http://www.foodsafetywatch.com

News Headlines: 14 - 27 August 2010

Study reports BPA exposure may affect testosterone levels; CDC reports multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to shell eggs; Deli meats recalled; Typhoid outbreak link prompts nationwide fruit pulp recall

Study reports BPA exposure may affect testosterone levels

A newly published study by researchers from the Peninsula Medical School and the University of Exeter in the UK has reported small increases in blood testosterone levels in men exposed to higher levels of the industrial chemical bisphenol A (BPA).

The study looked at data from an Italian population sample, the 'InCHIANTI' study. BPA concentrations were measured in the urine of 715 adults of various ages to determine daily exposure levels and examine any association with hormone levels in blood. BPA is found in certain types of packaging materials, including polycarbonate drinks bottles and the inner coating of some food cans.

The average daily BPA exposure in the study population was found to be over 5 micrograms, higher than that estimated in the USA. Higher BPA exposure was found to be significantly associated with endocrine changes in men, notably slightly raised testosterone levels. Although BPA is known to be an endocrine disruptor in animals, this study is claimed to be the first to show an effect on humans at "background" exposure levels.

The authors of the study say that their results "justify proper human safety studies to clarify the effects of BPA in people." The findings of the study are published in the latest issue of the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

http://www.pms.ac.uk/news.php?id=149

CDC reports multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to shell eggs

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is currently investigating a four-fold nationwide increase in cases of infection with one strain of Salmonella Enteritidis. The increase is thought to be associated with shell eggs supplied by two different producers in Iowa.

The number of cases of infection caused by Salmonella Enteritidis with a PFGE pattern JEGX01.0004 recorded from May to July this year is 1,953, but based on previous years, only 700 cases would be expected. Epidemiological investigation has shown that some of the cases were associated with 26 specific restaurant or event clusters and that the most likely vehicle of infection was shell eggs.

The egg supplier for 15 of these clusters was found to be Wright County Egg of Iowa, which recalled about 380 million eggs on 13 August. The investigation has also identified a second potential supplier of contaminated eggs, Hillandale Farms, also of Iowa. Hillandale Farms recalled a further 170 million eggs sold under several different brand names on 20 August. The FDA is now investigating both suppliers and hoping to identify the source of the contamination. A number of secondary recalls have also been initiated by businesses receiving eggs from the two implicated suppliers.

http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/WhatsNewinFood/ucm222684.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/enteritidis/

Deli meats recalled

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced that Zemco Industries, of Buffalo, New York, is recalling around 380,000 pounds of deli meat products, which may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The recalled meats were distributed to delicatessens for processing into sandwiches, before being further distributed in large cases to nationwide branches of a single retail chain. Recalled packs have 'use by' dates from 20 August to 10 September 2010.

The contamination was discovered by a positive test on a sample collected from a retail outlet by the officials from the State of Georgia. No related cases of illness have been reported to date.

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_049_2010_Release/index.asp

Typhoid outbreak link prompts nationwide fruit pulp recall

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an urgent warning to consumers not to eat frozen mamey fruit pulp sold under the La Nuestra and Goya brands because of a possible link with an ongoing outbreak of typhoid fever.

The recalled fruit pulp has been linked by epidemiological studies to at least nine cases of typhoid fever caused by Salmonella Typhi recorded in California and Nevada. A number of people affected reported consuming mamey fruit pulp and smoothies at juice stands. Mamey fruit is grown mainly in Central America and is popular with the Hispanic community.

The suppliers of the pulp, Montalvan Sales Inc and Goya Foods Inc, are voluntarily recalling all lot numbers of the frozen pulp, which has is sold in 14-ounce packages through retailers nationwide. Consumers are advised to discard any packs of La Nuestra or Goya brand frozen mamey fruit pulp that they have at home.

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm223465.htm

© 2006-2012 Food Safety Info. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without permission prohibited.