“Nanosized” droplets of electrically charged water have been shown to inactivate pathogens on the surface of food and could one day become an environmentally friendly way to make food safer. That’s according to a study from researchers at Harvard University published in Environmental Science and Technologyand reported on by Chemical & Engineering News. The researchers say that if the technique can be improved, charged droplets of water could be a sustainable replacement to current methods of fruit and vegetable disinfection, which include applying mild bleaches, peroxides, and other chlorine-based solutions. Depending on the type of pathogen, the duration of the exposure, and the surface or food where the pathogen was located, laboratory tests showed that the charged water could eliminate anywhere from 80 to 98 percent of E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria. The treatment works by spraying aerosolized water through an electrical field, resulting in charged droplets roughly 25 nanometers in diameter. A strong enough electrical charge will increase the droplet’s surface tension to the point of preventing evaporation. Sensory tests showed that the charged water did not alter the taste or texture of any foods tested. The downside: Current regulation typically requires a 99.999-percent elimination of bacterial loads for similar treatments. The charged water method would need to produce more consistent results — and do so more quickly — to become a viable option for the food industry.
The News Desk team at Food Safety News covers breaking developments, regulatory updates, recalls, and key topics shaping food safety today. These articles are produced collaboratively by our editorial staff.
Two studies have looked into whether private certifications improve food safety with results varying by certification standard and pathogen.
The first study examined whether third-party certifications make the food system
Researchers have explored the first-ever Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak involving the poultry sector in New Zealand.
Salmonella Enteritidis was behind a 2019 outbreak at a restaurant in Auckland. There were 17
The Food and Drug Administration uses import alerts to enforce U.S. food safety regulations for food from foreign countries. The agency updates and modifies the alerts as needed.
Recent
As part of its enforcement activities, the Food and Drug Administration sends warning letters to entities under its jurisdiction. Some letters are not posted for public view until weeks or
Si Ji Mei brand Wuhan Egg Sheets with Glutinous Rice are under recall in Canada because of potential contamination with Salmonella.
The recall was triggered by the company, according to
