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News Headlines: 26 June - 2 July 2010

New body takes charge of food safety in France; Australia to phase out BPA in baby bottles; FDA issues antibiotic guidance for food animals; Kellogg recalls breakfast cereals; BfR warns consumers to wash packaged sprouts and salads

New body takes charge of food safety in France

A new body, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) began operations on 1 July and will take over responsibility for food safety in France from the former French Food Safety Agency (AFSSA).

The new Agency was created by the merger of AFSSA with the former environmental and occupational health and safety agency (AFSSET). ANSES will take up the responsibilities of both former agencies and will also retain their resources and staff. The merger was agreed after a lengthy consultation period.

More about ANSES can currently be found through the former AFSSA web site at the link below.

http://www.afssa.fr/

Australia to phase out BPA in baby bottles

The Australian Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Mark Butler, has announced that a number of major retailers have agreed on a voluntary phasing out of the use of the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles.

The agreement follows discussions between the Australian Government and retailers, including the Wesfarmers group, Woolworths, Big W and Aldi. Mr Butler also called on other retailers to follow suit.

There has been much concern among parents in Australia over the safety of low levels of BPA, which can leach into food from packaging and containers. Although a Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) evaluation has concluded that there is no risk to babies' health from a low intake of BPA, the level of public concern has led the Government to call for voluntary action. Similar initiatives have been taken in the USA, Canada and some European countries.

http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/scienceandeducation/newsroom/mediareleases/mediareleases2010/governmentannouncesb4822.cfm

FDA issues antibiotic guidance for food animals

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued draft guidance on the judicious use of medically important antimicrobials in food-producing animals. The guidance is designed to help reduce the development of resistance to antibiotics with therapeutic applications in humans.

The draft guidance outlines current FDA thinking on strategies to ensure the careful use of antimicrobials in food animals and summarises published reports on antibiotic resistance. It concludes that using medically important drugs to enhance growth of food-producing animals is not in the best interests of protecting public health.

A number of recommendations are made in the guidance, including phasing in measures to limit the administration of medically important drugs in food-producing animals to situations where they are necessary for the health of the animal.

Comments on the draft guidance are invited, and the document is available on-line via the link below.

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AnimalVeterinary/GuidanceComplianceEnforcement/GuidanceforIndustry/UCM216936.pdf

Kellogg recalls breakfast cereals

The Kellogg Company in the USA, working in consultation with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is voluntarily recalling certain breakfast cereals because of a waxy off-flavour and smell coming from the package liner.

Four Kellogg's brands are affected by the recall, Apple Jacks, Corn Pops, Froot Loops and Honey Smacks, with various pack sizes and 'Better if Used Before' dates being included. According to press reports, the recall covers approximately 28 million boxes of cereal, distributed nationwide.

Kellogg states that the potential for serious health problems is low, but some consumers could suffer nausea and/or diarrhoea if they are sensitive to the off flavour. The Company has also stated that, "the off-taste and smell is caused by a slightly elevated level of substance commonly present at very low levels in the waxy resins used to make the packaging materials that are approved by the FDA." Testing has not revealed the presence of any foreign substances not commonly used in packaging.

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm217338.htm

BfR warns consumers to wash packaged sprouts and salads

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has issued an Opinion recommending that consumers wash packaged sprouts and salads thoroughly before use because of the potential for high levels of microbial contamination.

The advice follows studies into the microbial loads of sprouts and salads conducted by BfR in 2008 and 2009. The 2008 study looked at the prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in 133 salad mixtures. The pathogen was detected in 5% of the samples tested. In 2009, the Institute analysed 59 samples of fresh packaged sprouts and shoots on retail sale. The results showed considerable increases in microbial populations during storage with high numbers of bacteria being present by end of shelf life.

The Opinion suggests a number of reasons for the high microbial counts, including the release of cell sap from cut surfaces and high humidity inside packaging. The initial contamination is thought to originate from fertiliser, irrigation water and/or poor hygiene during processing.

BfR concludes that the incidence of human illness from consuming contaminated vegetables is much lower than that linked to foods derived from animals such as poultry and pigs. Nevertheless, the advice to wash sprouts and salads thoroughly is thought appropriate.

The full report (in German) can be found at the link below.

http://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/208/hohe_keimbelastung_in_sprossen_und_kuechenfertigen_salatmischungen.pdf

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