicatessens. The meeting will be held at USDA’s Jefferson Auditorium at 1400 Independence Avenue, Southwest, Washington,… Continue Reading
Infection rates of the foodborne pathogens Campylobacter and Vibrio parahaemolyticus rose in 2012, while other major pathogens generally maintained rates similar to recent years, according to the nation’s annual “food safety progress report” published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Thursday. Campylobacter infections, most commonly associated with poultry and raw milk, rose… Continue Reading
When people think of where germs lurk in the kitchen, the blender and can opener are not likely to be the first two places that come to mind. But these two cooking tools, along with the meat and vegetable trays in the refrigerator and rubber spatulas, top the list of the “germiest” items in the… Continue Reading
An ongoing government research project has produced strong evidence that bisphenol-A, or BPA, ingested by a pregnant mother does not pose a risk to the fetus. Concerns over the chemical, which is used as a sealant in the linings of food and beverage containers and in the making of hard plastics, have focused largely on… Continue Reading
Researchers at USDA’s Agricultural Research Service are experimenting with a virus that can prevent house flies from reproducing, thereby reducing the amount of foodborne bacteria spread by these insects. Scientists have discovered that when house flies are infected with the salivary gland hypertrophy virus, females stop producing eggs and males no longer mate, reported ARS’ Agricultural… Continue Reading
A survey of food manufacturers around the world shows that the biggest barrier to proper food safety training is finding the time to do it. The Global Food Safety Training Survey 2013, published Thursday by a partnership of four food safety support companies, includes feedback from 649 food and drink producers around the world. Over… Continue Reading