US: Dirty Dozen list "misleading"
The Dirty Dozen produce list has been released for the 9th consecutive year by the Environmental Working Group. After 2011′s “Dirty Dozen” was issued, the president of the United Fresh Produce Association said of the EWG that “it is irresponsible to mislead consumers with a sensational publicity stunt.....
FDA detains Mexican cucumber imports
The Food and Drug Administration is detaining imports of cucumbers from a Mexican company after they were linked to salmonella illnesses in 18 States.The cucumbers were distributed by Tricar Sales, Inc. of Rio Rico, Arizona. California reported the most illnesses, with 28 people sick.The FDA placed the.....
“Dirty Dozen” list coverage declines to negligible levels
Safe Fruits and Veggies Campaign achieves key goal
Science based information and the clear and concise food safety statements from the Obama Administration resulted in a significant decrease in media coverage of this year’s release of the Environmental Working Group’s “Shoppers Guide to Pesticides” and the “Dirty Dozen” list, according to the Alliance for.....
New web resource keeps industry informed about FSMA
The California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA) has launched a special section of its website to update industry on the Food Safety Modernization Act as it pertains to leafy greens. The new section can be accessed via the homepage of the LGMA at www.lgma.ca.gov. “We know that LGMA members and others.....
With a photo report
International Workshop NEV 2013 on “Nitrates, Environment and Vegetables”
The University of Torino (Italy) in cooperation with the European Commission has organized the International Workshop NEV2013 "Nitrogen, Environment and Vegetables" to support the implementation of Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC).Professor Carlo Grignani (North Italy Working Group for Nitrates Directive).....
India: New, dangerous method for artifically ripening mangoes
A team of officials seized five tonnes of mangoes from several mandis in Erode and Salem which were allegedly ripened in an artificial manner on Friday.Unusually, the mangoes had not been ripened using calcium carbide, as is normally the case. On this occasion the rogue fruits had been brought to maturity.....
FAO chooses Italian microwave technology to prevent the diffusion of pests
Low power consumption, proved effectiveness, speed and safety for commodities and workers: the microwave based technology, developed by an Italian company, has been approved by the Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) of FAO as treatment to prevent the diffusion of pests.....
Georgia growers hoping to win back melon consumer confidence
South Georgia cantaloupe farmers are hoping sales will bounce back this year.Things went very badly last year after cantaloupes from other parts of the country were implicated in listeria and salmonella outbreaks.Cantaloupe season is off to a slow start for Ty Ty farmer Alan Parish. He says this time last.....
Training on FSMA
US (TX): "One of the most important meetings in growers' lives"
For fruit and vegetable producers and shippers, one of the most important meetings of their careers will be held April 22-23 in Austin, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service produce expert.Dr. Juan Anciso, an AgriLife Extension citrus and vegetable specialist in Weslaco, will provide.....
Farmers ask FDA about food safety rules
To provide farmers and manufacturers an opportunity to talk with officials from the US Food and Drug Administration about rules to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act, the California Department of Food and Agriculture held listening sessions in Woodland and Tulare last week on proposed rules to.....
Ozone accelerates decline rate of fungicide residues on table grapes
A research team has studied the residue persistence of fungicides, commonly used in vineyard to reduce the attack from Botrytis cinerea, during the cold storage of ‘Thompson Seedless’ table grape stemmed berries.For the study, the berries were stored at 1) atmosphere of air or 2) 0.3 µL/L ozone enriched air......
Residues found in potatoes, peppers and chilli peppers
Health authorities in Luxembourg have rejected potatoes from Holland after the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) detected pesticide residues in them, reported Hortoinfo.The potatoes exceeded the maximum residue limits (MRL) for the substance Fluazinam, set at 0.05 mg / kg, after being analysed the.....
Spain bans import of Dominican peppers
Spain has banned the import of Dominican peppers due to the presence of Endosulfan in 0.14 mg/kg - ppm, according to information from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF).France has also destroyed Dominican peppers containing Endosulfan in 0.32 mg/kg - pmm and Methomyl in 0.34 mg/kg - pmm.The.....
Intelleflex
Protecting consumers and brands from food safety scares
Intelleflex asks industry experts their point-of-view on cold chain issues:Food recalls have been prominent in recent news. What key steps should grocers and growers take to protect consumers and their brands?Melanie Neumann, J.D., M.S. Sr. Director, Food and Import Safety, Leavitt PartnersThe first key.....
US: F&S Produce Achieves SQF 2000 Level 3 certification for fourth consecutive year
F&S Produce Company Inc., a leading manufacturer, marketer of fresh-cut produce and other refrigerated value-added products, announced it has once again achieved the highest level of SQF (Safe Quality Food) Certification for its complete line of products that enter all distribution channels including.....
Mexican firms benefit from food safety initiative
Three leading Mexican food companies have seen tangible growth in their businesses since achieving MexicoG.A.P. and GlobalG.A.P. certification, enabling them to increase both sales and exportsDuring a recent visit to Mexico, foreign journalists were able to witness some of the work being carried out by.....
Spain: Pesticide residues in cucumbers, eggplants and peppers
The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) has issued various notifications about pesticide residues on horticultural products, specifically in Greek cucumbers, eggplants and peppers Malaysian Cambodians.Greekcucumbers containing traces of methamidophos, with an analytical result of 0.099 mg / kg -.....
AGQ Labs analysing fruit imported by the US
AGQ Labs, an international technological centre based in Seville, Spain, consolidates its activities in the US. Present in over 20 countries, with a network of laboratories in Spain, Chile, Peru, Morocco, Mexico and the US, the firm has managed to gain the trust of producers, exporters and brokers to keep.....
India: Consumers advised of artificially ripened mango signs
Mango consumers in India are being advised to be on the lookout for artificially ripened mangoes. In recent years security measures against the artificial ripening of mangoes with calcium carbide have been stepped up. The Food and Drug Administration has carried out a number of unannounced raids on.....
US (CA): Almond industry ready for Food Safety Act
The Almond Board of California (ABC) has worked with USDA and leading food-safety experts to develop a food quality and safety plan designed to provide consumers with the safest possible almonds from California.This program addresses the entire supply chain, recommending practices that encompass good.....
US (GA): Opinion sought on FDA's proposed new food safety act
Concerned Georgia farmers gathered in Atlanta, Macon and Tifton on Wednesday, March 20 to hear a summary of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s new Food Safety Modernization Act. Proposed by Congress, the act was developed in an effort to improve the safety of the nation’s food supply.Representatives.....
The fruit has been distributed in the Netherlands, Poland and Russia
Costa Rica: Netherlands reports melons with pesticide residues
The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) reported the entrance of melons with pesticide residues to the European Union from Costa Rica.The Netherlands started sharing the information about the goods. It has been distributed also to Poland and the Russian Federation.The alert, which has been sent to.....
Mexico ready to boost exports to Europe
More Mexican fruit and vegetables could be making their way onto UK supermarket shelves over the next 12 months thanks to a major new agreement signed by industry body Mexico Calidad Suprema and the Mexican government.Mexico Calidad Suprema, which represents some of the biggest producer groups in the.....
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