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August 2015
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AU/NZ: Fresh Produce Safety Conference resounding successs
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At the Fresh Produce Safety Centre Australia & New Zealand conference on 12 August at the University of Sydney, over 100 delegates heard a wide range of presentations on recent research findings on fresh produce safety from local and international researchers and industry speakers. Titled Advancing research and outreach for safe, fresh food, the conference […]
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AU/NZ: Guidelines now available
The Fresh Produce Safety Centre (FPSC) Australia & New Zealand launched their much anticipated Guidelines for Fresh Produce Food Safety at the University of Sydney on 11 August 2015. The new guidelines provide Australian and New Zealand fresh produce industries with up-to-date information on assessing and managing food safety risks, incorporating the latest in scientific research […]
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US: Food fraud a bigger problem than many realize, experts say
Food Safety News: Pick up any item in the supermarket and read through the ingredient labeling. Nearly all of the ingredients listed have the potential to be vulnerable to food fraud, according to food fraud investigator Mitchell Weinberg. “Around the world, food fraud is an epidemic. In every single country where food is produced or grown, food fraud is occurring,” Weinberg said to a roomful of food safety professionals at last month’s annual meeting of the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) in Portland, OR.
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NZ: Food awards unveils the cream of the crop
Scoop: The top performers in New Zealand’s food industry have been announced, with 47 products developed by 39 primary food producers, food service providers and ingredient supply companies named as national finalists in the New Zealand Food Awards for 2015. Competition was particularly tough this year with entries up 40% compared to 2014, with almost 150 products from 79 food and beverage producers vying for an award.
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AU: A hungrier, wealthier, choosier, smarter, riskier world: five challenges for Australian agriculture
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The Conversation: You don’t need a crystal ball to know Australia’s rural industries will face significant change at global, national and local levels over the coming decades. This will create opportunities and challenges for small and large farms, and will affect rural lifestyles, agricultural landscapes and Australia’s society and economy. In a new report, we describe this future through a series of interlinked “megatrends” set to hit Australia over the coming 20 years
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AU: ‘Halal inquiry’ not warranted but could help to eradicate myths: Australian Food and Grocery Council
ABC Rural: An inquiry into halal certification is not warranted but could be useful in eradicating myths, says Australia's leading body for packaged food. Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) is presenting at a Senate inquiry, which began today, exploring third party certification schemes, including organic, kosher and genetically modified products.
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NZ: Stopping product recalls from becoming a car crash
The Register: Food recalls are handled by the Ministry of Primary Industries, those for medicines and medical devices are regulated by Medsafe, and motor vehicle recalls are listed by the NZ Transport Agency. Most recalls aren’t as dramatic as a car crash, but the idea behind them is to remove the product from consumers before it causes harm.
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US: The future of food safety: new markets for retailers
Progressive Grocer: On average, $10 million dollars is the cost of a recall on a food company. Add this to the fact that recalls have been doubling every year from the 2002-2014 period in the United States, and it should worry any stakeholder in the manufacturing and processing facilities. Yet many of them are surprisingly optimistic about the chance of a recall affecting business, and it’s their belief of invincibility that leaves them unprepared to weather a storm when one blows up.
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CA: Potato tampering mystery remains unsolved
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The Guardian: As the old saying goes, it's not adversity that defines a person or group but rather how they deal with it in moving forward. That's the perspective P.E.I.'s [Prince Edward Island, Canada’s] potato industry is taking after a nearly year-long food tampering mystery that has led to millions of dollars in upgrades, a $500,000 reward and ongoing criminal investigation.
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US: Food safety concerns are changing how consumers shop and retailers stock food
Food Navigator USA: Americans increasingly are concerned about food safety and it is changing the way they shop, retailers stock and manufacturers produce and package food and beverages, according to a new survey.
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US: New study says keeping wildlife habitat next to farm fields is perfectly safe
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Monterey County Weekly: Nearly a decade ago, a deadly outbreak of E. coli linked to bagged spinach grown and processed on the [California] Central Coast sickened more than 205 people and killed three. The outbreak triggered some major changes to farming and food safety practices, originating on Salinas Valley farm fields. Growers formed the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, a voluntary set of guidelines designed to prevent pathogens from coming into contact with salad greens. Those guidelines are largely based on common sense: Ensure there are enough portable toilets and sinks for field workers at their work sites; don't pick salad greens from a flooded area; don't apply raw animal manure as compost.
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AU: CSIRO joins global traceability community
Food and Drink Business: CSIRO has become the first Australian member of the Global Food Traceability Centre which was launched in 2013 to implement food traceability across global networks and supply chains. CSIRO’s research leader for food safety, Dr Kari Gobius, said food traceability wasn’t just about helping manage a food safety emergency or product recall, though it could significantly reduce costs if it did happen. “Traceability also has less obvious but proven economic benefits such as improved risk management, supply chain efficiencies and confidence, inventory accuracy, brand reputation and access to new markets and customers,” Gobius said.
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UN: Promoting safe produce and quality in Samoa
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United Nations: The Samoa Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are partnering to promote fresh produce safety and quality in Samoa. Consumers have a right to expect that the foods purchased and consumed will be safe and of high quality. Consumers should also have a right to voice their opinions about the food control procedures, standards and activities that governments and industry use to ascertain that the food supply has these characteristics. To raise awareness of fresh produce safety and quality in Samoa, FAO and the Samoa Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc [offered] a training workshop in Apia from July 15 and 16 on fresh produce safety and quality in Samoa.
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AU/NZ: Food borne illness in Australia falling except Salmonella which is increasing
Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Despite more than four million Australians getting sick from contaminated food each year, the overall national rate of food poisoning is falling. Except, that is, when it comes to Salmonella. A glance at Victoria's Department of Health figures for example, shows a 50 per cent increase in salmonella in poisoning since 2012. Queensland has seen a doubling of Salmonella poisoning cases in the past 12 months. Salmonella can be found in soil and water, and multiplies rapidly if food is not handled properly, including washing and refrigeration. It is one of the reasons the independent Fresh Produce Safety Centre Australia New Zealand has released new guidelines for everyone involved in food to try to lift standards.
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NZ: Government easing constraints to agricultural innovations
Scoop.co.nz: Agcarm commends the government for tabling a Bill to improve access to the latest innovations in veterinary medicines and agrichemicals, helping New Zealand agriculture to remain competitive. Agcarm chief executive, Mark Ross says “We applaud the government for supporting primary production, by encouraging the registration of new products from overseas and new uses for existing […]
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AU: Consultation begins on Safe Food Australia review
Food Standards Australia New Zealand: Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today released a consultation paper on a review of Safe Food Australia. Safe Food Australia is an explanatory guide to the food safety standards in Chapter 3 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. Chief Executive Officer Steve McCutcheon said Safe Food Australia is used as a practical tool, by both industry and regulators, to help understand and implement safe food handling practices.
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US: FDA reports on cantaloupe safety inspections
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The Packer: After inspecting 17 operations, federal officials report that fresh cantaloupe packinghouses are generally following good agriculture practices even though tests at nine of the companies showed Listeria contamination. The inspections by the Food and Drug Administration were part of the agency’s follow-up efforts after a 2011 cantaloupe-related Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that sickened more than 150 nationwide and killed more than 30. Eight firms did not have any positive Listeria test results. One had pathogenic Listeria present and the other eight tested positive for non-pathogenic Listeria.
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AU: Fake foods: Australian producers face Asian retreat in counterfeit battle
Sydney Morning Herald: "Tasmanian" cherries and "Barossa" wine that is not from Australia are competing with our exporters for space in stores overseas. This is the new world of counterfeiting and it's our exporters and consumers who are in the firing line. The growing market for high-end Australian agricultural produce – renowned for being safe, clean and green – has led to the wave of fake foods. It is claimed some counterfeiters are taking dangerous steps, including dyeing second-grade oranges with inedible paint to pass them off as high-quality Australian brands.
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