Local authority resources and lab capability on Scotland’s food standards agenda
The pressures on local authorities and food laboratories were among the issues discussed at the latest Food Standards Scotland (FSS) board meeting. One plan to resolve the situation is for a nationally...
View ArticleFood crime ‘likely’ in meat and alcohol sectors, says Scottish agency
Meat, seafood, and alcohol are among industries identified as being at high risk for food crime, according to a Scottish food crime unit. A strategy for 2022 to 2025 outlines the priorities and actions...
View ArticleNordic nations assess food fraud threat
An assessment of food fraud covering four sectors in several countries has been published by the Nordic Council of Ministers. In 2018, a project was funded to examine the threats from criminal activity...
View ArticleSalmonella behind most meat outbreaks in China
Researchers have found that Salmonella caused the most outbreaks linked to meat products in China over a 15-year period. From 2002 to 2017, China recorded 2,815 outbreaks caused by meat and meat...
View ArticleSalmonella found in Finnish spice controls
Checks on spices as part of a food fraud project in Finland didn’t find any authenticity issues but did uncover Salmonella contamination. Monitoring was targeted at operators whose batches were found...
View ArticleFAO and WHO publish full E. coli and Listeria reports
Two final reports on controls measures for E. coli and for Listeria in ready-to-eat food have been unveiled by FAO and WHO. The World Health Organization (WHO) and UN Food and Agriculture Organization...
View ArticleEFSA looks at factors impacting the safety of meat aging
Factors affecting the safety of aged meat have been assessed in a European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) opinion. The impact of dry-aging of beef and wet-aging of beef, pork, and lamb on microbiological...
View ArticleTainted meat linked to two deaths in Argentina
Argentinian officials have confirmed leptospirosis and Salmonella in an outbreak that has killed two people. Authorities in Buenos Aires reported that four adults were hospitalized in the city of...
View ArticleSurvey reveals pandemic and Brexit impact on businesses
Most food companies feel leaving the European Union has affected operations while many said COVID-19 didn’t impact their ability to meet regulatory requirements, according to a survey. The poll,...
View ArticleA group of E. coli found in Spanish meat samples
Multidrug-resistant E. coli has been found in supermarket meat samples tested in a Spanish study. Researchers said findings show consumers may be exposed to bacteria capable of causing severe...
View ArticlePetition seeks COVID-19 testing, reporting, warnings for meat and poultry
An impressive sounding name — Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine — is not likely to make up for the advocacy group’s lack of scientific evidence for a new petition it has filed with USDA’s...
View ArticleSTEC findings for lamb in Iceland fall
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) was detected in more than a fifth of lamb samples tested but this was a lower contamination rate than 2018, according to the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority...
View ArticleSuspected Clenbuterol poisonings in Mexico under investigation
Officials in a Mexican state have issued a warning after suspicions that more than 50 people fell sick from eating meat contaminated with Clenbuterol. Health services in Morelos called on people to...
View ArticleIndustry can find FSA ‘frustrating and inconsistent’
Negative terms most commonly used to describe the Food Standards Agency (FSA) were “frustrating, challenging and inconsistent”, according to a survey. The research was done because the FSA wanted to...
View Article30.7 tons of ready-to-eat eat and poultry escapes inspection
Continental Glatt Kosher Meats Corp., doing business as First Choice Kosher Meat & Deli Inc., a Spring Valley, NY firm, has recalled approximately 61,504 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and...
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Meat and alcohol on radar of food crime unit
Premises operating as illegal cutting plants, counterfeit alcohol, allegations of extending use-by dates, and relabeling overseas products were among cases dealt with this year by a food crime unit....
View ArticleWHO and FAO look at Trichinella and Taenia saginata in meat
Experts have helped develop risk-based approaches to control two parasites in meat, requiring the re-evaluation of traditional practices and the assessment of regulatory and industry resources. The...
View ArticleFSAI records rise in illegal food business investigations
Irish officials investigated almost 50 unregistered food businesses in 2020 which is more than double the figure from the year before. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) was part of enquiries...
View ArticleStakeholders reaffirm need for more modern meat and poultry policies
contributed The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) presented an installment of its Virtual National Policy Conference series, titled “A New Day at USDA for Food Safety?” on Tuesday. Speakers included...
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Publisher’s Platform: Killing two birds with one stone still works
Opinion This weekend I continued to work on the Parker and Jarboe E. coli cases — both linked to the consumption of tainted romaine lettuce that was caused by E. coli O157:H7 contaminated cattle feces...
View ArticleSurvey shows public more aware of food safety since pandemic began
There has been a shift in consumer confidence around food safety and hygiene because of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom, according to a survey. Findings show increased consciousness of food safety and...
View ArticleDelays to checks on EU meat and seafood criticized
Great Britain should have introduced checks on European imports beginning in January 2021 to match the position taken by the EU, according to a report. The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA)...
View ArticleFSA project looks at global meat safety processes in U.S., other countries
A better understanding of potential foodborne disease risks from imported meat products has been set out in a report published by the Food Standards Agency. Researchers created profiles of 16...
View ArticlePublisher’s Platform: Request for update on petition to deem Salmonella an...
Opinion Editor’s note: Following is a letter sent to the USDA’s deputy undersecretary for food safety regarding a petition filed by several consumer groups and individuals who are asking the government...
View ArticlePositive findings from Irish halal audit
An audit by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) of halal claims on meat has found most companies are compliant with the rules. Animals such as cows, veal, lamb, sheep, goats, turkeys, chickens,...
View ArticleSame canvas, different picture
Opinion By Michael Fisher The FSN article “25 years later FSIS final rule on pathogen reduction still making a difference,” tells a story through rose-colored glasses. Like Paul Wolseley of the FSIS...
View ArticleAudit uncovers meat sector violations
An audit of the meat sector in Ireland has found a number of serious issues including forgery, use of meat with an expired date, and one company unable to identify its suppliers. Some non-compliances...
View ArticleFinnish customs finds illegal import of meat
Authorities in Finland have uncovered large quantities of unrefrigerated meat being brought into the country without any documentation. Finnish Customs (Tulli) said the case involves evading taxes and...
View ArticleNew Zealand firm fined for unregulated meat sales
A business in New Zealand has been fined for the illegal sale of home-kill meat through butcher shops. Canterbury Homekill Services Limited (CHK) and owners Noel Womersley and Halena Hitchcock were...
View ArticleSampling projects find adulteration and allergen issues
Two sampling projects have found issues with meat substitution and undeclared allergens despite an overall high level of compliance. Findings come from targeted surveillance sampling of products in...
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