News and Resources Roundup
August 2022
29th August | Food Safety News and Free Resources1 |
🔥 Deadly Listeria outbreak in Italy, with unknown source 🔥
Thirty-three victims and two deaths from listeriosis are being investigated in Italy.
Blue Bell Outbreak Trial Update
The jury hearing the trial against Blue Bell Creamery’s former CEO were unable to reach a unanimous verdict. The U.S. Department of Justice can ask for a new trial. The man was facing fraud charges over his role in a deadly Listeria outbreak that affected Blue Bell ice cream in 2015.
Meat Analogue Sellers Rebel Against New Rules
Food manufacturers and retailers are disobeying a ban on plant-based foods with ‘meaty’ names in South Africa. Plant-based meat analogues like “vegetarian sausages” were outlawed and were supposed to be removed from supermarket shelves last Monday. However, an industry organisation gained a temporary interdict which will halt the forced removal of products from shelves until the court considers the new laws.
Good Results for USDA Inspections - USA
U.S. Meat and Poultry processors performed well in regulatory inspections, with very few infractions reported by the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. Nine processors were reported, four with food safety-related violations like HACCP and sanitation procedures non-conformances. The other five establishments were notified for inhumane treatment during slaughter.
New Data for Salmonella Outbreaks - Europe
Salmonella outbreaks in Europe are most commonly associated with eggs, followed by pork then other meats – data from 2015 to 2019 have been released.
Resource: What is Listeria? A Microbiologist explains for lay people
Even if you are familiar with Listeria, this is worth a read, with a good level of detail and some great case studies.
Free Webinar: 🌾 Screening for GMOs in consignments of rice and rice products originating from China 🌾
This on-demand e-seminar (28 minutes), produced by the United Kingdom Government Chemist, explains analytical test methods for GMOs, including UK legislation, guidance for official methods and interpretation of results plus advice on experimental design.
📌 Food Fraud News 📌
This week’s food fraud news includes
Dreadful results for honey fraud tests - or problems with the NMR test?
“Fake” spring water from a tap in someone’s garage
Cheese made with vegetable oils
A herd disease causes authorities to warn of more milk fraud
Become a paid subscriber to access The Rotten Apple’s food fraud news.
22nd August | Food Safety News and Free Resources2 |
⚠🌿 Turmeric warnings – Hepatitis (liver damage) from curcumin overdose ⚠
European authorities are reviewing the safety of turmeric supplements after a number of people in Italy and France became ill after consuming turmeric supplements. It is thought that supplements with formulations that increase the bioavailability of curcumin, such as by combining the turmeric with piperine or using nanoparticle encapsulation, are resulting in too much curcumin entering consumers’ systems. Usually, turmeric is poorly absorbed in the gut.
If safety is found to be a concern, turmeric food supplements may be restricted under article 8 of EU 1925/200, which controls vitamins, minerals and other substances that pose risks from overconsumption.
New rules for ethylene dioxide – European Union (EU)
Almost two years after widespread recalls of sesame-seed-containing foods began, the EU has changed its rules for ethylene dioxide in food additives.
The problem began when ethylene dioxide, which is not permitted in the EU, was discovered in sesame seeds imported from India. The contaminated sesame seeds had been used in thousands of products. The recall that followed is the biggest in EU history.
Ethylene dioxide is still being discovered in food additives such as locust bean gum, other thickeners and spices. Foods containing these additives continue to be recalled, despite the fact that the ethylene dioxide is present in the finished foods at tiny concentrations. Although the residues are ‘illegal’, some commentators argue that they do not present a food safety risk and that recalls are therefore not warranted.
The current EU rules were unclear about acceptable limits and relied on whether the ethylene dioxide had been added purposefully or not.
The new rules, which come into force in September, provide clarity. They say that any quantity of ethylene oxide above 0.1 mg/kg, irrespective of its origin, is not permitted in food additives.
Salmonella in watermelons – Norway
Watermelons have been blamed for a Salmonella outbreak in Norway. The source of the melons is unknown and the way the Salmonella got into the melons is unknown. It is not known whether the melons were cut or whole. The illnesses occurred from the end of June to the middle of July 2022.
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📌 Food Fraud News 📌
This week’s food fraud news includes
online food scams worth more than US$200,000;
potentially dangerous illegally harvested shellfish;
tea with fraudulent country of origin labelling.
Become a paid subscriber to access The Rotten Apple’s food fraud news.
15th August | Food Safety News and Free Resources3 |
💥Peanut Contamination Warning for Lecithin from India 💥
The UK FSA has warned about potential peanut protein contamination of soya lecithin from India.
Food Waste and Animal Welfare: UK Consumers are Concerned
Food Waste and Animal Welfare are among the top concerns of consumers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. More than half of respondents to a government survey said they are concerned about each of these issues.
USA GMO
The US FDA has released new educational materials telling consumers and healthcare providers that GMO foods are safe. The materials explain which GMO foods are approved in the USA and where the foods can be found. Marion Nestle, a respected food policy journalist claims this is pro-GMO propaganda that was paid for and pushed through by a powerful lobby group.
AIB Standards
AIB has published new versions of their food safety standards, which will be enforced from 1st January 2023.
Dutch Farm Protests - What are They Really About?
Dutch farmers are protesting about new laws they say will destroy their industry. This video has an insider’s explanation, from a Dutch dairy farmer.
📌 Food Fraud News 📌
This week’s food fraud news includes
a green certification scam worth US$300,000;
updates on global food prices;
a warning about $1.3 million worth of stolen seafood (where will the fraudsters offload their ill-gotten goods?);
American companies being sued for heavy metals in herbs and spices,
expiry date fraud and
an undeclared drug in a supplement.
Become a paid subscriber to access The Rotten Apple’s food fraud news.
Agricultural Commodity Markets Report
The FAO 2022 report on the state of international commodity markets is out now. It discusses trade policies in food and agriculture for sustainable development.
Free Webinar: upgrading to BRCGS Food Safety Issue 9
Wednesday, August 31 at 1:00 PM CDT Hear about the key changes in Issue 9, and learn what you can do to prepare for your first Issue 9 audit.
Free Webinar: Food Safety Culture – Expectations and Practical Steps
From XTalks and Intertek Alchemy, this free webinar will help you to understand GFSI’s five dimensions of food safety culture and the expectations of standards owners, plus get practical steps to advance food safety culture in your business.
