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Study finds 9 of 13 beef plants sampled in Brazil were contaminated with Listeria

January 22, 2020

Researchers have estimated the prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in beef from the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, which is the largest producer and exporter of beef in the country. From 50 samples analyzed, Listeria spp. was isolated in 18 and Listeria monocytogenes was confirmed in six of them, according to the study published in the journal Microorganisms. Nine of 13 processing plants evaluated were positive for Listeria spp. “These findings cause concern as they…

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Researchers find spread of foodborne bacteria in seafood likely impacted by trade

By News Desk

January 22, 2020

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study has found that international trade of shellfish might be involved in the dispersal of Vibrio parahaemolyticus populations into the United States and Spain. The study found that severe weather, such as El Niño conditions in Peru, provide ideal conditions for the proliferation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio alginolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus. The CDC reports that compared to other major foodborne illnesses, Vibrio parahaemolyticus infections have been steadily increasing.…

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Dirty Dog in Seattle is latest mobile food vendor shut down by Public Health

By News Desk

January 22, 2020

The Dirty Dog, a mobile food vendor in Seattle, was closed by a Public Health food inspector on Jan. 18, because of several violations. The establishment will be reopened once an inspector confirms that these issues have been resolved: Lack of hot water at handwash sink Lack of handwashing Expired food worker card Inadequate equipment for temperature control Public Health for Seattle-King County currently has seven food establishments shut-down for food safety violations. The agency…

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Five Star Food brand Sham Gardens Tahina recalled for salmonella contamination

By News Desk

January 22, 2020

Michigan’s Northern Fish Five Star Food Inc., located in Garden City, has recalled 100 cases of Excellent Tahina 800 g and 100 cases of Excellent Tahina 400 g in containers because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. No illnesses are yet associated with the Sham Gardens Tahini recall. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development discovered potential contamination by random sampling. Final laboratory reports are pending, but Five Star Foods opted…

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FSIS policy, precedent means Salmonella petition faces tough sledding

By Dan Flynn

January 21, 2020

A petition to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service asking for the listing of 31 Salmonella strains as meat and poultry adulterants raises a question. How did FSIS respond the last time someone wanted to list Salmonella as an adulterant? That someone was the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which spent much of the past decade trying to persuade FSIS to declare four Salmonella strains as adulterants because they are antibiotic-resistant (ABR) strains.…

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Vietnam and Hong Kong investigation finds forged health certificates

By News Desk

January 21, 2020

Vietnamese authorities have identified eight forged health certificates related to one meat processing plant. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) in Hong Kong found discrepancies in serial numbers of health certificates issued by Vietnamese authorities when processing data during modifications to the import food information system. Suspected forged health certificates were used by a Vietnam meat processing plant for application of an import license of frozen pork to Hong Kong. Health certificates are issued by…

Food Safety News

Letter to the Editor: Swine inspections from the Canadian perspective

By Guest Contributor

January 21, 2020

Opinion Dear Editor, As a former CFIA ( Canadian Food Inspection Agency) inspector, I have been following this story regarding the change in inspections on the hog plants with great interest. Change is hard but it doesn’t mean the job is eliminated. For the hog program to have the plant do the inspections is a good business move and it can free up the inspectors to focus more on other areas in the plant. Canada…

Food Safety News

Beach Beat: The faces behind the petition

By Coral Beach

January 20, 2020

Opinion If you haven’t heard, a Seattle attorney is petitioning the USDA to make it illegal to sell meat and poultry that is contaminated with Salmonella. Yep, as of right now — and who knows how much longer — it is perfectly legal to sell you hamburger, whole hogs, turkey legs, chicken strips, and any other meat or poultry product if it is contaminated with this infectious bacteria. Even if they know a product is…

Food Safety News

Marler ups the ante on meat industry; petitions USDA to ban 31 Salmonella strains

By Dan Flynn

January 20, 2020

Attorneys representing the Center for Science in the Public Interest sued USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service in 2014 because the agency would not declare the most dangerous Salmonella strains as adulterants. But after only about 60 working days, the same attorneys cited Civil Procedure Rule 41 A to get the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to dismiss the lawsuit “without prejudice.” The “41 A” dismissal motion must be used quickly before…

Food Safety News

Faces of Food Safety: Meet Christina Hastings of the FSIS

By U.S. Department of Agriculture

January 20, 2020

Faces of Food Safety Christina Hastings — **Christina Hastings**

Christina Hastings, a relief consumer safety inspector (CSI) in the Raleigh district, exemplifies all of FSIS’ core values — Accountable, Collaborative, Empowered and Solutions-Oriented, and she puts them into practice each day she performs her duties. Hastings explains that CSIs must possess and practice all the values because they are the standards that the Agency sets for all its employees. Hastings is acutely aware that, as an inspector in the field, she is the “face”…

Food Safety News

Breaking news for everyone's consumption

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Study finds 9 of 13 beef plants sampled in Brazil were contaminated with Listeria

Researchers find spread of foodborne bacteria in seafood likely impacted by trade

Dirty Dog in Seattle is latest mobile food vendor shut down by Public Health

Five Star Food brand Sham Gardens Tahina recalled for salmonella contamination

FSIS policy, precedent means Salmonella petition faces tough sledding

Vietnam and Hong Kong investigation finds forged health certificates

Letter to the Editor: Swine inspections from the Canadian perspective

Beach Beat: The faces behind the petition

Marler ups the ante on meat industry; petitions USDA to ban 31 Salmonella strains

Faces of Food Safety: Meet Christina Hastings of the FSIS

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