Recalls & Food Safety
Food Defense: Government and Industry Resources
April 24, 2013 2:23 pm | by Lindsey Jahn, Associate Editor | Articles | CommentsAs the Food Safety Modernization Act continues to be implemented, more regulations and guidelines will be focused on food defense and the prevention of intentional contamination events. Many resources are being released by both the FDA and industry to help food manufacturers improve their food defense strategies.
Study: Chicken, Beef Are Riskiest Meats
April 24, 2013 9:30 am | by MARY CLARE JALONICK,Associated Press | News | CommentsAn analysis of more than 33,000 cases of foodborne illness shows that ground beef and chicken have caused more hospitalizations than other meats. The report by the Center for Science in Public Interest says chicken nuggets, ham and sausage pose the lowest risk of foodborne illness.
Unlocking Potential for Greater Productivity & Accuracy
April 22, 2013 1:09 pm | by Bruce Stubbs, Director of Industry Marketing for Distribution Center Operations, Intermec | Articles | CommentsFacing rising operational costs and growing awareness of consumer food safety, growers and companies are under increased pressure to improve efficiency and increase customer satisfaction and safety. Food traceability solutions are particularly imperative to meeting these needs while containing cost.
Salmonella Prompts Expanded Pet Food Recall
April 22, 2013 9:36 am | News | CommentsNatura Pet Products is expanding a recall of dry pet foods over a possible salmonella risk to animals and people. The company, a unit of Procter & Gamble Co., first announced a voluntary recall in March of its dog, cat and ferret foods because they may be contaminated with salmonella bacteria.
Using Risk Analysis in Food Safety Processes
April 18, 2013 12:31 pm | News | CommentsWhile "hazard-based decision-making" has been, and often still is, the norm, governments around the world are adopting Risk Analysis (RA) as the framework for risk-based decision-making. Unilever has adopted this governmental model to risk-based decision-making and the science/technologies involved in it into our food safety assurance approach to innovating and marketing food products.
Raw Milk, Poultry Bacteria Up Rate of Food Poisoning
April 18, 2013 12:21 pm | by MIKE STOBBE,AP Medical Writer | News | CommentsHealth officials are seeing more food poisonings caused by a bacteria commonly linked to raw milk and poultry. A study released Thursday said campylobacter cases grew by 14 percent over the last five years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report was based on foodborne infections in only 10 states — about 15 percent of the American population.
Daily Sound Bite: Food Seized at Infested Warehouse
April 17, 2013 12:30 pm | News | CommentsThe FDA initiated a seizure by U.S. Marshals of food manufacured in a rodent-infested warehouse that processes and distributes kosher food products. Evidence of rodent activity, including rodent droppings and at least one dead rodent, were found in the facility.
FDA: U.S. Marshals Seize Food at Rodent-Infested Facility
April 17, 2013 12:17 pm | News | CommentsU.S. Marshals have seized food products at a Ridgewood, N.Y. warehouse that manufactures and distributes kosher food products, after investigators from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found widespread rodent infestation in the facility.
Daily Sound Bite: Horse Meat Scandal Did Not Impact Food Safety
April 16, 2013 12:10 pm | News | CommentsAfter an exhaustive round of tests covering over nearly 7,000 samples of meat products in Europe, the EU has released a statement announcing that the horsemeat scandal that recently swept through Europe is a prime example of fraud but did not create a public safety risk.
Recall: Bottled Seafood May Cause Botulism
April 16, 2013 9:32 am | News | CommentsA health warning concerning certain St. Thomas brand bottled seafood products has been expanded. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to consume St. Thomas Bottled Lobster, Bar Clams and Bar Clam Stew because they may be contaminated with the bacteria that can cause botulism, a life-threatening illness.
A Holistic Approach to Food Safety
April 15, 2013 2:32 pm | by Jean-Pierre Berlan, Sales and Marketing Director for Processing, Dairy & Cheese Categories, Tetra Pak US and Canada | Articles | CommentsToday, the assurance that food will not cause harm to consumers, in other words, food safety, is viewed as the number one priority across the food industry. Adopting a holistic view on the entire production process is the only answer.
Louisiana Company Recalls 468K Pounds of Meat
April 15, 2013 12:16 pm | News | CommentsThe U.S. Department of Agriculture says a Louisiana-based meat packing company has expanded a recall of meat products because of possible bacterial contamination. No illnesses have been reported. The Manda Packing Company recall announced this past week now includes 468,000 pounds of roast beef, ham, turkey breast, tasso pork, ham shanks, hog headcheese, corned beef, and pastrami.
Food Safety Update: Developing a HACCP Plan
April 15, 2013 9:17 am | by Krystal Gabert, Editor | Articles | CommentsThe Food Safety Update section of Food Manufacturing is designed to offer our readers insight into the state of food safety concerns across the industry. We received hundreds of responses to this month’s survey on developing a HACCP plan.
Wegmans Recalls Fruit Juices
April 12, 2013 12:18 pm | News | CommentsWegmans Food Markets says it's recalling two fruit juice products because they may contain unacceptable levels of a byproduct of mold. The grocery chain says some 64 oz. containers of Wegmans Food You Feel Good About Organic Apple Juice and Wegmans Food You Feel Good About Organic Cranberry Juice Blend may contain patulin.
Mislabeled Pork Jerky Recalled
April 12, 2013 9:39 am | News | CommentsAn Iowa company has recalled more than 1,000 pounds of pork jerky because the product's label doesn't list wheat, which can cause an allergic reaction for some consumers. Formosa Food Co., of Hull, is recalling 16-ounce individual packages of Formosa Brand Pork Szu, a cooked seasoned dried pork product.
4 Dead, Scores Ill from Food Poisoning in Guatemala
April 12, 2013 9:30 am | News | CommentsFour people, including two children, died and 96 others were hospitalized Thursday for food poisoning in a town west of Guatemala's capital. The fire department said the victims ate fruit and vegetables that weren't properly cleaned in the town of Santo Domingo Xenacoj. A doctor at one of the hospitals said the medical exams show the deaths were caused by E. coli bacteria.
La. Company Recalls 20K Pounds of Deli Meat
April 11, 2013 12:27 pm | News | CommentsA Louisiana meat-packing company has recalled 20,166 pounds of potentially bacteria-tainted cooked roast beef deli meat. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service said Wednesday that Manda Packing Co., based in Baker, is recalling the meat that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
Texas Judge Shutters Egg Roll Factory
April 11, 2013 9:49 am | by NBC News | Videos | CommentsA federal Judge in Texas has ordered the closure of a factory that manufactures Chung's egg rolls in Houston citing multiple failed FDA inspections. The FDA says the company was uncooperative and did not respond to problems with corrective measures.
Recall: UK Corned Beef Contains Vet Drug
April 10, 2013 12:26 pm | News | CommentsBritish supermarket chain Asda says it is recalling all corned beef from its budget range after traces of a veterinary drug were found in some batches. The Food Standards Agency says "very low levels" of a painkiller called phenylbutazone, known as "bute," were detected in the products.
FDA Shuts Down Food Plant for Filthy Conditions
April 9, 2013 12:18 pm | News | CommentsFederal authorities have ordered a Houston-based producer of egg rolls and other foods to cease operations until it improves products possibly contaminated by "filth." Authorities announced Monday that Chung's Products LP has violated the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Company products are sold in grocery stores and large retail stores nationwide.
Recalled Food May Have Been Served in Schools
April 9, 2013 9:33 am | by MARY CLARE JALONICK,Associated Press | News | CommentsHundreds of thousands of pounds of frozen food recalled amid an E. coli scare may have been served in schools, according to the company that manufactured the items. Buffalo, N.Y.-based Rich Products Corp. has over the past two weeks recalled 10 million pounds of frozen food items after 27 E. coli illnesses in 15 states were linked to their foods.
Maryland School Served Recalled Food
April 8, 2013 12:11 pm | News | CommentsHarford County public schools have told parents that food served in the cafeterias of more than a dozen schools was recalled because of possible E. coli contamination. Schools spokeswoman Teri Kranefeld said Friday that Rich Products notified the schools Wednesday evening that it had recalled its pepperoni pizzatas. The food had been served in some cafeterias on Wednesday.
Trial over Baby Food Lead Warning Begins
April 8, 2013 12:08 pm | by JASON DEAREN,Associated Press | News | CommentsThe nation's largest baby food makers face a lawsuit by an environmental group aimed at forcing them to alert consumers that some products contains low amounts of lead. The case scheduled for trial Monday will determine whether they should put warning labels on such products sold in California.
Rich Products Expands Frozen Food Recall
April 8, 2013 9:49 am | News | CommentsRich Products Corp. is now recalling all of the frozen snack foods produced at its Waycross, Ga., plant. The Buffalo, N.Y., company last week announced a voluntary recall of certain Farm Rich and Market Day products because of possible E. coli contamination. It has now expanded the recall to include everything made at the Georgia plant.
Fighting Foodborne Illnesses with Nanobiotechnology
April 8, 2013 9:48 am | News | CommentsEngineering researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a new method to kill deadly pathogenic bacteria, including listeria, in food handling and packaging. This innovation represents an alternative to the use of antibiotics or chemical decontamination in food supply systems.
