News Headlines: 3 - 9 July 2010

http://www.foodsafetywatch.com

Spinach recalled because of possible health risk; Summary report on antimicrobial resistance in the EU published; Airline caterers in the spotlight; New program of Campylobacter research; Codex sets limit for melamine levels in food; Import controls on US rice lifted; Bison products recalled; Dairy processor must resolve contamination problems

Spinach recalled because of possible health risk

Ready Pac Foods, Irwindale, California is recalling 702 cases of the Baby Spinach variety of Spinach Temptations because of possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7.

The recalled spinach is packed in 6-ounce bags with Use by Dates of July 4 with Product Code 11707B, IR127121 and July 8 with Product Code 12007B, IR130373. The recall extends only to products with this Use-by Date or Product Code sold in the following states: California, Washington and Arizona.

No illnesses related to these products have been reported. The recall is being issued following a confirmed positive result for E. coli 0157:H7 in a random sample test conducted by the FDA. Because it is still possible that products bearing the Use-by Dates of July 4 and July 8 with the above products codes could be on store shelves, this recall extends to retailers as well as consumers.

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm218325.htm

Summary report on antimicrobial resistance in the EU published

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has recently published the Community Summary Report on antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic and indicator bacteria from animals and food in the European Union in 2008.

The report is the result of an analysis of data on the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic bacteria submitted by 25 EU member states and two non-EU European countries in 2008. The data covers resistance in Salmonella, Campylobacter and indicator E. coli and enterococci.

Resistance to antimicrobials was found to be common in isolated from animals and food, but large differences in the occurrence of resistance were often observed between different countries. Of particular concern were the high observed levels of resistance to ciprofloxacin in Salmonella, Campylobacter and indicator E. coli. Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone, a class of antimicrobials of significant clinical importance for humans. Resistance to some other clinically important drugs, such as macrolides and third generation cephalosporins, was also seen.

The full report can be found on the EFSA web site via the link below.

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/scdocs/scdoc/1658.htm

Airline caterers in the spotlight

According to a report from USA Today, a US Senator from New York, Charles Schumer, is urging the FDA to strengthen its food safety enforcement policy for airline caterers after an investigation by the paper found airline meals being prepared in allegedly unsafe conditions.

The investigation used FDA inspection reports from 2009 on 46 facilities in the US being operated by three major caterers. Among the findings were reported to be poor temperature control, unclean equipment and poor hygiene practice by staff. Some signs of pest infestation were also found at some sites.

Senator Schumer is reported to be pushing for repeated food safety violations to result in caterers being banned from US airports and for much higher fines to be imposed on those who breach regulations.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-07-02-schumer-airline-food_N.htm

New program of Campylobacter research

The UK Food Standards Agency has announced that it is commission a new research program aimed at tackling the current high incidence of Campylobacter infection in Britain.

The Agency states that Campylobacter is now the commonest cause of foodborne infection in the UK, causing an estimated 300,000 cases every year at a cost to the economy of £583m. Poultry meat is thought to be the commonest source of the pathogen.

Among the key areas where new research is planned are the development of rapid on-farm testing, investigation of the effectiveness of biosecurity training, controlling Campylobacter in slaughterhouses and the development of predictive models.

More information about the research requirements can be found at the link below.

http://www.food.gov.uk/aboutus/how_we_work/procurement/campylobacterevidenceprogramme/

Codex sets limit for melamine levels in food

Meeting in Geneva this week, the 33rd Session of the UN food standards body, the Codex Alimentarius Commission, has set a maximum permitted level of 2.5 mg/kg for the industrial chemical melamine in food and a maximum level of 1 mg/kg for infant formula.

The setting of a maximum level for melamine in food is considered necessary to distinguish deliberate adulteration, such as occurred in China in 2008, from occasional low level and unavoidable contamination derived from pesticides and contact with plastic utensils, equipment and surfaces.

The Commission Session, which was attended by 500 delegates from 130 countries, also discussed new hygiene measures for fresh packed salads and seafood and set maximum levels of 10 and 15 micrograms/kg respectively for aflatoxins in shelled ready-to-eat Brazil nuts and Brazil nuts intended for further processing.

http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/43719/icode/

Import controls on US rice lifted

The European Commission has revoked emergency measures controlling the import of rice products from the USA. The measures were introduced in 2006 after contamination with the genetically modified rice variety LLRICE601 was detected in imported US rice.

The emergency measures were lifted after sampling and analysis found no contamination in last years harvest or in shipments imported in to EU member states. As from now, US rice can be imported without an accompanying certificate declaring it to be free of the LLRICE601 GM variety.

http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2010/jul/rice

Bison products recalled

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced that Rocky Mountain Natural Meats of Henderson, Colorado, is recalling approximately 66,000 pounds of ground and tenderised steak bison products because of possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7.

The problem was identified when an investigation into a cluster of cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection in Colorado found an association with consumption of ground bison products.

Six different products are included in the recall, all bearing the establishment number EST. 20247 and produced between 21 and 27 May. The products were distributed nationwide to retailers and also to food service distributors in Utah and Arizona.

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_043_2010_Release/index.asp

Dairy processor must resolve contamination problems

A meeting of the EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) has decided that a German Dairy processor, Milchwerke Jaeger, cannot resume production until it can be verified that its products are safe for human consumption.

A contamination problem came to light when a consignment of mozzarella balls produced by Milchwerke Jaeger in Germany and exported to Italy, were the subject of consumer complaints in June. The mozzarella was reported to turn a blue colour several hours after opening and exposure to air. According to press reports, the Italian authorities identified unspecified bacterial contamination as the cause of the discolouration. No associated cases of illness have been reported to date.

The problem was communicated to other EU member states via the Rapid Alert system and the European Commission Food and Veterinary Office conducted a visit to the German plant. The visit found that the company had failed to notify the German authorities when contamination was first detected, reportedly in a water supply. Although corrective measures to eliminate contamination have been carried out by the company and the German authorities, the Committee concluded that their effectiveness must be proven before production can resume.

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/877&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en