Food Safety
After report criticizes FDA conclusion that leaching chemical used for food cans, baby bottles is safe (click 'See also'), agency plans 'large research effort' to gauge bisphenol A's effects. Critics call plan redundant, waste of taxpayer dollars.
By Will Dunham
Reuters 2008-12-15 (entry)
See also
Minnesota X-rays venison bound for community food pantries after finding that 5.3 percent of venison sampled contained lead fragments from bullets. Funding comes from $160,000 appropriated by legislature, an increase in nonresident hunting license fees, hunter donations.
By Doug Smith
Star Tribune (MN) 2008-12-19 (entry)
With FDA OK of herb stevia as a zero-calorie sweetener, Coca-Cola introduces Sprite Green and Pepsi launches three flavors of a zero-calorie SoBe Lifewater, plans March launch of Trop50, an orange-juice drink. And: Such sweeteners are key in reversing sales decline of carbonated soft drinks, says Pepsi head (click 'See also').
By Betsy McKay
The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2008-12-18 (entry)
See also
Twice-daily diet of sushi, use of herbal remedies blamed for elevated levels of mercury in actor's bloodstream. Jeremy Piven, who was starring in 'Speed the Plow' on Broadway, had complained of excessive fatigue, exhaustion. He later left production. And: Eating six pieces of tuna sushi weekly in New York exceeds EPA's safe levels of consumption (click 'See also').
By Dave Itzkoff
The New York Times 2008-12-18 (entry)
See also
Austrian study (click 'See also') links genetically modified corn strain with diminishing fertility, size of mice. Upwards of 90 percent of U.S. soy, 60 percent of U.S. corn, come from gene-altered seeds, suffuse food system, yet government essentially doesn't regulate GMO food. Cause for hope is Obama's declaration for gene-altered organisms 'abetted by stringent tests for environmental and health effects and by stronger regulatory oversight guided by the best available scientific advice.'
By Tom Philpott
Grist 2008-12-12 (entry)
See also
As use of nanotechnology grows and researchers plan for use of tiny particles as food additives, in medical treatments and in electronics, report lists serious gaps in federal plan for determining risks and calls for ensuring safety of workers, consumers, environment. And: Studies are lagging behind technology (click 'See also'). One nanometer equals a billionth of a meter.
By Julie Steenhuysen
Reuters 2008-12-10 (entry)
See also
Pledging to learn from baby formula case, China launches campaign to restore faith in food products after melamine-tainted dairy product scandal. Initiative includes assessment of procedures, probes of high-risk producers or regions and targets food processors with fewer than 10 employees - 70 percent of country's 500,000 producers.
By Mike Stones
Nutraingredients.com 2008-12-09 (entry)
FDA reverses itself, continuing to allow use of cephalosporin drugs - powerful antibiotics- in food animals after calling the practice a public-health risk in July. Worry is that excessive use of antibiotics - including in animals - can promote resistance, produce life-threatening bacteria in humans.
By Alicia Mundy and Jared Favole
The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2008-12-09 (entry)
Calling melamine a contaminant that sometimes is unavoidable, World Health Organization sets 'daily tolerable intake' without 'appreciable health risk.' The toxin, an industrial chemical, can cause kidney stones, kidney disease, other organ problems and kidney failure, and can be fatal in children. And: Toxin links industrial waste to U.S. food system (click 'See also').
nutraingredients.com 2008-12-10 (entry)
See also
With cheap food looming as crisis-in-the-making, Obama should consider a Cabinet-level agency over all food safety, enforcement and research. With low price as king, conglomerates trade foods from all over, and corners are cut. In U.S., 12 agencies administer 35 different food safety laws. Consumers must seek out sustainably produced foods - and vote with their pocketbooks.
By Aleda Roth
San Francisco Chronicle 2008-11-29 (entry)
Bush-Cheney plan to measure emissions of coal-burning power plants hourly instead of annually could mean more pollution - and enormous cost to public health, planet. And: Fish from Catskills waterways unsafe to eat; they and their predators - bald eagles - contaminated with methylmercury, a power-plant toxin. (click 'See also') .
The editors
The New York Times 2008-11-28 (entry)
See also
'Trace' amounts of melamine, used in plastics and fertilizers, found in one of 77 U.S. baby formula samples tested, but it's allowed in can liners and manufacturing, says FDA. And: BPA, a leaching toxin thought to be found only in metal food can linings and hard, clear plastic, also is present in frozen food trays, microwaveable soup containers, plastic baby food packaging and in recyclable containers with numbers 1, 2, 5 and 7 (click 'See also').
By Justin Blum
bloomberg.com 2008-11-25 (entry)
See also
FDA opens China office to certify inspections of U.S.-bound products. Food safety problems, plus China's growing role as food, drug supplier to U.S. - $320 billion in products were imported to U.S. last year - prompted strategy change. Food science expert in China doubts effectiveness of move, citing dozens of pesticides available and a thousand different poisonous possibilities.
By Maureen Fan
The Washington Post 2008-11-19 (entry)
China-made sweets made with milk stopped for testing at U.S. border in effort to keep melamine-tainted goods from reaching stores. FDA, taking cue from other countries, increases scrutiny of goods on shelves. Agency should have acted earlier; problems with melamine are deeper than FDA acknowledges, says House member. And: Retracing path of toxin from greedy chemical companies to poor farmers in China (click 'See also').
By Annys Shin
The Washington Post 2008-11-14 (entry)
See also
FDA begins updating 1986 standards for processing, packaging, storage of food. USDA inspects meat plants daily; FDA has no such requirement for food processing plants. Poll shows consumers want labels identifying: country of origin of processed and packaged foods; products from cloned or genetically engineered animals; meat treated with carbon monoxide to maintain red color; irradiated items.
By Jane Byrne
nutraingredients.com 2008-11-13 (entry)
Barack Obama won the presidential election with promise to address things beyond the power of individuals: ensuring food safety, clean air, regulating economy fairly, ensuring access to health care and educating children. He will now need the support of all Americans.
The editors
The New York Times 2008-11-05 (entry)
Melamine found in eggs imported from China to Hong Kong, raising new concerns about food quality standards in China. The toxin, last found in dairy products, has already sickened more than 50,000 children in China and led to at least four deaths. That scandal forced global recall of foods using Chinese dairy products, including pizza, biscuits, yogurt.
By David Barboza
The New York Times 2008-10-26 (entry)
Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware ask 11 companies to stop using bisphenol A in making baby bottles, baby-formula containers. FDA has tentatively concluded that chemical is safe, but gives consumers tips on reducing exposure. Animal studies link BPA, also used in food can linings, to reproductive system abnormalities, cancers; experts disagree on whether humans are at risk.
The Associated Press; The Wall Street Journal. 2008-10-14 (entry)
FDA reviews petition for ban on eight artificial food colors and request for warning labels on foods that contain them. Group cites studies linking hyperactivity to consumption of dyes, some made from petrochemicals and coal tar. In UK, Kellogg switched to beetroot red, annatto and paprika extract to color strawberry Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars; in U.S., they're tinted with Red 40, Yellow 6 and Blue 1.
By Melinda Fulmer
Los Angeles Times 2008-10-13 (entry)
Anti-regulation activist who says bisphenol A is 'perfectly safe' gave $5 million to research center of FDA panel head due to rule on chemical's safety. FDA draft, which says products made with BPA are safe for food, relied on industry-funded studies. And: Scientists urge 'aggressive action' to limit exposure after study notes that higher levels of BPA in body correspond with higher rates of heart disease, diabetes and liver abnormalities (click 'See also').
By Susanne Rust and Meg Kissinger
Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, WI) 2008-10-11 (entry)
See also
Michigan e.coli outbreak traced to California lettuce. Students at Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, and inmates at Lenawee County Jail, among others, fell ill. Some lettuce was sold by Aunt Mid's Produce Co., in Detroit.
By Tiffany Hsu
Los Angeles Times 2008-10-10 (entry)
Forty-one e.coli cases, three in Canada, linked to shredded iceberg lettuce from Michigan. And: Hospital head wants to know why there was five-day delay in notifying health authorities of outbreak (click 'See also'), considering recent listeria outbreak that has so far killed 20 and left 32 seriously ill across Canada.
By Erica Bajer
The Chatham Daily News (CA) 2008-10-08 (entry)
See also
After White House officials remove scientific data from reports highlighting some risks associated with rocket-fuel chemical, EPA refuses to set drinking-water safety standard, assumes that maximum safe level is 15 times higher than suggested in 2002. Perchlorate linked to thyroid problems in pregnant women, newborns and young children and has been found in water in 35 states.
By Juliet Eilperin
The Washington Post 2008-10-04 (entry)
FDA says a bit of melamine in food - equivalent to two or three grains in a million grains of sand - poses no serious risk, drawing ire of House member who questions whether agency is condoning intentional contamination of foods. Four babies have died, 54,000 ill from drinking tainted milk. Some China-made products found in U.S. are contaminated.
By Marc Kaufman
The Washington Post 2008-10-04 (entry)
FDA lacks staff to protect food supply, particularly fresh produce, and is distracted by counterterrorism efforts and investigating outbreaks of food-borne illness, government report says. Only 1 percent of produce imported into U.S. is inspected by FDA; 60 percent of fresh produce is imported annually. One in four Americans becomes sick from tainted food each year - 76 million people. And: New e.coli cases reported (click 'See also').
By Amanda Gardner
HealthDay; The Washington Post 2008-09-26 (entry)
See also
In response to melamine contamination of milk and milk products in China, FDA broadens sampling, testing of domestic and imported milk-derived ingredients and products containing milk, such as candies, desserts, beverages that could contain China products. Milk-derived ingredients include whole milk powder, non-fat milk powder, whey powder, lactose powder, and casein.
By Stephanie Kwisnek
FDA 2008-09-26 (entry)
To existing ban on import of milk and milk products from China, EU adds testing on Chinese products that contain milk powder, particularly child-focused products of milk toffee, chocolate and biscuits. Melamine-tainted infant formula has killed four babies and sickened thousands in China. And: Baby food added to to EU's banned list (click 'See also').
By Jeremy Smith
The Guardian (UK) 2008-09-25 (entry)
See also
Many school cafeterias in New York state aren't routinely inspected for food safety because of short-staffed health departments, disparity between federal, local laws. Skewing records: Some schools have no kitchen; some inspections aren't recorded. One in five public school cafeterias in Monroe County failed to meet health standards in last two years.
By David Andreatta
Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, NY) 2008-09-14 (entry)
Liquid milk in China found to contain melamine after similarly tainted infant formula kills three babies and sickens 53,000, with nearly 13,000 hospitalized for kidney problems. Instant coffee, milk, candy for export blocked at Asian borders. Don't assume the Chinese piece of the global supply chain follows the rules, says expert. Product-quality chief resigns. And: Ten countries ban Chinese dairy products (click 'See also').
By Don Lee and Mark Magnier
Los Angeles Times 2008-09-22 (entry)
See also
Toll of melamine-poisoned babies rises in China, with 1,300-plus hospitalized and 158 with acute kidney failure. Traces of industrial additive found in powdered formula of 21 more dairy companies. As people's fury grows and they compare food safety standards of Olympics with those for citizens, government vows overhaul of dairy industry.
By Jim Yardley
The New York Times 2008-09-18 (entry)
Second baby dies, 1,253 others ill with 340 in hospitals from melamine-tainted infant formula in China. More than 10,000 tons of milk powder seized or recalled. Scandal has renewed concerns about food safety of one of the world's largest food exporters. And: Same toxin was blamed for pet deaths in U.S. last year (click 'See also').
By Jim Yardley
The New York Times 2008-09-15 (entry)
See also
Country-of-origin labels due on meats, some produce, nuts. Ground beef labels may be long, because some processors mix meats of many countries. Critics complain about exemptions, including vegetables imported in bulk and then mixed by U.S. company. Label for cattle imported to U.S. for immediate slaughter can list origin country and U.S.; some fear that slaughterers won't bother with specifics. Then, there's scale: How do you verify origins of thousands of cattle slaughtered each day?
By Stephen J. Hedges
Chicago Tribune 2008-09-13 (entry)
One baby dies, 432 ill from melamine-tainted Sanlu infant formula in China. Toxic chemical is used in plastics, fertilizers and cleaning products but also gives appearance of increased protein content in animal feed. In 2007, it was linked to deaths and illnesses of thousands of pets in the U.S. Officials vow severe punishment to those responsible.
BBC News 2008-09-13 (entry)
In closely watched case of farm workers against Ag-Mart that began in 2005, parents of deformed baby say they were forced to work in North Carolina tomato fields still wet from pesticides, that pesticides were sprayed while they ate. Company, which sells Santa Sweets and Ugly Ripe tomato brands, also runs farms in Florida, New Jersey, Mexico. And: Company agreed to pay for lifelong care of field worker's limbless child (click 'See also').
By Kristin Collins
The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) 2008-09-11 (entry)
See also
Chinese-made baby formula may be tainted with toxic melamine, officials say. Though Sanlu-brand product is illegal to sell in U.S., some may be available at Chinese specialty stores. Melamine was found in pet food ingredients from China and in 2007 was linked to deaths, illnesses of hundreds of cats and dogs.
By Lisa Richwine
Reuters 2008-09-12 (entry)
Food safety becomes election issue after Canada's deadly listeria outbreak; Liberal Leader calls for resignation of agriculture minister. One issue is new rules requiring inspectors to spend more time going over records of tests and tasks at processing plants, which leaves too little time on physical inspections, union leader says. And: Meat slicing machines likely source of contamination (click 'See also').
By Bill Curry, Jane Taber and Rheal Seguin
The Globe and Mail (Canada) 2008-09-05 (entry)
See also
EPA's current 'safe daily limit' for consumption of bisphenol-A (BPA), a leaching chemical used in hard plastic water and baby bottles and food and beverage can linings (click 'See also'), could cause memory/learning impairments and depression, research on primates shows. Scientist says EPA 'may wish to consider' lowering limit.
By Karen N. Peart
Yale University 2008-09-03 (entry)
See also
Twelve deaths, 26 cases and 29 suspected cases of food-borne illness prompt expanded recall of 220 Maple Leaf products made at one factory in Canada. And: Listeriosis is common and rarely fatal, but can take up to 90 days to incubate (click 'See also').
By Ian Austen
The New York Times 2008-08-26 (entry)
See also
California organic dairy stops selling raw milk through cow-share program after customer develops symptoms of campylobacter infection and is hospitalized. And: As demand for raw milk grows, federal government increases efforts to reduce availability over concerns of food-borne illnesses, though states regulate the industry (click 'See also').
By Nicholas Grube
The Daily Triplicate 2008-08-16 (entry)
See also
Stricter food safety standards by retailers is a welcome development. Retailers have both the clout to compel high standards and better tracking in agriculture and a direct reason to care, since they're the consumer's best chance of being compensated for food poisoning under product liability laws.
The editors
Los Angeles Times 2008-08-19 (entry)
FDA approves irradiation of iceberg lettuce, fresh spinach in effort to reduce incidence of e.coli, salmonella and listeria and to lengthen shelf life without nutrient compromise. Dole Foods is considering process. Consumer safety group wants growers to document manure use and ensure safety of irrigation water, which is suspect in summer salmonella outbreak.
By Lauran Neergaard
The Associated Press; Newsweek 2008-08-21 (entry)
Fourteenth case of mad cow confirmed in Canada. Latest case occurred in six-year-old beef cow; officials say it did not reach food chain. In 1997, government banned practice of feeding the herbivores protein from brains and spines of infected cattle or sheep. The material was still allowed in pig and poultry feed until July 2007.
Reuters
The Star (Canada) 2008-08-15 (entry)
Food poisoning suspected in pre-Olympics illnesses of 15 percent of about 150 American athletes on track team in town outside of Beijing. Events official says he was told illnesses were 'normal stomach bugs' and not out of the ordinary for an international trip.
By Gina Kolata and Jason Stallman
The New York Times 2008-08-16 (entry)
Country-of-origin labels required by Sept. 30 for beef, chicken, fresh produce, frozen fruits and vegetables and other products; restaurants exempt. In hint on price shoppers may pay, retailers' costs about 7 cents a pound for beef and 4 cents a pound for pork. Ground meat labels must list all countries of origin or list of all reasonably possible countries of origin (click 'See also').
By Michael Doyle
Mcclatchy-Tribune; The Houston Chronicle 2008-08-01 (entry)
See also
Eat Maine lobster, but leave the tomalley - the soft green liver - says FDA. Red tide in Atlantic waters from Canada to South Carolina may have deposited toxin that could cause paralytic shellfish poisoning. And: Florida lawmakers push for red tide research (click 'See also').
The Associated Press; U.S. News & World Report 2008-07-28 (entry)
Citing safety risk to toddlers, EPA bans residue of carbofuran. It's used mostly in developing countries on rice, bananas, coffee, sugar cane, corn, potatoes, soybeans and alfalfa. It kills bees and, over last 40 years, it has killed millions of wild birds, including golden and bald eagles, red-tailed hawks and migratory songbirds, environmental groups say.
By Juliet Eilperin
The Washington Post 2008-07-25 (entry)
After 1,251 reported illnesses, FDA finds Saintpaul salmonella match in Mexican hot peppers, but contamination source unclear. And: North Carolina recalls jalapeño peppers and Hass avocados for Orangeburg salmonella (click 'See also').
By Bina Venkataraman
The New York Times 2008-07-21 (entry)
See also
Of the estimated 76 million cases of foodborne illnesses in the U.S. each year, a majority occur in restaurants. To reduce risk if food source is unknown, follow CDC's common-sense precautions (click 'See also') used for travel in developing countries (which, paradoxically, also export foods to U.S.); eat only at restaurants that passed local health inspections.
By Laura H. Kahn
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 2008-07-16 (entry)
See also
USDA will in August begin listing retail stores receiving meat and poultry products recalled for serious concerns to public health at www.fsis.usda.gov. Retail stores include supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, meat markets, wholesale clubs and supercenters. Agency won't identify distribution centers, institutions or restaurants.
USDA 2008-07-11 (entry)
Salmonella outbreak suspected in salsa ingredients shows it's time to put existing technology to work, tracing foods from the fields to the dinner table. Congress must protect our food supply by linking traceability with mandatory recall authority in current globalization bill under consideration.
The editors
The Washington Post 2008-07-08 (entry)
Loophole allows meat companies to move e.coli-contaminated meat found during processing into the 'cook only' category without telling USDA. Some inspectors say practice conceals higher levels of bacteria in packing plants than the companies admit. School lunch program bought 2.8 million pounds of cooked beef in 2006.
By Stephen J. Hedges
Chicago Tribune; The Seattle Times 2007-11-11 (entry)
As popularity of raw milk grows, state regulators fine small dairies for minor violations, obtain search warrants and push for restrictive laws. FDA backs the efforts but CDC reports show that about 59 people became ill from raw milk each year, compared to 14 million who contract other food-borne illnesses each year. And: Undercover agents entrap dairy farmers (click 'See also').
By David E. Gumpert
The Nation. 2008-03-05 (entry)
See also
Salmonella outbreak now largest in U.S., with more than 1,000 cases CDC says. Agency says to avoid raw red plum, red Roma, round red tomatoes, and products containing these raw tomatoes, and warns elderly, immune-compromised to avoid jalapeno peppers as well.
By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay News; U.S. News & World Report 2008-07-09 (entry)
As U.S. salmonella cases edge toward 1,000 and tomato industry counts losses in hundreds of millions of dollars, health officials refocus salmonella probe. At mostly non-chain restaurants that serve Mexican food, they now are examining jalapeño peppers, serrano peppers and cilantro.
By Jane Zhang and Janet Adamy
The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2008-07-04 (entry)
In Denmark, sleuths seek cause of salmonella that has sickened up to 4,000; meat product suspected. Experts visit patients, examine refrigerator contents and have been provided electronic files for overview of credit card purchases.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation News 2008-07-02 (entry)
Co-mingling, or repacking, tomatoes from different farms is common practice and a challenging twist to disease sleuths at FDA. It could mean that Mexican tomatoes go to Florida and are sold with tomatoes from Florida. Or box from Florida could easily be refilled with tomatoes from a box from Mexico, and vice versa, says expert. And: sampling of rejected foods from Canada, Mexico and China (click 'See also').
By Sabin Russell
San Francisco Chronicle 2008-06-28 (entry)
See also
Gardeners across UK, Wales, warned not to eat homegrown produce if they used Dow herbicide-tainted manure. Extent of problem, which could extend to market gardeners, unknown. Affected crops include potatoes, raspberries, onions, leeks, beans, peas, carrots and salad vegetables, which wither or become deformed.
By Caroline Davies
The Observer (UK) 2008-06-29 (entry)
Ten percent of ground pork, pork chops in Ontario study harbor antibiotic-resistant bacteria called MRSA, researcher finds; other studies show superbugs in pigs and in some veterinarians. Bacteria not 'important source of disease at this point,' he says. USDA doesn't test for it.
By Thomas M. Burton
The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2008-06-16 (entry)
Salmonella cases reported in nine states, with illnesses linked to raw red tomatoes in Texas and New Mexico, officials say. Those 57 cases were caused by an uncommon type of Salmonella bacteria called SaintPaul. Homegrown tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes and tomatoes sold with the vine still attached are not linked to illness.
By Julie Steenhuysen and Will Dunham
Reuters 2008-06-03 (entry)
See also
Downer cattle will be banned from slaughter, USDA head says. Change will increase humane handling from producers, transporters and slaughterhouses, he says, since there will no longer be any market for cattle that are unable to rise or walk on their own. Decision comes after video resulted in nation's largest beef recall.
By Ed Schafer
USDA 2008-05-20 (entry)
Ancient food safety system endangers U.S., new report finds. Gaps include old laws, poor use of resources, and inconsistencies among agencies, leaving 76 million sick each year. Report recommends one food safety agency which would inspect foods throughout the entire food chain, update inspections as needed; establish standard practices for recall and penalties, and improve inspection of imported foods.
By Steven Reinberg
U.S. News & World Report 2008-04-30 (entry)
In approving plastics additive, FDA ignored 100-plus studies that raised health concerns and relied on two industry-funded studies. Bisphenol A (BPA), used in baby bottles, plastic food containers, bottles, tableware and the plastic linings of canned foods, can mimic estrogen and is linked to cancer, behavioral disorders and reproductive ills in animals.
By Lyndsey Layton
The Washington Post 2008-04-27 (entry)
See also
Canada on verge of declaring bisphenol A a toxin, which could lead to ban on food-related uses, government insiders say. The chemical, used in making hard plastic baby bottles, drink and food containers as well as linings in food cans, disrupts animals' hormonal systems. U.S. agency agreed with panel on 'concern' about neural and behavioral changes in people who consumed the chemical.
By Ian Austen
The New York Times 2008-04-15 (entry)
See also
Bisphenol A, used to make baby bottles and to line cans, could be linked to hormonal problems, early study shows. Early puberty, tumors and urinary tract problems occurred after rats ate or were injected with low doses of the chemical, made by Dow Chemical Co. and BASF Group, among others. For New Jersey's effort to ban chemical, click 'See also.'
By Matthew Perrone
The Associated Press; Fox News 2008-04-15 (entry)
See also
In Baltimore and East St. Louis, federally-funded researchers broadcast sludge on neighborhood yards to study whether the human- and industrial waste-based fertilizer would protect dirt-eating children from lead poisoning. No evidence that children were tested; results, published in 2005, said phosphate and iron in sludge can bind to lead and pass safely through a child's body. Critics say sludge has not been proven safe.
By John Heilprin and Kevin S. Vineys
The Associated Press; The Washingt 2008-04-13 (entry)
See also
Food pantries in Minnesota pull donated venison after concerns over lead bullet fragments in meat. Health officials weren't sure that venison in hunters' freezers is a health risk. Agriculture department began testing food-pantry venison in March after North Dakota found lead fragments in food-shelf venison; custom meat processor, which butchered hundreds of deer last year, says he and his workers avoid bullet-damaged areas.
By Chris Niskanen
Pioneer Press (MN) 2008-04-11 (entry)
Chefs' group calls for change in FDA safety advisory on diacetyl, an artificial butter flavoring implicated in lung problems of workers in flavoring and popcorn factories. CDC is examining hazard in three New York institutional restaurants; Washington State officials are examining at least two sites in Seattle. Artificial diacetyl is routinely added to pure unsalted butter.
By Andrew Schneider
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (WA) 2008-03-20 (entry)
See also
Honduras fights FDA's recall of cantaloupes from Agropecuaria Montelibano, which imports about two million boxes annually under Dole, Chiquita and Mayan Pride, and possibly other labels. Recall threatens $100 million industry and 5,000 Honduran workers; country wants reimbursement for $8 million already lost. FDA has linked the melons to 58 cases of salmonella; critic says shoppers have no idea how to determine who grew a melon.
By Mike Nizza
The New York Times 2008-03-26 (entry)
See also
As sales of Italy's prized buffalo milk mozzarella plummet and restaurateurs switch to cow's milk version, consortium distances emblematic product from dioxin pollution. For decades, Camorra, an organized crime group, has illegally dumped trash around Naples, where some of the best mozzarella is made. Probe investigates link between shady cheesemakers and what officials knew.
By Ian Fisher and Daniele Pinto
The New York Times 2008-03-26 (entry)
See also
USDA's new faster, more sensitive test for e.coli will likely find more pathogen on beef, officials say. Meat processors could avoid many recalls by waiting for lab results before shipping meat out, but many 'can't afford' delay, USDA says. Meatpackers recalled 33.4 million pounds of beef for possible e. coli contamination last year; 11 of the 21 e.coli-related recalls in 2007 were results of USDA testing.
By Philip Brasher
The Des Moines Register 2008-03-20 (entry)
Potomac River, source of drinking water and a fish habitat, contains Syngenta's weedkiller atrazine, and other suspected endocrine disruptors, plus more chemicals from sewage, farm fields and lawns. In 2003, male fish in tributary were found with eggs growing inside them. In 1996, Congress ordered EPA to create a testing program to identify endocrine disruptors, but the tests have not begun.
By David A. Fahrenthold
The Washington Post 2008-03-18 (entry)
See also
Mad cow policy in U.S. is 'don't look, don't find,' critics say. In U.S., testing is voluntary; U.S. tests 0.1 percent. Japan tests all cows 20 months and older; UK tests all cows 30 months and older. Loopholes here allow cow food to contain cow blood (blood can carry BSE); chicken manure and feathers (chicken feed can contain beef and ground bone); and restaurant garbage (could include cow bones and meat). For graphic, click 'See also.'
By Douglas Quan
The Press-Enterprise (CA); Grist 2008-03-13 (entry)
See also
Parents switch from hard plastic baby bottles after reports questioning safety of chemical used in their manufacture. In tests on animals, the chemical, called bisphenol A, or BPA, shows hormone-like effects on the reproductive system. Sales of glass baby bottles boom.
By Lisa A. Flam
The Associated Press; The Guardian (UK) 2008-03-13 (entry)
See also
Group calls for ban on nanoparticles used in food and food-related products - from beer to baby drinks - until government testing is conducted. Then, those products containing tiny particles should be labeled. FDA requires industry to provide tests that show food goods aren't harmful, but there are few published studies on health impact of nanoparticles, which can easily penetrate organs and cells.
By David Biello
Scientific American 2008-03-13 (entry)
See also
Manufacturing giants ConAgra, General Mills, Heinz and Nestle say they're not required to notify consumers of recalled Hallmark/Westland products; USDA only wanted them to notify retailers. They say that only limited quantities of suspect beef were used. USDA says list of retailers that receive recalled products is a secret. See RECALLS & ALERTS for list of products.
By Stephen J. Hedges
Chicago Tribune 2008-03-09 (entry)
See also
Despite two-year push to make public the lists of retailers that receive recalled products, USDA has not yet sent rule change to White House budget office for OK. The agency won't name the 10,000 food distributors, processors, grocers and restaurants that received Hallmark/Westland beef. Lawmaker says information is not confidential: 'If we have stores that are selling bad products, we should know about it.'
By Jane Zhang
The Wall Street Journal (may require subscription) 2008-03-07 (entry)
Lawmakers demand list of restaurants and retailers that received tainted beef; USDA says it's against the rules, but will check with the lawyers. Though USDA plans to make recall lists public later this year, that information still is considered confidential, with retailers provided the choice on whether to disclose details.
By Christopher Doering
Reuters 2008-03-06 (entry)
Massive beef recall tests food companies' ability to track supplies. Heinz learns by its own sleuthing that its Boston Market lasagna with meat sauce contained recalled beef; General Mills put a team on the question to learn of five days in which Hallmark/Westland beef was added to canned soup. After 9/11 attacks, new laws to block bioterrorism required companies to trace their production forward and back.
By Julie Jargon
The Wall Street Journal (may require subscription) 2008-03-04 (entry)
Public safety must come before the needs of business; secrecy and delays are inexcusable. We need one food agency responsible for consumer safety; it must be adequately funded. The agency must have the power to recall dangerous food. All of us have the right to know where recalled food products were sold.
The editors
Los Angeles Times 2008-03-04 (entry)
California's Department of Public Health lists hundreds of retailers, restaurants linked to Chino-based Hallmark/Westland beef recall and promises to update information as it becomes available.
California Department of Public Health; The Los Angeles Times 2008-02-28 (entry)
See also
It's time to put the health and well-being of America's eaters, animals and food industry workers first. The $70-billion-a-year meat business is largely controlled by four corporations with political clout that shows in: blocking universal testing for mad cow disease; coaxing regulators to speed up processing lines, and reducing the role and number of inspectors in plants.
By Christopher D. Cook
Los Angeles Times 2008-02-24 (entry)
See also
How many people need to get sick or die before Congress overhauls the food inspection program? The USDA and FDA need authority to demand recalls; food producers should be able to track their supplies; foreign suppliers should create and implement a safety plan that can be better monitored. Creating a single agency to oversee food safety is worth serious consideration.
The editors
The New York Times 2008-02-21 (entry)
Wholesale giant Costco pulls three suspect products from its shelves in wake of Hallmark/Westland meat recall, says company spokesman. The company is researching the issue, and stopped selling the products until source of meat is determined. ''We know we purchased ingredient meat from them,' he says. 'We need to know which products we put them in.'
By Eugene Driscoll
The News-Times (CT) 2008-02-19 (entry)
Sugar industry, banking on customers' diminished resistance to genetically modified foods, plans big crop of Monsanto's Roundup Ready sugar beets engineered to tolerate the company's weedkiller. Food safety groups sue, pointing out risks of cross-pollination with table beets and Swiss chard. A similar lawsuit, using similar arguments, stopped the planting of Roundup Ready alfalfa last year.
By Dan Charles
National Public Radio 2008-02-14 (entry)
See also
Potatoes, lettuce and corn absorbed antibiotics from pig manure used as fertilizer in experiment, a USDA-funded study first reported in 2006. Effects of consuming raw or cooked plants containing antibiotics are largely unknown, but concerns include antibiotic resistance and allergic reactions.
Science Daily 2007-07-13 (entry)
See also
Trader Joe's will switch to non-China suppliers for garlic, frozen organic spinach, ginger, edamame and other items, but chain will continue to carry products with Chinese ingredients. Wegmans Food Markets dropped Chinese garlic last year but has retained its frozen tilapia.
By Julie Schmit
USA Today 2008-02-10 (entry)
Consternation, not soothing words and complacency, would be more reassuring from USDA after agency failed to halt abuse of sick cows at slaughterhouse that supplied school lunch program - until Humane Society filmed it. And it was up to another consumer advocacy group and The New York Times to test tuna sushi for mercury - then report that it exceeded FDA standards. It's time for alarm at the food safety agencies.
The editors
Los Angeles Times 2008-02-09 (entry)
Study shows that when children switched from conventional to organic produce, pesticide signs disappeared from their urine within eight to 36 hours. Pesticide level markers were higher in winter, suggesting that children may have eaten imported fruits and vegetables that didn't comply with domestic produce standards. Researcher's top organic picks: Strawberries, apples and spinach.
By Andrew Schneider
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (WA) 2008-01-30 (entry)
See also
Mass recall of insecticide-tainted Chinese dumplings in Japan may include small quantities that could have been imported to the United States. Recall highlights recent problems in oversight of Japan's domestic food companies, scandalized by mislabeled meats, outdated sweet bean cakes and contaminated milk.
By Martin Fackler
International Herald Tribune 2008-02-01 (entry)
Boiling water in polycarbonate bottles drastically increases amount of leached bisphenol A, or BPA, into liquids, research shows. The chemical is also used to make the epoxy resins inside most tin cans and in dental fillings. Scientists suspect the estrogen mimicker could contribute to early puberty in girls, a hike in prostate cancer and declining sperm counts.
By Martin Mittelstaedt
The Globe and Mail (Canada) 2008-01-30 (entry)
With Aramark responsible for more than 3.5 million meals during the 60 days of the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics, organizers push for Chinese suppliers and implement massive regulatory system while trying not to imply that general food supply is sub-par.
By Lindsay Beck
Reuters; Guardian Unlimited (UK) 2008-01-09 (entry)
Greenest solution for transporting water and food is re-using what's around the house. Beyond that, there are controversies with "single-use" plastic bottles and hard plastic re-usable bottles; glass breaks and stainless steel is pricey. Plastic bags are cheap to make, but disposal is a problem; wax paper is expensive to make but decomposes.
By Alina Tugend
The New York Times 2008-01-05 (entry)
See also
New strict bacteria-count standards for raw milk products in California take effect in January, but producers argue that coliform count helps make product unique and that testing for e.coli and salmonella is already done. Other states permitting raw milk sales have adopted the standard.
By Michelle Locke
The Associated Press; The Mercury News (CA) 2007-12-25 (entry)
Canada reports case of mad cow disease in 13-year-old Alberta cow, but officials say that no part of the animal entered the human or animal food chain. Since the animal was born before a food ban was enacted, it won't reduce the nation's status as "controlled risk" for the deadly ailment.
The Canadian Press 2007-12-19 (entry)
With more than 4.5 million fish farmers, China is producer and exporter to the world. But as factory-farming aquaculture contaminates the fragile water supply, farmers add drugs and pesticides to fish feed. That keeps the fish alive, but further pollutes the water and leaves toxic residue in seafood, which we then eat.
By David Barboza
The New York Times 2007-12-15 (entry)
See also
With nation in winter's grip, protect family's food supply. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to keep food cold for about four hours and frozen for 24-48 hours. Refreeze food only if it still contains ice crystals or a food thermometer shows 40 degrees or below. Discard refrigerated perishables such as meat, poultry, fish, soft cheeses, milk, eggs, leftovers and deli items after four hours without power.
USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service 2007-12-10 (entry)
China agrees to "facilitate" access of American inspectors to its factories in exchange for continued opportunity to sell its goods in U.S. But critics worry whether it offers enough safeguards, since accord includes only preserved foods; pet food and pet treats; raw materials such as wheat and rice protein; and farm-raised fish, including shrimp and catfish.
By Stephen J. Hedges
Chicago Tribune 2007-12-12 (entry)
Citing health concerns, Canada's largest specialty outdoor-goods retailer pulls most reusable polycarbonate water and food containers from its shelves. A chemical used in their manufacture, bisphenol A, mimics estrogen and has been linked in many studies to illnesses that could be caused by hormone disruption.
By Martin Mittelstaedt
The Globe and Mail (Canada) 2007-12-07 (entry)
In battle against e.coli, a potentially fatal food pathogen sometimes found in hamburgers, Tyson and other processors use hot water, acid and vacuums, but practical solution, except for irradiation, proves elusive.
By Andrew Martin
The New York Times 2007-12-06 (entry)
In calculating cleanup for Duwamish River in Seattle, critics say coalition underestimated chinook salmon consumption by Native American tribe and decided that the river would never become source of clams, which are bottom feeders where pollutants settle. And, fish caught from tribe's 70 boats on river are bought by Safeway, a grocery chain.
By Robert McClure and Colin McDonald
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (WA) 2007-11-27 (entry)
Hand-washing, once a sign of gentility, respect for others, and a necessity since food was eaten out of hand, has fallen out of favor. Too bad for us. It's a low-tech, effective way to stop the spread of bacterial and viral infections.
By Katherine Ashenburg
The New York Times 2007-11-27 (entry)
Pesticides, industrial pollutants, fertilizers, gasoline and motor oil contaminate fish in Texas county's waterways. Some fish are so toxic that the state has banned their possession. Others are listed in limited consumption advisories.
By Scott Streater
Star-Telegram (TX) 2007-11-25 (entry)
See also
Three little-known chemicals from numerous companies have been linked to disorders in human health: phthalates, found in soft lunch boxes; bisphenol A, found in plastic baby bottles, water bottles and containers, as well as food and drink can liners; and lead, found in drinking water, lunch boxes and toys.
San Francisco Chronicle 2007-11-21 (entry)
New online health inspection reports for restaurants, delis and convenience stores prove a runaway Internet sensation in Rhode Island, at one point registering 224 hits a minute shortly after launch. The next plan, Dine Safer Award, raises the bar even higher.
By Mark Arsenault
The Providence-Journal (RI) 2007-11-12 (entry)
See also
Reigniting worries over food safety standards, 13-year-old girl, 10-year-old boy and four others die after eating soup served at scrap collection business in China's central province of Hubei.
By Stephen McDonell
Australian Broadcasting Corporation 2007-11-14 (entry)
Classic signs of food poisoning land a reporter in the hospital, and he suspects the shrimp he hogged at the sushi restaurant. The lab diagnosed salmonella and it was traced to a fancy restaurant, but myriad trails - sloppy slaughtering, infected eggs, unwashed hands touching a plate of food - showed nothing and left only questions.
By Joel Rubin
Los Angeles Times 2007-11-03 (entry)
Bush administration wants to grant the FDA and Consumer Product Safety Commission power to mandate recalls on tainted food and products, require safety testing, oversee safety standards of producers and importers, ban imports if necessary and penalize violators. But critics say success depends on Congress, and plan doesn't go far enough.
By Jane Zhang, John D. McKinnon and Christopher Conkey
Wall Street Journal 2007-11-06 (entry)
When the oversight of a pizza with cheese and pepperoni falls under the jurisdiction of the FDA and the USDA, there are too many fingers in the pie, say critics of the current food safety system. This overlapping authority causes alarming lapses and inconsistent responses, they say.
By Josh Funk
The Associated Press 2007-11-05 (entry)
See also
Under new rule before governor in Arkansas, food distributors and retailers, not state, will pay costs of testing imported foods for safety; the state health director can order testing according to USDA standards and violators can be fined.
By Peggy Harris
The Associated Press; Houston Chronicle (TX) 2007-11-01 (entry)
Eating fish laden with mercury can cause brain damage in adults and fetuses - a Stanford student was temporarily disabled by his four-can-a-day tuna diet. Coal-fired power plants, which supply half the nation's energy, in 2005, dumped nearly 50 tons into the air, which washed into waterways, then into fish. Safe seafood choices: salmon, shrimp, flounder, scallops, anchovies and sardines.
By Larry Wheeler
Gannett News Service, USA Today 2007-10-31 (entry)
A report that encourages pregnant women to increase fish consumption was a "classic example of industry-driven marketing under the cloak of scientific research," according to aquaculture advocate, who argues that the research mistakenly downplayed risk of exposing a fetus to mercury.
By Andrea Kavanagh
Los Angeles Times 2007-10-31 (entry)
See also
China approves, in principle, new food safety law designed to standardize production, processing, sale and supervision; law also requires better release of information about food safety, higher fines and punishments and public's right to sue.
By Ben Blanchard
Reuters 2007-10-31 (entry)
See also
Suspected food-borne illness cases in Jordan rise to 338; officials test restaurant's hummus after initial water tests show no contamination, but it is region's third such problem in four months.
Xinhua; The Jordan Times 2007-10-29 (entry)
Japan's squeaky-clean image slips after candy manufacturer admits recycling old red bean paste for new rice cakes and earlier allegations of mixed meats mislabeled as pure ground beef; officials vow to prosecute but citizens feel unsettled and even worry about authenticity and safety of sushi, shark's fin and marbled beef, the nation's iconic dishes.
By Hiroko Tabuchi
The Associated Press 2007-10-26 (entry)
As concerns mount about safety of Canada's food supply, its federal government creates a citizen-oriented website that will provide details about current recalls and about companies with problems: www.healthycanadians.gc.ca.
By Carly Weeks
CanWest News Service 2007-10-25 (entry)
Listeria bacteria and listeriosis, the food-borne illness caused by the germ, isn't as prevalent as salmonella, but it is of particular danger to developing fetuses and those with chronic illness; the bug has been found in myriad prepared foods and illness has an incubation period of 30-90 days.
By Jane E. Brody
The New York Times 2007-10-16 (entry)
Bill requiring labels for cloned meats and milk is a small step in the right direction; FDA's movement toward no-label approval based on part, from biotech company data, is a slippery slope toward other questionable biotech products including human genes.
By Osagie K. Obasogie and Pete Shanks
San Francisco Chronicle 2007-10-05 (entry)
