News in brief

Workers spread norovirus in the workplace

04-Jan-2012 - Workers infected with norovirus could put firms at risk of poisoning consumers through contaminated products, experts have warned.

Draft dioxin guidance could ‘cripple’ food sector, warns US industry

04-Jan-2012 - The US food industry is lobbying the Obama administration to ease pending federal guidance recommending that consumers severely limit their daily dioxin intake.

Our 2011 dairy digest: relive the stories that made a milk splash this year...

23-Dec-2011 - From killer ice cream to Nestlé and Danone cancelling or suspending local operations in China, 2011 was a roller-coaster ride for the world dairy industry. So fasten your seatbelts and enjoy our whirlwind tour of the year's top news tattle...

Baby death sees Mead Johnson infant formula stripped off shelves

22-Dec-2011 - Wal-Mart says it had withdrawn a batch of powdered infant formula produced by Mead Johnson Nutrition after a Missouri baby fed the formula died of a suspected bacterial infection, according to the Associated Press.

News in brief

Listeria-linked dairy recall extended again - CFIA

20-Dec-2011 - A voluntary recall of dairy products has been extended for the fifth time since the original recall of products potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, Canadian food safety authorities have said.

Chr. Hansen targets Eastern cottage cheese chic

16-Dec-2011 - Chr. Hansen claims its new Fresco 3000 culture series will increase customer’s cheese yield, reduce production costs and provide greater protection against bacteriophage attacks during fermentation, as the company targets growing consumption in Eastern Europe and Russia.

Admin error led to Canadian listeria recall delay - CFIA

15-Dec-2011 - Several dairy products, potentially contaminated with listeria, remained on the market over a month after an initial manufacturer recall because of an administration blunder, Canadian food safety authorities have revealed.

Exclusive

Japan baby formula radiation fears raised as early as mid-November

14-Dec-2011 - Following the discovery of radioactive substances in its baby milk formula, it has now emerged that Meiji Holdings Co. was contacted about possible contamination three weeks before it decided to recall the products.

Deadly revenge for Chinese nitrite poisoning pair

12-Dec-2011 - A Chinese dairy farmer has been sentenced to death after a court in the country convicted her for intentionally poisoning milk that killed three infants and sickened 36 people.

Industry warns of major fallout from French bisphenol A ban

26-Oct-2011 - Shorter product shelf life, the need to use a raft of coatings and changes in the appearance of food and beverage cans are all potential consequences of the French ban on bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging from 2014, said the German Metal Packaging Association.

Wire bristles went undetected, Kraft admits after product recall

07-Oct-2011 - Kraft Foods has moved to reassure customers, despite admitting that its food safety systems did not detect the potential contamination of cheese-containing products with wire bristles in 2 US factories.

No excuse for ‘narrow minded’ Irish raw milk ban, shout opponents

06-Oct-2011 - The prospective ban on raw milk sales to consumers in Ireland has upset some dairy farmers and processors, who have criticised the measure as “narrow minded”

Special Edition: Dry Decontamination Technology

Ebeam - is the lack of 'plug and play' and food industry naivety holding it back?

29-Jun-2011 - Electron beam decontamination of food is a technology waiting in the wings; a leading researcher claims it can be the ultimate defence in terms of food safety but its potential is being stymied by regulatory hurdles, industry naivety and costly equipment.

More melamine-tainted milk powder uncovered in China

27-Apr-2011 - China is facing yet another case of melamine contamination after police seized 26 tonnes of tainted milk powder from an ice cream manufacturer.

New strategy identified to fight bacterial cheese contamination

27-Aug-2010 - Scientists have identified a way of using a virus to control levels of the Clostridium tyrobutyricum bacteria in cheese to prevent spoilage and minimise product waste.

China reduces minimum protein levels to combat melamine

15-Jul-2010 - China has lowered minimum protein levels in raw milk in the country’s latest effort to stamp out the use of melamine in the dairy industry.

China uncovers more melamine tainted dairy materials

09-Jul-2010 - More melamine tainted dairy materials have been seized by Chinese food safety authorities, raising suspicions that it may be from the same batch that should have been destroyed following the 2008 scandal.

X-ray transparent belt boosts performance on contaminant detection lines

03-Jun-2010 - X-ray transparency and added durability are benefits of a new conveyor belt that helps improve performance for contaminant detection in glass containers on food and pharmaceutical lines, said Mettler Toledo Safeline.

Lidl faces legal action over listeria cheese death

26-May-2010 - A German consumer rights organisation is suing Lidl, Prolactal, and local health officials for ‘negligent homicide’ following a listeria cheese outbreak that resulted in seven deaths earlier this year.

Thermo Fisher launches global food safety response lab

16-Apr-2010 - Thermo Fisher Scientific yesterday opened a dedicated food safety testing laboratory in a bid to help contain costly and life-threatening chemical contamination crises.

Two new volumes examine dairy quality and safety

09-Apr-2010 - Woodhead Publishing has published two new books addressing the latest processing technologies and advances in formulation science relevant to improving the safety and quality of dairy products.

Colour changing nanoparticles to flag up melamine-tainted milk

02-Apr-2010 - A new method that uses nanotechnology to detect melamine in milk is quick, simple and economical, said scientists in the United States.

Campden reports on health risks from contaminated cheese

31-Mar-2010 - Campden BRI has revealed that there could be a problem regarding the health risks posed by Escherichia coli O157 and Mycobacterium bovis in cheeses made from unpasteurised milk.

Special Edition: Decontamination

Poor equipment design compromising food safety, EHEDG

12-Mar-2010 - Misinterpretation of fundamental criteria for the hygienic design of equipment by designers is resulting in incorrect installation of parts such as valves and sensors at the initial design stage of new food processing equipment and leaves processors exposed to contaminant threats, claims the EHEDG.