LISTERIA ON CHICKEN INVITES PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT FROM USDA

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) late Friday issued  a public health alert due to concerns that ready-to-eat (R-T-E) chicken salad products produced by Simply Fresh Market, a Marietta, Ga. establishment, may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.The FSIS pubic health alert said a recall was not requested because the known affected product is no longer available in commerce for consumers to purchase. FSIS’s  concern is that some product may be in consumers’ refrigerators. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.The R-T-E chicken salad with apples and walnuts items were produced on Jan. 17, 2022. The following product is subject to the public health alert [view label]:

  • 8-oz and 16-oz. deli hinged containers of “simply fresh MARKET CHICKEN SALAD Apples & Walnuts” with a sell by date of “1/25” printed on the label.

The products bear establishment number “EST. P47170” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to three local markets in Atlanta,

The contamination  was discovered when the company notified FSIS that product sampling reported positive Listeria monocytogenes results.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.

Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.

About Listeria infections

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections. Anyone who has eaten any recalled product and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical treatment and tell their doctors about the possible Listeria exposure.

Also, anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products should monitor themselves for the food poisoning symptoms during the coming weeks because it can take up to 70 days after exposure to Listeria for symptoms of listeriosis to develop.

Symptoms of Listeria infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Specific laboratory tests are required to diagnose Listeria infections, which can mimic other illnesses.

Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and people such as cancer patients who have weakened immune systems are particularly at risk of serious illnesses, life-threatening infections, and other complications. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, their infections can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.

Source=https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2022/01/fsis-public-health-alert-for-r-t-e-chicken-for-listeria-contamination/#more-211448

Dele Fapohunda

Feb 1 2022

UNSAFE FOOD SCARE AS INFECTIONS THROUGH Salmonella IN CORN REPORTED IN CANADA

A new report b y  Coral Beach  in Jan 29, 2022, edition of Food safety news, confirms a Illnesses continuing  addition to the series of  illnesses traceable   the consumption of  Salmonella enteritidis  in frozen corn in Canada . Before this , many RECALLS have been done on suspicion. Please read on

The Public Health Agency continuing fCanada (PHAC) reports that there are now 110 people from five provinces who have been confirmed as outbreak patients. As of Dec. 21 there were 84 confirmed patients.

“Many of the individuals who became sick reported eating a variety of raw and cooked produce items before their illness. Initially, investigators identified that fresh avocados were reported by many cases before they became ill; however, more information was needed to confirm the source of the outbreak,” according to the PHAC outbreak update.

“As part of the food safety investigation, the CFIA collected different food items from restaurants where ill people dined. Testing found the outbreak strain of Salmonella in an unopened package of Alasko brand frozen whole kernel corn. Traceback findings identified Alasko as the common brand of frozen corn consumed at various foodservice establishments by individuals who became sick. Based on the investigation findings to date, the outbreak is linked to Alasko brand frozen whole kernel corn.”

Outbreak patients have been identified in five provinces: British Columbia with 42, Alberta with 49, Saskatchewan with 4, Manitoba with 13, and Ontario with 2. The illnesses reported in Ontario are related to travel to Alberta and British Columbia, according to the public health agency.

Patients documented so far became sick between early September 2021 and late December 2021. Four individuals have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. Individuals who became ill are between 1 and 89 years of age. The majority of cases, 64 percent, are female.

It can take several weeks for patients to be added to the outbreak list after they become ill because of the time it takes to confirm their infections and report them to provincial and federal authorities.

“The outbreak appears to be ongoing, as recent illnesses continue to be reported,” according to the outbreak update.

“Do not eat, use, sell, or serve any of the recalled corn or products made with the recalled corn. This advice applies to individuals, as well as retailers, distributors, manufacturers and foodservice establishments such as hotels, restaurants, cafeterias, hospitals and long-term care homes, across Canada.”

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued food recalls in relation to the outbreak. The recalled products were distributed in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec, and may have been distributed in other provinces and territories.

The recall of Alasko brand frozen whole kernel corn has led to secondary recalls, including one by Fraser Valley Meats, one by Osaka and T&T Supermarkets, one by Save on Foods, one by Nourishment Meals, and one by King Ranch.

The secondary recalls involve products that used Alasko brand frozen corn as an ingredient. The CFIA is continuing its food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated food recall warnings.

Recalls related to the outbreak

More still need s to be done in quality and standard in food meant for human consumption

Source=https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2022/01/more-people-sick-in-canada-in-ongoing-salmonella-outbreak-linked-to-corn/#more-211444

Dele Fap Feb 1, 2022

AFRICA, THROUGH FARA, REMEMBERS FORGOTTEN FOODS

The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa , FARA, has ignited a renewed interest in some forgotten and less utilized foods in African countries. The initiative started in 2021 continues in 2022, with a call to cluster invited participated in order to have their expertise properly deployed

A release signed by the contact person, on behalf of Prof Wole Adetunbi, Senior Technical  Cluster  Leader,  stated the full intention of the step…and more. Please read on

Dear Community Members,

Following the discussion on the subject “2022 Opening Thoughts: Africa CoP on Forgotten Foods”, which commenced on the 18th of January, 2022 with an initial outline on how we will be running this CoP, I would like to follow up on some of the issues which were outlined in the mail Prof. Wole Fatunbi sent.

1. In other to have a smooth running of this African Community on Forgotten Foods, there is the need to cluster all community members into areas of specialization, interest as well as competence.
2. This would help in the identifications of members who would pick up issues related to their areas of specialization.
3. This will help reduce or eliminate the duplications of efforts on the issues of forgotten foods at the national, regional, and continental levels.
4. The clustering will also provide an opportunity for community members with the same area of specialization to network on the emerging issues around their specializations as well as provide support to cross-cutting issues in the continent.
5. Kindly find the link to the form and provide your details to help FARA in the clustering process here: https://forms.gle/tPGqQRaUkMpaDWLv7. You are required to complete this form to guide our next line of action on the activities for 2022.

FARA looks forward to a fruitful year and continuous partnership in the development of African agriculture, especially in the reintegration of the forgotten food commodities and species into our food system.

Kind regards

For:

Prof. Wole Fatunbi (Ph.D.)
Senior Technical Cluster Leader/Innovation Systems Specialist
[cid:image002.png@01D80E08.DF42E4E0]
—————————————————————————————————
[E2F61367][C30D390D]
Kombat Richard
Research Assistant
Innovation to Impact Partnerships and Systems (2IPS)
Cluster

‘AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE IN FOOD IS TOXIC AND UNSAFE FOR YOUR CONSUMPTION ‘ ?

An international food service company loses the legal battle with chef Jamie Oliver, who proved that the food they sell is not fit to be ingested because it is highly toxic.
Chef  Oliver has won a battle against the world’s largest fast  food chain. Oliver proving how burgers are made.
According to Oliver, the fat parts of meat are “washed” with ammonium hydrogen and then used in the packaging of the meat “cake” to fill the burger. Before this process, according to the presenter, already this meat was not suitable for human consumption.
Oliver, a radical activist chef, who has waged a war against the food industry, says: We’re talking about meat that would be sold as dog food and after this process it’s served to humans. In addition to the quality of meat, ammonium acid is harmful to health. Oliver says this: “The process of the pink crap”.
What sane human being would put a piece of meat soaked in ammonium hydrogen in the mouth of a child?
In another of his initiatives Oliver has demonstrated how chicken nuggets are made: after selecting the “best parts”, the rest: fat, skin, cartilage, visuals, bones, head, legs, are subjected to a mec split smoothie canica – it’s the euphemism that engineers use in food, and then that blood pink paste is deodorant, bleached, re-refreshed and repainted, dipped in flour and fried melcocha, this is left in usually partially hydrogenated oils, that is, toxins.
The food industry uses ammonium hydrogen as an anti-microbial agent, which allowed McDonald’s to use meat in its burgers, which is not suitable for human consumption.
But even more disturbing is the situation that these substances based on ammonium hydrogen are considered ‘lawful components in the production process’ in the food industry with the blessings of health authorities worldwide. So consumers will never be able to discover what substances they put in our food.
PLEASE STOP FEEDING YOUR KIDS THIS FAKE FOOD because NOW YOU KNOW.
Source=

Jan 11 2022

Dele

GENDER EQUALITY AND FOOD SECURITY-DEADLINE EXTENDED

3 of 23,433

IS PARKINSON ‘S LINKED TO PARAQUAT ???

Reports , of recent have made a discovery that Parkinson s disease might have a direct link with the consumption of paraquat, a pesticide used in agriculture  and food preservation

Please read on

CONTAMINATED FOOD LEADS TO 400,000 DEATHS EACH YEAR !!!!!


More  than 400,000 people worldwide die from consuming contaminated food , according to Lloyd Register Foundation, a UK-based organization. Please read on

Foresight review of food safety.

An estimated 600 million people, almost 1 in 10 people in the world, fall ill as a result of eating contaminated food and 420,000 die every year. In 2004, 160 countries voted at the United Nations to make food – safe food – a human right rather than a commodity, but risks to safety continue with many challenges putting strains on supply chains. The world is in the midst of a nutritional transition, facing over-nutrition in some regions and under-nutrition in others. With the global population expected to exceed nine billion by 2050, pressures have been placed on existing food systems and this has implications for food safety. Foodborne illnesses, from E. coli to listeria, threaten lives and everyone – consumers, companies and governments – has an important role to play in improving the status quo.Food facts and figures from Foresight review of food safety from the Lloyd's Register Foundation

The cost of unsafe food is high. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that foodborne illnesses cost the United States (US) at least $15.6 billion annually in lost productivity and medical care. There are environmental and social costs to food production too. The global food production system is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. People today must consider alternative energy and food sources to limit the depletion of natural resources tomorrow.

We know we must take action on food safety, but many challenges stand in our way. Complex supply chains open up risks to food fraud, and a lack of traceability frustrates consumers’ abilities to understand the authenticity of what they are buying. Keeping food safe can harm the environment: plastic packaging is now an urgent global concern and food cold chains while an important part of food safety, have a negative impact on energy consumption and sustainability. At a time when food safety needs a funding boost, global research and innovation investment in food is low relative to other industries.

The fast-growing demand for food puts an enormous strain on the food production system and natural resources. If the current global population were to consume the same amount per head of meat as Europe, five planets covered with grazing land – ocean included – would be needed. The future food safety system must be sustainable and take into account this growing demand. At the same time, it must also take into account food loss and waste and address the lack of efficiency. Underlying these challenges is a need for education and training about food safety. From consumers, to companies, to governments, people need more evidence-based information in order to make informed decisions about the food they eat.

But solutions are at hand. Technology can play an important part in addressing these challenges. In the life sciences, new ways of producing proteins – lab meat, insects, seafood – can help improve not only traceability but also sustainability; aquaculture or aquafarming is the fastest-growing animal food-producing sector in the world. Urban farming and 3D-printed food help in the production of local, traceable food. New techniques in DNA verification and next-generation sequencing are opening up possibilities for genetically modifying food for greater safety. The microbiome – a community of beneficial microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses that inhabit environments including the human body – could one day become our frontline in food safety. And stable isotope technology gives us a way to ‘fingerprint’ food and help prevent fraud.

Data science and life science are about to converge to shape a new model for food safety. Big data and predictive analytics can aggregate and analyse immense volumes of information through complex algorithms to anticipate risks or critical events in the food supply chain before they happen. The internet of things will help improve the efficiency and productivity of factories and improve traceability. Agricultural drones and satellites can help identify and warn against crop pests. Blockchain – a technology that combines the openness of the internet with the security of cryptography to give a faster, safer way to verify information and establish trust – promises to revolutionise traceability in the food supply chain. It can help to tackle food fraud and deliver the information that consumers need about the food they consume.

Social evolutions are also changing the face of food safety. A new generation of consumers is driving a food revolution. These trend setters have a new set of values: they want food that is healthy but, importantly, they also want food that is sustainable and free from animal abuse, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and modern slavery.

Following the Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap (the free wiki world map) examples, open food databases driven by citizens are gaining increasing momentum and are a big issue for food brands. Vegan, vegetarian and organic consumption are growing fast and now represent more of an ideology or lifestyle than just a diet.

The Foresight review recommends Lloyd’s Register Foundation focuses investment in three core areas:

  1. Education and training in developed and developing countries: an interconnected approach that brings academia, citizens, governments, industry and non-governmental organisations together to act on solutions.
  2. Traceability in the food supply chain and development of a broad range of technologies to connect the steps and make food more traceable and, therefore, safer for consumers.
  3. Delivering an ocean of food: investing in aquaculture and seafood production for greater food safety and sustainability, focusing on improving current practices, and expanding and upscaling for the future

Source  https://www.lrfoundation.org.uk/en/publications/foresight-review-of-food-safety/?

2 Nov 2021

NB=We report food safety news around the world. In case you have stories for us, or to attend sponsored food safety news,  kindly contact  <sfoodfeedf@gmail.com>

PROJECTIONS ON THE FOOD SAFETY INDUSTRY 2021

Food Safety Industry 2021

 Analysis and Statistics.

Grab Market Intelligence platform to get the latest trends on the Food Safety Industry and anticipate the future of the sector.

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Global Food Safety Industry 2021‑2024

  • 221 reports

  • Market Size, Supply, Trade…

US Food Safety Industry 2021‑2024

  • 159 reports

  • Market Size, Demand, Supply…

North American Food Safety Industry 2021‑2024

  • 115 reports

  • Finance, Company Financials, Company…

Chinese Food Safety Industry 2021‑2024

  • 50 reports

  • Market Size, Supply, Trade…

UK Food Safety Industry 2021‑2024

  • 51 reports

  • Market Size, Supply, Demand

East Asian Food Safety Industry 2021‑2024

  • 28 reports

  • Market Size, Supply, Demand…

European Food Safety Industry 2021‑2024

  • 34 reports

  • Market Size, Trade, Supply…

Belgian Food Safety Industry 2021‑2024

  • 15 reports

  • Market Size, Supply, Trade…

Source=https://www.reportlinker.com/market-report/Food-Policy/462054/Food-Safety?term=food%20safety

2 Nov 2021

 

ADULTERATION IN HONEY BRANDS, A SOURCE OF WORRY TO FOOD SAFETY

In the Nigerian market, honey is retailed as a substitute for sugar which health enthusiasts confirm to be dangerous to the body. Honey is already being used as a preservative. However recent developments that associated massive adulteration with honey, heightens food safety concerns. Just in the year 2020, a report in India, confirmed the suspected a situation  capable of throwing the poor honey consuming  masses into palpable fear. Please read on

Top Indian honey brands fail adulteration test: CSE

As per a recent investigation by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), most of the major honey brands being sold in the Indian markets as pure have failed to pass the adulteration test in Germany. As per the study, all the top honey brands contain sugar syrup instead of the real honey. Out of the 13 brand samples, only three have passed the purity tests, and these are Saffola, Markfed Sohna and Nature’s Nectar (one out of two samples).
Honey samples from leading brands such as Dabur, Patanjali, Baidyanath, Zandu, Hitkari and Apis Himalaya, all failed the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) laboratory tests currently being used globally to check for modified sugar syrups, the CSE said.

For the study, CSE food researchers selected 13 top and smaller brands of processed and raw honey being sold in India. Samples of these brands were first tested at the Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food (CALF) at the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in Gujarat.

Almost all the top brands (except Apis Himalaya) passed the tests of purity, while a few smaller brands failed the tests to detect C4 sugar – call it basic adulteration using cane sugar.

But when the same brands were tested using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), almost all big and small brands failed. Out of the 13 brands tested, only three passed the NMR test, which was conducted by a specialised laboratory in Germany.
“It is a food fraud more nefarious and more sophisticated than what we found in our 2003 and 2006 investigations into soft drinks; more damaging to our health than perhaps anything that we have found till now – keeping in mind the fact that we are still fighting against a killer Covid-19 pandemic with our backs to the wall,” said CSE Director General Sunita Narain. “This overuse of sugar in our diet will make it worse,” she added.

The samples were purchased during August-November 2020 from retail stores in Delhi and major online platforms.

More importantly, the study revealed that Indian standards for honey purity cannot detect the adulteration. This is because Chinese companies have designed sugar syrups to bypass these standards, the CSE said.

(With inputs from IANS)

SOURCE=TIMESOFINDIA.COM
02 Nov 2021

NB=We publish news items that seek to enhance human health through wholesome food consumption. If you have stories for us, or want us to cover events on food safety , please contact   sfoodfeedf@gmail.com

Food Safety Organisations

The importance of food safety necessitated the formation of organizations in various countries to promote and regulate same. Below is a list of such regional and national  bodies

This is a list of organizations and associated posts which are related to food safety, either as a primary interest or through statutory responsibility. National organizations are grouped by the UN geoscheme.

Africa

– Egyptian Food Safety Authority

Americas

Asia

Europe

Oceania

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