Forget the food trucks or military posts or even college and university campuses. If you want to know which is among the fastest growing segments for restaurant food, it is a category the National Restaurant Association calls “retail-host restaurants.” It is a label that captures all those in-store restaurants that are popping up in grocery…
Biosecurity Plans: Defending the Food Supply
If a disease outbreak occurs in today’s interconnected global economy, the stakes are higher than usual: Expect lost domestic and international sales, a damaged reputation, and even a hit to the U.S. economy from lost trade and employment. The desired outcome, of course, is to prevent disease outbreaks with strong biosecurity plans. Are today’s plans…
Most Hazardous Animal Disease Lab Can’t Be Built on Plum Island
America’s riskiest animal disease research can be housed in less space than the $1.14 billion facility planned for construction in Manhattan, KS, says a blue chip panel of scientists from the National Research Council. And, their report also reveals, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security believes that “given the need for local acceptance,” a top…
Top Level Biosecurity Lab to Move to Kansas If Approved
Nobody ever said moving “Plum Island” to Kansas was going to be easy or cheap. But until that move can occur, Homeland Security won’t have its state-of-the-art facility for combating biological threats to the United States. Plans for the lab have been in the works since shortly after 9/11. The groundwork has been laid by…
Letter From The Editor: Plum Island
I will admit I do have a fascination with Plum Island.
When I learned last week that there was a criminal investigation open over locating a “new Plum Island” in Manhattan, Kansas, I had to give the story some attention. As far as I can tell, it has gotten precious little ink outside of …
Canada to Set Biosecurity Standard for Dairy Farms
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is working with the Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) to develop a voluntary national farm-level biosecurity standard for the dairy industry.
Biosecurity refers to steps that minimize the risk of introducing and spreading disease and pests.
An advisory group, composed of representatives from DFC, the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, …