News Headlines: 05 - 11 June 2010

http://www.foodsafetywatch.com

EFSA Panel looks at foodborne spread of influenza viruses; Foodborne disease strategy published; Health Canada publishes bisphenol A survey results; EFSA issues opinions on shellfish toxins; FDA acts against Californian soy-product manufacturer; Food Safety Week targets Campylobacter; Researchers identify possible 'pandemic' Salmonella strain; Salmonella outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts - update

EFSA Panel looks at foodborne spread of influenza viruses

In the wake of recent concerns over possible pandemic influenza outbreaks, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued a statement on the food safety aspects of novel H1N1 influenza virus infections in humans.

The statement was compiled by a working group of the BIOHAZ panel based on a Scientific Report on the published literature relating to the topic. It examines the distribution and shedding of nH1N1 viruses in pigs and other food animals and the possible transfer to humans through food.

The statement concludes that overall, "food contaminated with novel H1N1 influenza viruses does not appear to be a vehicle for infection in humans." However, further research is recommended, particularly into the global distribution of these viruses in pigs and their ability to replicate in the cells of the human intestinal tract.

The full statement can be found via the link below.

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/scdocs/scdoc/1629.htm

Foodborne disease strategy published

The UK Food Standards Agency has published a draft Foodborne Disease Strategy, which identifies the increased prevalence of Campylobacter as the biggest challenge to the safety of the UK food supply.

The most recent Agency survey of Campylobacter in poultry meat showed that 65% of raw retail chicken samples were contaminated with the pathogen and an estimated 300,000 people suffer from food poisoning caused by the pathogen each year in England and Wales alone. The new strategy focuses on measures to reduce those figures.

The Agency plans to work with industry to try out new on-farm intervention methods and will set a target to reduce levels of Campylobacter in chicken by 2015. There will be a consultation on the draft strategy with publication of the final version due later this year.

http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2010/jun/campylobacter

Health Canada publishes bisphenol A survey results

Canadian public health agency Health Canada has published the results of a survey of the controversial industrial chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in canned food products on the Canadian market.

Samples from 78 canned food products were obtained from grocery stores in Ottawa in April 2009. The sampled products covered both domestic and imported foods and included canned vegetables, soups, tomato paste and tuna. The samples were then analysed using a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method with a detection limit of 0.6 ng/g.

The results showed that BPA could be detected in almost all of the samples, with the highest levels being found in canned tuna (137 ng/g average and 534 ng/g max). Health Canada says that the results are consistent with previous surveys and do not represent any human health concerns.

BPA is an endocrine-disruptor and a possible carcinogen and there have been persistent calls for it to be banned in food packaging. Health Canada says it will continue to work with packaging manufacturers to limit human exposure to the chemical, which is employed in the manufacture of epoxy resins used to line food cans and may leach into the can contents.

The survey results can be found at the link below.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/pubs/securit/bpa_survey-enquete-can-con-eng.php

EFSA issues opinions on shellfish toxins

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) CONTAM Panel has issued two new Scientific Opinions on marine biotoxins in shellfish. The two Opinions refer to cyclic imines (spirolides, gymnodimines, pinnatoxins and pteriatoxins) and to ciguatoxins.

The Opinion on cyclic imines (CIs) states that there are no current regulatory limits for these toxins in shellfish anywhere in the world and concludes that there is insufficient toxicological and exposure data as yet to determine safe levels for these toxins. The Panel were unable to draw any conclusions about the possible risk to consumers from CIs due to lack of data. They also recommended that further work be done to improve and validate detection methods for these toxins.

The Opinion relating to ciguatoxins (CTX) states that no regulatory limits exist for CTX-group toxins in Europe, but that checks are to be undertaken to protect consumers. As with CIs the Panel found that there was insufficient data to establish a tolerable daily intake (TDI) for CTX-group toxins. However they did estimate a concentration, below which effects would not be expected to occur in sensitive individuals. This is expressed as 0.01 micrograms P-CTX-1 equivalents/kg fish. Improved and validated methods for CTX-group toxin detection are also needed according to the Panel.

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/scdocs/scdoc/1627.htm

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/scdocs/scdoc/1628.htm

FDA acts against Californian soy-product manufacturer

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken legal action against Lifesoy Inc. of San Diego, California to stop the company manufacturing and distributing food products until it registers with the FDA and complies with food hygiene laws.

Lifesoy is now subject to a 'consent decree' in the US District Court for Southern California after being cited by the FDA for preparing, packing and storing food under "insanitary conditions."

The Company makes soy milk, tofu and other soy products and will now be obliged to engage an independent sanitation expert to draw up a sanitation plan. It will also have to pass an FDA inspection before it can resume food production.

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm214627.htm

Food Safety Week targets Campylobacter

The annual UK Food Safety Week runs from 7 June this year with the focus on preventing gastrointestinal illnesses caused by Campylobacter, especially in domestic situations such as barbecues.

The Food Standards Agency has issued safety tips for people organising barbecues, including making sure that meat is properly cooked and taking precautions, notably washing hands and utensils, to ensure that cross contamination from raw meat does not occur. The Agency has also released a number of recipe cards incorporating food hygiene messages and a food hygiene quiz.

The Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) has also produced a contribution to Food Safety Week in the form of an Advisory Statement on the prevention of food poisoning by Campylobacter. The Statement provides detailed advice of the prevention of cross contamination and thorough cooking of meat. Download the Statement at the second link below.

http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2010/jun/bugs

http://www.ifst.org/document.aspx?id=643

Researchers identify possible 'pandemic' Salmonella strain

A team of researchers from seven European countries have published a report describing a marked increase in the prevalence of Salmonella enterica serovar 4,[5],12:I:- with resistance to several antibiotics, including ampicillin and tetracyclines.

According to the report this serovar has been isolated in food-borne infections and from pigs and pork in several countries with increasing frequency over the last ten years. A total of 116 strains isolated from humans, pigs and pork in seven countries have been further sub-typed to determine their genetic relationships. The sub-typing process revealed that related strains of two definitive phage types of S. enterica 4,[5],12:I:-, DT193 and DT120, with the same pattern of antibiotic resistance have emerged in several countries. The likely reservoir of infection is thought to be pigs.

The authors of the report state that there is an urgent need for control measures to reduce the spread of infection to humans via contaminated food. They also warn of the possibility that this antibiotic-resistant serovar could spread in a pandemic, as did S. Typhimurium DT104 during the 1990s.

http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=19580

Salmonella outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts - update

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued an update on the investigation into a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Newport infection linked to raw alfalfa sprouts.

As of 3 June, the outbreak had affected a total of 35 people in 11 states since the beginning of March. Epidemiological investigation of the outbreak showed an association with raw sprouts sold in various catering and retail outlets, but traced back to a single processor in California.

On 21 May Caldwell Fresh Foods of Maywood, California voluntarily recalled all alfalfa sprouts produced under the Caldwell Fresh Foods, Nature's Choice and California Exotics brands because of potential Salmonella contamination.

Contaminated alfalfa sprouts have been involved in a number of Salmonella outbreaks over many years and codes of practice for sprout growers have been developed in an attempt to deal with the problem.

http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/newport/index.html