This is part 2 of a 2-part series on alternatives to blanching. There are typically 5 common blanching alternatives. We outlined 2 of them in our May Food Safety section and as promised, this month, we outline the remaining 3 which can be considered microbiological reduction steps: Peracetic acid treatment Peracetic acid, also known as …
Continue reading “Unblanched IQF Vegetables – Can Microbiology be Controlled? Part 2”
It has been recognized since the 1930’s that water and/or steam blanching vegetables is necessary to inactivate enzymes prior to freezing. Without inactivating enzymes such as lipoxygenase, products can oxidize, develop off-flavors, and experience color-degradation during frozen storage. In more recent years, blanching for food safety purposes has become relevant, especially as it relates to …
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In February 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published “Strategy for the Safety of Imported Food,” a new resource designed to ensure food safety. The resource is just one part of the larger plan for food safety in 2020 as the FDA requests $6.1 billion to improve its ability to detect and respond …
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Beginning on January 15, 2019, Canada gained access to new food safety enforcement tools. The Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) will enhance the Canadian government’s ability to proactively prevent food safety issues. Instead of 14 different sets of regulations, SFCR condenses regulations to one central resource that is currently being enforced. The regulations apply …
With the partial government shut down on December 22, 2018, FDA inspectors were among thousands of federal employees who were furloughed halting regulation policy work and eliminating key food inspections. During a typical week when the government is fully functioning, FDA inspectors visit approximately 160 domestic food manufacturing and processing plants. The FDA is responsible …
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We at Noon recently came across an article in “Food Safety Magazine, titled “Managing Food Safety Risk in a Foreign Supplier Verification Program”, by Dr. John W. Reade. Dr. Reade’s article was captivating and brought to the forefront the reasoning behind FSVP (Foreign Supplier Verification Program) as well as key elements to have a successful …
On November 20, 2018, the FDA warned consumers to avoid romaine lettuce after linking it to a new outbreak of foodborne illness. People began reporting illness between October 8 and October 30, with 32 reported illnesses across 11 states at the time of the first announcement. This includes 13 people who were hospitalized. This latest …
Continue reading “Produce Industry Still Facing Food Safety Challenges”
Among many safety concerns of consumers regarding food supply is that of cancer causing chemicals to be found in their food. Here to put your mind at rest are the findings of the most recent FDA study of the Pesticide Residue Monitoring Program for 2016. The FDA began the Pesticide Residue Monitoring Program in 1987 …
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Have you ever heard the saying “God made dirt, so dirt don’t hurt”? Wonder if that is a true statement or just something that some school children made up when they were throwing it at each other? I believe there is some truth to this statement– Being in the food industry we understand that listeria …
If you’ve ever fallen victim to food poisoning, you probably remember the meal that caused it. But you’re probably not sure which underlying bacteria caused your symptoms and discomfort. Clostridium perfringens is a common culprit. Caused by a bacteria that thrives at room temperature, C. perfringens commonly affects cafeteria settings, where food is prepared in …
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A recent listeria outbreak in the European Union has been linked to a frozen vegetable facility in Hungary through whole genome sequencing. The facility has stopped all production and sales due to this recent information. To date approximately 50 people have been reported infected with 9 deaths. Countries affected are Austria, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and …
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More than 200 people have been infected by an intestinal parasite after reportedly eating vegetables from Fresh Del Monte Produce vegetable trays, the federal authorities said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported there were 212 cases of the infection, cyclosporiasis, in Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin as of Thursday. According to the C.D.C., …
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The FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act now contains requirements that aim to prevent intentional adulteration of the food supply. Intentional adulteration refers to attempts to purposely harm consumers by contaminating the food supply. This form of attack could be perpetrated by terrorist organizations or other enemies who access the food supply through domestic facilities or …
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Kellogg’s is voluntarily recalling certain lot codes for their Honey Smacks Cereal due to possible salmonella contamination. In our industry when manufacturing or repacking for big league companies, e.g. Kellogg’s, you need to make sure that your food safety plan is bulletproof so no potential hazard makes its way to the end consumer. The food …
On May 25, the FDA released a new guide for smaller food facilities that are subject to the FDA’s registration requirements under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). The new Small Entity Compliance Guide (SECG) details the steps food facilities must take to register with the FDA under the FD&C Act, which …
Last month, 206 million eggs were recalled as a precaution after salmonella contamination was discovered. As people nationwide worked to minimize the impact of the outbreak, many likely wondered if there was a better way to test food for contamination. At University of Georgia, a scientist named Xiangyu Deng believes he may have discovered the …
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The Preventive Controls for Human Food (PCHF) regulation, often referred to as FSMA – Food Safety Modernization Act, is the first major overhaul of our nation’s food safety practices since 1938. This law has been enacted to ensure the safe preparation of food products for human consumption in the United States. It includes new regulations …
Many food processors and food companies will already be familiar with the acronyms HACCP and HARPC, but may be unsure of how the two food safety standards work in tandem. A common question is “Can you combine them”? Yes, you can, it is a perfectly fine to combine the requirements for both under one document. …
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In January, officials in South Africa announced that the total number of people affected by a listeria outbreak had risen to an alarming 767, the biggest listeria outbreak to date. The outbreak has affected nine provinces but is concentrated in the northeastern regions of the country, with two-thirds of cases centered in Pretoria, Johannesburg, and …
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Before foreign foods arrive in the United States, in most cases the FDA inspects the facilities where the food is produced to ensure that they are compliant with US food safety guidelines. The agency has released a draft of new guidelines for this process that will be available for public comment for 75 days. Under …
Continue reading “Refusal of Inspection May Affect Imported Food”