What's new at the Fresh Produce Safety Centre
25 May 2016
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The FPSC conference is moving closer. Thank you to those companies who have taken the opportunity to sponsor sessions at the Conference, Innovation in Fresh Food Safety, to be held in Sydney on Wednesday 10 August 2016.
There are still excellent sponsorship packages available.
Sponsoring provides an opportunity to:
- gain industry-leader recognition for your support of fresh produce food safety research and outreach
- receive widespread trade and public media exposure
- promote your products/services during the conference
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Thank you to everyone who visited the Food Safety Hub at the PMA A-NZ Fresh Connections trade show on 18 May 2016.
The Hub was one of the busiest spots in the hall, and most visitors spoke with several participants, getting answers to a range of food safety related enquiries from the most relevant source.
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If you have colleagues or staff who might be interested in these events and news stories, do take a moment to forward this newsletter to make sure they don't miss out!
Other new stories at the FPSC website:
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IE: Berries – Advice to boil imported frozen berries
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Food Safety Authority of Ireland: Why is the FSAI reiterating its advice to boil imported frozen berries for one minute? As a result of recent outbreaks of norovirus in Sweden and hepatitis A virus in Australia, both of which have been linked to the consumption of imported frozen berries, the FSAI is reiterating its advice to continue to boil imported frozen berries for one minute before consumption. This is particularly important when serving these foods to vulnerable people such as nursing home residents.
[Full story]
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UK: BRC Global Standards announces launch date for industry leading food safety culture module
BRC Global Standards: BRC Global Standards has today announced the launch in June of a new voluntary module assessing food safety culture. Food safety culture is a growing focus in the industry, and this module delivers thorough analysis and insight into working culture; complementing existing food safety programmes with valuable understanding of a site’s culture and areas for action.
[Full story]
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AU: Boy’s death after drinking Green Time Natural Coconut Drink prompts coroner’s warning
Adelaide Now: A Coroner has expressed alarm about mis-labelled imported foods after a 10-year-old-boy with allergies died following consuming a “natural” coconut drink. Keen soccer player Ronak Warty’s life was devastatingly cut short after becoming ill after dinner one night.
[Full story]
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NZ: New food rules impacting Southland businesses
Stuff.co.nz: Southland councils have implemented audit processes to deal with changes to food safety rules but say there is still some confusion over how the new rules impact businesses. Businesses that serve food are now required to have a Food Control Plan (FCP) under the new Food Act, which came into force in March.
[Full story]
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NZ: Food Safety Science & Research Centre launched
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Scoop.co.nz: Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce and Food Safety Minister JoGoodhew today launched the New Zealand Food Safety Science and Research Centre at Massey University in Palmerston North. Formed as a partnership between government, industry organisations and research institutions, the virtual centre aims to ensure New Zealand’s food safety system remains among the best in the world.
[Full story]
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US: Report: genetically modified crops pose no health risks
Food Safety Magazine: The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) has discovered that, after extensive research, there is no distinct difference between food crops that are genetically modified (GM) and those that are conventionally grown. Their research also uncovered no clear difference in risks to human health or the environment between the two types of crops.
[Full story]
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AU: New Salmonella warning – mung bean sprouts
SA Health: SA Health has today [19 May 2016] ordered a local mung bean sprout producer Star Tu, to recall all of its products and stop selling immediately after Salmonella Saintpaul was found in packaged bean sprouts.
[Full story]
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AU: Global-first agreement with Australian retailers to benefit horticulture growers
Fresh Plaza: In a world-first, major grocery retailers and the horticultural industry have agreed to streamline fresh produce safety requirements lowering the cost of doing business and improving food safety across the fresh produce supply chain in Australia.
[Full story]
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US: Food safety posters for safe handling of leafy greens
Journal of Extension: This article describes food safety educational tools depicting safe handling of leafy greens that are available as downloadable posters to Extension educators and practitioners. Nine visual-based minimal-text colored posters in English, Chinese, and Spanish were developed for use when formally or informally educating foodservice workers about safely handling leafy greens.
[Full story]
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US: Study shows need to monitor microbial levels in dump tanks
Good Fruit Grower: The study by Seattle-based iDecisionSciences collected and examined dump tank monitoring data from five Washington apple packing houses to determine whether dump tank water preventive controls are controlling microbial levels and meeting requirements of the companies’ food safety plans. “We used microbial water testing data to establish how effective those preventive controls are […]
[Full story]
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