Food Safety News
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GEORGIA: Restaurant scores 12/8
12/23/2008
CovNews
newmedia.covnews.com/news/article/4886/
For the complete list of foodservice inspection scores, please visit http://newmedia.covnews.com/news/article/4886/
ABSTRACT: Reduction of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in cattle drinking-water by trans-cinnamaldehyde
12/18/2008
Foodborne Pathogens and Disease, 5(6): 763-771
Anu Susan Charles, Sangeetha Ananda Baskaran, Christine Murcott, David Schreiber, Thomas Hoagland, Kumar Venkitanarayanan
www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/fpd.2008.0126
Cattle serve as a major reservoir of E. coli O157:H7 and excrete the pathogen in feces. Environmental persistence of E. coli O157:H7 plays a vital role in its epidemiology on farms, and cattle water troughs are a demonstrated long-term reservoir of E. coli O157:H7 for animals. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of low concentrations of trans-cinnamaldehyde for killing E. coli O157:H7 in cattle drinking-water. A five-strain mixture of E. coli O157:H7 was inoculated (at 8.0log colony-forming units [CFU]/mL) into 100mL samples of well water containing 0, 0.03, 0.05, 0.07, or 0.1% trans-cinnamaldehyde. Additionally, water samples containing (1% w/v) bovine feces or feed were also included. The samples were incubated at 21°, 8°, or 4°C for 7 days and tested for viable E. coli O157:H7 on days 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7. Triplicate samples of each treatment and control were included and the study was replicated twice. All concentrations of trans-cinnamaldehyde were effective in killing E. coli O157:H7 in water, but the magnitude of killing significantly increased with increase in trans-cinnamaldehyde concentration and storage temperature (p<0.05). The presence of feed or feces in water decreased the antibacterial effect of trans-cinnamaldehyde on E. coli O157:H7 (p<0.05). This study indicated that trans-cinnamaldehyde is effective in killing E. coli O157:H7 in cattle drinking-water, but detailed palatability studies on cattle intake of water containing the antimicrobial are needed.
ABSTRACT: Beef carcass contamination by shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli strains in an abattoir in Brazil: Characterization and resistance to antimicrobial drugs
12/18/2008
Foodborne Pathogens and Disease, 5(6): 811-817
Everlon Cid Rigobelo, Edilene Santo, Jose Moacir Marin
www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/fpd.2008.0138
A survey was performed to estimate the frequency of Escherichia coli and Shiga toxin–producing E. coli (STEC) in carcasses obtained from an abattoir in Brazil between February 2006 and June 2007. A total of 216 beef carcasses were sampled at three stages of the slaughter process—preevisceration, postevisceration, and postprocessing—during the rain and dry seasons, respectively. Of the carcasses sampled, 58% were preevisceration E. coli positive, 38% were postevisceration positive, and 32% postprocessing positive. At the postprocessing stage, the isolation of E. coli was twice as high in the rain season. E. coli was isolated from 85 carcasses of which only 3 (1.4%) were positive for stx-encoding genes. No E. coli O157 serogroup isolates were detected. No antimicrobial resistance was found in nine of the isolates (10% of the total). The most frequent resistances were seen against cephalothin (78%), streptomycin (38%), nalidixic acid (36%), and tetracycline (30%). Multidrug resistance (MDR) to three or more antimicrobial agents was determined in 28 (33%) E. coli isolates. The presence of STEC and MDR strains among the isolates in the beef carcasses emphasizes the importance of proper handling to prevent carcass contamination.
CANADA: Safety haxard alert - Lychee flavor Nata De Coco in Konnyaku Jelly poses a choking hazard
12/18/2008
CFIA
OTTOWA -- The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume Lychee Flavor Nata De Coco in Konnyaku Jelly, a mini cup dessert described below, as it poses a choking hazard.
The affected product, was sold in plastic bags with Japanese text and the package bears a bilingual sticker that describes the product. Product is described as Nata De Coco in Konnyaku Jelly, Lychee Flavor. Each bag contains 12 mini cups and bears UPC 4 560124 220389. The affected mini-cup jelly product is about the size of coffee creamer with rounded edges. It contains a flavoured centre.
This product was imported by Daiso Store Canada Ltd., Richmond, BC and was only sold from the Daiso Store located at Hazel Bridge Way, Richmond, BC.
There have been no choking incidents associated with the consumption of this product.
Over the years there have been reported fatalities associated with the consumption of certain mini-cup jelly products in Canada, United States, Australia and various Asian countries. Depending upon the size, shape and consistency mini-cup jelly products may become lodged in the throat and may be difficult to remove. There are some other mini-cup jelly products on the market that are not affected.
The importer, Daiso Store Canada Ltd., Richmond, BC, is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace.
For more information, consumers and industry can call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).
For information on receiving recalls by e-mail, or for other food safety facts, visit our web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.
NEW ZEALAND: New tutin honey standard to protect consumers and exports
12/18/2008
NZFSA
www.nzfsa.govt.nz/animalproducts/subject/bee-products/index.htm
With the peak honey season fast approaching, the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) is reminding beekeepers to produce honey in accordance with food safety requirements.
“Tutin honey contamination is a serious risk for those harvesting honey from the beginning of January onwards in the Marlborough region and many North Island areas,” says NZFSA’s Senior Programme Manager (Animal Products) Jim Sim.
Honey can become contaminated with the potentially lethal toxin tutin when bees gather honeydew from the tutu plant. The honeydew is secreted by a vine-hopper insect which feeds on the plant.
For the complete news item, please visit http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/animalproducts/subject/bee-products/index.htm
CANADA: Health hazard alert - Old Style brand smoked pork loin chops and thin sliced bacon may contain listeria monocytogenes
12/18/2008
CFIA
OTTOWA -- The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Mariposa Meats are warning the public not to consume the Old Style brand products described below because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
The affected Old Style brand products are described as follows:
Product / Size (Net wt.) / UPC / Best Before Date
Smoked Pork Loin Chops / 175 g / 6 28292 80045 2 / 09JA23
Thin Sliced Chicken Breast / 350 g / 6 28292 50002 4 / 09JA16
These products have been distributed in Ontario.
There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with this bacteria may cause listeriosis, a foodborne illness. Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness, however, infections during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.
The manufacturer, Mariposa Meats, Mississauga, ON, is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.
For more information, consumers and industry can call one of the following numbers:
Mariposa Meats at 905-855-8111; or,
CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).
For information on Listeria monocytogenes, visit the Food Facts web page at:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/cause/listeriae.shtml.
For information on receiving recalls by e-mail, or for other food safety facts, visit our web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.
IBM offers blog on food safety
12/18/2008
Trading Markets
www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2090272/
According to IBM, as the world has become more globally connected, the systems to produce, transport and process food have become complex and inefficient.
IBM said that the result is a host of inefficiencies that impact the scarcity, safety, sustainability and cost of food. These challenges, and possible solutions to address the problems, are the focus of discussion this week on the blog, "Building a smarter planet."
IBM noted that:
- In developed countries, up to 30 percent of the food purchased goes to waste.
- In the U.S. alone, food wastage totals more than $48 billion annually.
- The U.S. experiences 76 million cases of food borne illness each year.
- Seventy-five percent of the apples sold in New York City come from the West Coast or overseas, even though the state produces more apples than city residents consume.
For the complete news item, please visit http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2090272/
Inspectors still watching OKLAHOMA eateries for food safety
12/18/2008
The Oklahoman
Vallery Brown
newsok.com/inspectors-still-watching-eateries-for-food-safety/article/3331061
Fewer staff members and flat budgets at the state Health Department this year are prompting restaurant inspectors to place more emphasis on higher risk and repeat-offender establishments.
Hank Hartsell, deputy commissioner of protective health services, said restaurants typically are inspected twice a year.
"We place a higher priority on investigating complaints that indicate risk or potential harm,” he said. "That doesn’t mean we’ve stopped doing inspections.”
For the complete news item, please visit http://newsok.com/inspectors-still-watching-eateries-for-food-safety/article/3331061
CALIFORNIA: County supervisor's restaurant ties garner attention
12/18/2008
OC Register
Jennifer Muir and Norbero Santana Jr.
www.ocregister.com/articles/restaurant-nguyen-health-2259808-system-county
SANTA ANA -- Janet Nguyen was one of the strongest defenders of restaurateurs during Tuesday's vote on making restaurant health inspections more consumer friendly.
Turns out she has good reason to be sympathetic: Her husband and chief of staff are co-owners of a sandwich shop in Stanton and she reports income from her husband's food-related job on her public disclosure.
Nguyen's husband, Thomas Bonikowski, said he owns a 25 percent stake of a Lee's Sandwiches restaurant in Stanton. He also is a manager for Sodexho, a worldwide food services company. He works at the company's Fullerton location, which provides on-campus food services at Fullerton College and is subject to health inspections. He brings in between $10,001 and $100,000 a year from his employment there, according to the Nguyen's statement of economic interest.
For the complete news item, please visit http://www.ocregister.com/articles/restaurant-nguyen-health-2259808-system-county
BARFBLOG: Top Five Records presents Top 10 food safety issues – 2008
12/18/2008
barfblog
Casey Jacob
barfblog.foodsafety.ksu.edu/2008/12/articles/food-safety-communication/
Casey Jacob’s been working full-time with me for the past six months. We got a bunch of papers coming out and she’s developing into a fairly decent writer. So here’s Casey’s version of the Top 10 food safety stories of 2008.
For the complete blog post and it's Top 10 Food Safety stories of 2008, please visit http://barfblog.foodsafety.ksu.edu/2008/12/articles/food-safety-communication/top-five-records-presents-top-10-food-safety-issues-2008/index.html
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