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The mycotoxin evolution
Dr Sheryl Tittlemier from the Canadian Grain Commission looks at the progress of food safety assurance, examining the latest developments in mycotoxin analysis.
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Pathogens
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The Neglected Pathogens – why foodborne parasites are relevant too
In the summer of 2018 2,299 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis in the US were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with at least 160 people hospitalised. Professor Lucy Robertson, Chair of a COST Action on foodborne parasites, along with Working Group leaders from the Action, explains why…
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Campylobacter levels in British chicken – the results are in
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published its final Year 4 report on campylobacter spp. in UK-produced whole fresh chicken, finding a stark contrast between levels of retailer.
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Contact with backyard poultry links majority of US salmonellosis cases
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US has given an update on the recent multistate outbreaks of Salmonellosis, finding links with ‘backyard poultry’.
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Pita Pal Foods, LP recalls wide array of hummus products
US-based company Pita Pal Foods, LP of Houston, Texas has issued a recall of numerous hummus products and dips following detection of Listeria monocytogenes in their factory.
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Researchers demonstrate effective biopreservation agent for smoked salmon
Scientists at the Catalonian research institute IRTA have demonstrated the effectiveness of a Lactobacillus sakei CTC494 strain as a biopreservation agent against Listeria monocytogenes in smoked salmon.
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HACCP and your food business
Dr Lisa O’Connor, Chief Specialist in Biological Safety at the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), explains the term HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point), which can confuse people but essentially refers to procedures that must be in place to ensure the food you produce is safe to eat.
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Mass spectrometry in food microbiology: identifying microbial isolates within minutes
Time is often the most critical factor in food microbiology laboratories, so the ability of MALDI-TOF MS to quickly and accurately confirm and identify microbes is invaluable in routine testing, as Erin Crowley explains.
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The listeriosis outbreak in South Africa: what have we learnt?
When the Minister of Health announced at the end of last year that South Africa was in the midst of a listeriosis outbreak, the source was still unknown and the country ill-prepared for such a devastating crisis. In the first of a two-part feature, Dr Lucia Anelich shares her expert perspective.
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Managing the risks of Clostridium botulinum in chilled foods – applying the ‘10-day rule’: what do you need to do?
There have been a number of recent product recalls in the UK that centre on the lack of control of psychrotrophic C. botulinum in a range of food products. These recalls do not necessarily mean that C.botulinum has been found in the implicated products, but rather, the specific control factors…
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The importance of LIMS in food QC and safety testing
From providing analytical data on the quality of a product or production process to providing critical information for research and development, laboratory testing is an intrinsic component of compliance with food regulations to promote public health and the safety of consumers. Simon Wood takes an in-depth look at this vital…
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The challenge of hepatitis E virus
Hepatitis E disease, caused by infection with the hepatitis E virus (HEV), affects mainly the liver, with symptoms including jaundice, fever and malaise. There are, according to the WHO, around 20 million HEV infections worldwide, leading to approximately three million cases of acute hepatitis E annually, most of which are…
