Increased production of genetically modified (GM) crops worldwide has caused a sharp rise in the number of incidents where low levels of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been found in food and feedstuffs traded between nations, disrupting trade.
An Alexandria, VA elementary school closed last Friday after more than 200 students and 30 staff members came down with gastroenteritis symptoms that local health officials said were likely caused by norovirus. The school was slated to reopen today.
PrimusLabs, a Santa Maria, CA-based provider of microbiological and pesticide residue testing services as well as auditing services, data management, and training and education to the fresh produce industry, announced Monday that it has begun using the Roka Bioscience Atlas System at its American microbiology laboratories.
Kenton, DE-based cheese manufacturer Roos Foods, Inc. has been shut down by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after an investigation linked a multistate Listeria outbreak to the processor of Hispanic-style cheeses.
Researchers have found that children living in central and northern Wisconsin communities that don't disinfect their drinking water systems have a greater likelihood of contracting gastrointestinal illnesses than children who rely on other water systems.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Monday that it will hold a public meeting on April 4 in College Park, MD, to discuss the scope of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed rule to establish standards for the growing, harvesting, packing and holding of produce for human consumption (“Produce Safety Proposed Rule”). FDA also said it is extending the public scoping period for the EIS to April 18.
Today in remarks at the National Farmers Union National Convention in Santa Fe, NM, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced new and expanded efforts to connect small- and mid-sized farmers and ranchers with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) resources that can help them build stronger businesses, expand to reach new and larger markets, and grow their operations. Several of those efforts are focused on enhancing food safety.
A new study published In the February 2014 issue of the Journal of Food Production takes a look at the effects of temperature fluctuations during transit and in retail storage and display with respect to the growth of pathogens in bagged salads. In this case, the pathogens examined were E. coli 0157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes.