Chlorine dioxide gas may be an effective tool for combating Salmonella on sprouts, according to a new study. Researchers at Rutgers University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have found that chlorine dioxide gas is more effective at killing Salmonella on bean sprouts than chlorine wash
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Chicken ‘Juice’ Helps Campylobacter Thrive in Kitchens, Study Finds
The liquid that comes off of a defrosting chicken provides a safe harbor for Campylobacter, according to a new study. Chicken “juice” from a defrosted bird turns a surface into a protein-rich environment in which Campylobacter can form a protective biofilm, reported a study from the Institute of Food Research.
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Pharmacopeial Convention Publishes Guidance for Combatting Food Fraud
The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) Monday released a comprehensive plan to combat food fraud for monetary gain. The USP said the new guidance is designed to help food manufacturers and regulators pinpoint which food ingredients are most likely to be adulterated by a supplier, and to advise the best way
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GAO Finds Fault With Government Tests for Pesticide Residues
Government agencies in charge of monitoring food for pesticide residues must step up their testing programs, said the Government Accountability Office in a new report. While data collected by these agencies has shown low levels of pesticide residue violations in the past few years, shortcomings in sampling methods mean some
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Nonprofits Sue FDA Claiming Agency Hasn’t Proven Safety of Animal Growth Drug
A trio of food safety and environmental advocacy groups Thursday filed suit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, saying the agency has not sufficiently proven that ractopamine, a drug fed to pigs, cattle and turkey, is safe for animals, humans who eat them, or the environment. Ractopamine, a beta-agonist,
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Berkeley Puts First Soda Tax on the Books
The city of Berkeley, CA became the first municipality in the country to approve a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages Tuesday. Measure D, a proposal to levy a 1-cent-per-ounce tax on sugary drinks and syrups, passed easily, with 75 percent of voters approving it. Only a 50 percent majority was
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FDA Establishes Definition of 'Gluten-Free' for Food Labels
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday issued a set of standards for food manufacturers wishing to label a product “gluten-free.” The agency set a limit of 20 parts per million for the amount of gluten that may be present in foods marketed as gluten-free. The rule also extends
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Preventive Controls: Daunting for Some, Standard Procedure for Seafood
The concept of “preventive controls” is an anxiety-producing one for many FDA-regulated food companies right now as the agency prepares to issue a final rule that will make hazard-prevention measures mandatory for processing facilities. As Food Safety News reported last week, trepidation is especially high among smaller firms, which are
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Cyclospora Case Count Rises to 418
At least 418 people in 16 states are now known to have been sickened with cyclospora infections between mid-June and mid-July, according to updated numbers from state health departments as of the end of the day Thursday. This latest case count marks a 40-case jump from the 378 illnesses reported
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FDA Lifts Ban on Mexican Cucumbers Linked to 2013 Salmonella Outbreak
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will no longer detain cucumbers from the Mexican growers whose products were linked to an outbreak of Salmonella earlier this year. The agency removed the two cucumber suppliers from its import alerts list this week, meaning that their products can no longer be “detained
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