Canada: New federal food safety requirements in force for fresh fruits & vegetables

New requirements of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) come into force for most businesses in the fresh fruits or vegetables (FFV) sector that import, export or…

India: Telangana High Court criticizes state govt for failed curbing of carbide use

Last Saturday, the Telangana High Court criticized the state government, pointing out that it has not been able to meet the minimum standards of food safety, even failing to curb the use of calcium carbide among fruit traders, which is used to artificially ripen fruits like mangoes. A division bench,…

USApple responds to Dirty Dozen list

Many, many periodicals regularly present their own 'Dirty Dozen of Fruit and Veg' (these are fruits or vegetables that contain the highest amounts of pesticides). But why are…

El Paso County - Colorado

US: First foodborne botulism death in more than decade

The death of an El Paso County woman this past September has since been officially blamed on foodborne botulism, the first death of its kind in a decade. Foodborne botulism is…

Government survey okays Brazilian produce for pesticide residues

According to a four-year government survey, the vast majority (92%) of fruit and vegetables sold in Brazil are within national safe levels for pesticide contamination. The survey, conducted by the National Plan for Control of Waste and Contaminants in Vegetable Products (PNCRC) between 2015 and 2018 on…

Sprouts Unlimited issues recall

Clover sprouts recalled due to possible E.coli contamination

Sprouts Unlimited of Marion IA is recalling clover spouts in 4 oz packages because it may be contaminated with Escherichia coli O103 bacteria (E. coli O103). E. coli O103…

Cornell researchers develop Listeria risk assessment tool

The Frozen Food Foundation has funded a new study, developed by Cornell researchers. One of the researchers is Martin Wiedmann, an expert in microbial food safety. The study…

Number of sick from Salmonella infected fresh cut fruit rises

At least 33 people at four health-care facilities in Southeastern Pennsylvania, and 26 in schools in Delaware were sickened by the Salmonella Javiana found in fresh cut fruit…

Denmark issued two alerts after detecting chlorpyrifos in Spanish clementines

The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) has reported two alerts issued by the Danish authorities on December 16 and 18, after having detected the presence of…

China asked for stricter controls on its exports to the Russian Federation

On December 16, the Rosselkhoznadzor held telephone conversations with the Department of Supervision on Animal and Plant Quarantine of the Main Customs Administration of the…

CDC reports dozens more Americans sick in ongoing romaine E. coli case

At this time, three dozen more patients and two more US states are officially part of an E. coli outbreak traced to romaine, according to a renewed public alert from the CDC.…

Three-part program begins at the 2020 FreshStart Conference

United Fresh announces inaugural class of Produce Safety Immersion Program

United Fresh Produce Association is pleased to announce the Class One Fellows of the inaugural Produce Safety Immersion Program, sponsored by Renaissance Food Group at the…

Salmonella lawyer investigates multistate outbreak

National Salmonella lawyer Jory Lange is investigating the multistate outbreak of Salmonella illnesses linked to fruit mix in Pennsylvania and Minnesota. At least 33 people in…

Australian Food and Grocery Council

“Food recalls have become incredibly complex and costly exercises”

As supply chains get broader, and companies are increasing the number of markets they export to, product recalls have become incredibly complex and costly exercises. Consumers…

2018-2019 results National Residue Survey

‘Australian apple and pear industry once again showed excellent compliance’

The Australian apple and pear industry has once again showed “an excellent compliance with food safety standards and demonstrated the strong commitment of the pome fruit…

EU puts more stringent phytosanitary rules in place for Cameroon exporters

The European Union adopted a new phytosanitary regulation on December 14. Since then, its delegation in Yaoundé, Cameroon, has been conducting a campaign to raise exporters'…

"Final report for the review of biosecurity import requirements for fresh avocados from Chile"

Biosecurity risks of Chilean avocado imports into Australia analyzed

The Australian Department of Agriculture has considered the biosecurity risks for Australia associated with the importation of commercially produced fresh avocado fruit for human consumption from Chile. Currently, the importation of fresh avocado fruit for human consumption is permitted into Australia…

Ruling against two Spanish companies for selling a product that delayed the kaki ripening

The Provincial Court of Valencia has ruled against two Spanish companies for marketing a phytoregulatory product that delayed the kaki ripening and which had been used in…

PFA launches crackdown on food contamination

Pakistan: Punjab Food Authority destroys toxic vegetables

Last Thursday, the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) launched a crackdown on toxic vegetables cultivated, with industrial waste and sewerage water in the provincial metropolis. The…

Russia might put temporary import curbs on Chinese citrus in place

Russia’s agriculture safety authority, Rosselkhoznadzor, might put temporary restrictions on imports of citrus fruit and potatoes from China after finding pests in several supplies.…

US: New findings and status of the romaine E. coli O157:H7 outbreak investigation

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is providing an update on our investigation of an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses linked to romaine lettuce. The FDA takes…

Pesticide Data Program – Summary for 2018

USDA: Over 99 percent of samples well below EPA residue tolerances in 2018

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) initiated the Pesticide Data Program (PDP) in 1991 to collect data on pesticide residues in food, and the program now has an important role in the implementation of the 1996 Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA). The law directs the Secretary of Agriculture to…

Necessity of avoiding ‘CIPC legacy’ residue breaches in potato storages

Potato growers using sprout suppressant chlorpropham (CIPC) will need to thoroughly clean stores after the 2019 crop is unloaded next summer. This has to be done to lower the risk of residue exceedances after the active is withdrawn. Plant growth regulator CIPC is the potato industry’s go-to method of controlling…

FDA update

Second retailer named in update on US hepatitis A outbreak

Two more patients have been confirmed and a second retailer has been named in relation to an outbreak of hepatitis A, that has been associated with fresh blackberries. The…

Visionary group of Central Otago growers took a chance

New Zealand RSE scheme transformed the fruit growing industry

In the early 2000s the orchards and vineyards of central Otago were heavy with fruit. Peaches, cherries and grapes were ready to be plucked, boxed and shipped all over the world. But there was a problem. There weren’t enough people to pick them. Hiring backpackers and students on holiday was the usual practice,…

New international E. coli outbreak hits 3 US states and 5 Canada provinces

State and federal officials are investigating a new multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections. The outbreak is associated with Fresh Express brand chopped salad kits. Some people in Canada are also sick. “Do not eat or sell Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp Chopped Salad Kits with this identifying information:…

Tailor Cut Produce recalls cut fruit mix because of possible health risk

Tailor Cut Produce of New Jersey, is recalling its Fruit luau, cut honeydew, cut cantaloupe and cut pineapple products because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and…

US victims at least at 102

Salinas Romaine E. coli strikes two people in Canada

Since November 22, 2019, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has identified one additional E. coli illness in Canada with a similar genetic fingerprint to illnesses…

Sweden: Unpasteurized spinach drink tied to increasing cryptosporidium cases

Officials in Sweden are investigating a recent increase in the number of cryptosporidiosis cases. Public Health Agency Folkhälsomyndigheten has linked some illnesses to one…

Wisconsin hardest hit up until now

Romaine outbreak US patient list tops 100; warnings continue

More than 100 people have now been confirmed with infections in an E. coli outbreak associated with romaine lettuce. Public health officials continue their warning against romaine lettuce grown in the Salinas, CA, area or any romaine from an unknown source. As of today, there are 102 patients spread…

Ewoud Buter, general manager of SmartWash Solutions BV:

“We deactivate Gram negative bacteria such as E.coli”

The recent E.coli outbreak in the romaine lettuce in the United States shows that there is still room for improvement in the way produce is washed and processed prior to landing on the shelves of stores and on the plates of consumers. A 2006 outbreak of E.coli in spinach led Taylor Farms to begin…

USDA - Special Article “Seasonality in Romaine Outbreaks and Regional Shipments”

E.coli outbreaks in romaine lettuce peak in April and October, 1998 to 2018

Leafy greens -including romaine lettuce- are the sixth most commonly consumed type of vegetable in the United States. About three-quarters of US romaine shipments come from two regions, California’s Central Coast and Yuma, Arizona; the rest come from other areas in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.…

Hungarian authorities did not improve controls after Listeria outbreak

Authorities in Hungary have not acted to strengthen the system of official controls for food businesses despite a deadly multi-country Listeria outbreak, according to DG Sante…

Fresh Thyme Farmers Market produce

Casualty count grows in hepatitis A outbreak linked to blackberries

Two more people are confirmed infected and a sixth US state is involved in a hepatitis A outbreak associated with fresh blackberries that were sold in September. More than…

Syosset, New York State

Lin’s Waha Int’l Corp. recalls waxberries due to sulfites and cyclamates

Syosset-based company Lin’s Waha Int’l Corp. is recalling it’s 8.11-ounce (230G) packages of Suantianyangmei Waxberry and Bingtangyangmei Waxberry. The soft fruit is being…

One in four fresh Costa Rican vegetables contaminated with pesticides

The Costa Rican State Phytosanitary System has published the 'Report 2018 on Analysis of Pesticide Residues in Fresh Vegetables in Costa Rica of National Production and Import…

Dole Fresh Vegetables announces precautionary limited recall of colorful coleslaw

Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. is voluntarily recalling a limited number of cases of Colorful Coleslaw. This precautionary recall notification is being issued due to a sample of President’s Choice Colorful Coleslaw which yielded a positive result for Salmonella in a random sample test conducted by the…

India: FSSAI seizes artificially ripened bananas

On Sunday, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) seized one ton of artificially ripened bananas and plantains from a market in Tiruppur. According to…

Cornell food scientist Elizabeth Bihn

Study on ‘local’ farms offers food safety snapshot

A noted food-safety expert says she’s pleased with how much information about local farms and food safety is contained in a recently released needs assessment survey report, but she also admitted to being surprised at one of the unexpected results that surfaced in the report. According to the report,…

Contamination caused by broken light fitting

New Zealand: Strawberries recalled as glass is found in punnet

In Porirua, a Pak'nSave supermarket has pulled punnets of strawberries from sale after one of them was found to contain glass. People who bought Zakberry-brand strawberries from Pak'nSave Porirua on December 2 have been asked to check them and return the product for a refund as it could contain plastic…

Canadian Food Inspection Agency issues new requirements for romaine lettuce

On November 22, 2019, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued a notice for new requirements for all romaine lettuce products from the Salinas growing region of California…

Bans on food imports from Fukushima relaxed

Nations ease up on import restrictions Japanese food

Countries around the world are relaxing or altogether scrapping their restrictions on Japanese food imports put in place after the 2011 accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. On Nov. 4, Singapore announced it would no longer ban food imports from Fukushima Prefecture, and the European Union…

NY health department decrees:

Salad vending machines to be treated as restaurants

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has determined that vending machines that dispense fresh salads should be treated as miniature restaurants. This has led to the shutting down of 55 vending machines in New York operated by Farmer’s Fridge, a Chicago-based food startup. These…

After participating at Cibus Tec, the Laboratory is now preparing for FuturPera

Sicural, concentrating on Listeria

Exhibitions come and go, for the Sicural Laboratory. After participating, in October, at Cibus Tec in Parma, from 28 to 30 November it will be at FuturPera, the exhibition that takes place in Ferrara. "In Ferrara we will be in hall 3, stand 34 - explains Silvia Zuccherelli - ready to illustrate our…

UPDATE: Prices likely to go up on romaine and leafy greens post-CDC advisory

Following the recall and advisory warning that was issued late last week over romaine lettuce grown in the Salinas, Ca. region, at least one food distributor is hoping for some long-term change while dealing with the short-term effects of the warning. The advisory, issued Nov. 22 by the Centers for…

Hong Kong government suspends import and sale of romaine lettuce from Salinas

Following The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) announcement about the possible contamination of romaine lettuce from…

E. coli outbreak in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, has ended

In October there were reports of an E. Coli outbreak in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Health officials now say that the outbreak has ended. Test results from the National…

Total number of people infected by E. Coli from Salinas California romaine lettuce rises to 67

As of November 25th, a total of 67 people are confirmed to have been infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7, found in romaine lettuce. This number is up by 27 people since a previous update from November 22nd. The infected people are spread across at least 19 states. The continued advise from…

Will Fukushima's produce be served at Tokyo Olympics?

For years, the Japanese government has sought to convince consumers that food from Fukushima is safe despite the nuclear disaster. But the question remains whether food from this prefecture will be served at the Tokyo Olympics. It’s a thorny subject for the authorities. They pitched the Olympics in part…

Turkey provides farmers with "spinach" training

Following the recent poisoning cases from spinach, Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli announced that farmers will be provided with training on spinach and said: "We need to further explain them how to prepare bunches and what to send to the market and what not to send to the…

Inspectorate issues warning on contaminated romaine lettuce

FDA recalls romaine lettuce after new outbreak sickens 40

The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour VSA is alerting the public to romaine lettuce originating from the United States due to potential contamination…

Nearly 100,000 pounds of salad products recalled because of E. coli

The Missa Bay company, working out of Swedesboro, New Jersey, is recalling approximately 97,272 pounds of salad products because the lettuce ingredient may be contaminated…

Hepatitis A outbreak related to blackberries sold by Fresh Thyme

A multi-state outbreak of Hepatitis A has been linked to eating blackberries purchased at Fresh Thyme grocery stores in three states: Indiana, Nebraska and Wisconsin. These…

Ready Pac still says: no recall for salads linked this outbreak

US officials name romaine in Maryland E. coli outbreak

At least 20 people in Wisconsin have E. coli infections, linked to an outbreak in Maryland that has been traced to ready-to-eat romaine lettuce salads. Some officials,…

Standards need to be met

Kenyan farmers still struggling with produce for export

Thousands of smallholder farmers in Kenya cannot export their produce and sometimes it cannot be sold locally because of contamination, diseases and pests. According to…

EU finds issues with Serbian fruit control

According to a recently released audit report, most soft fruits exported from Serbia to Europe are not subject to official controls at primary production levels. DG Sante, the European Commission’s unit for policy on food safety and health, found official controls to address potential microbiological…

Dr Sanjay D. Sawant:

‘Grapes in local markets contain high levels of pesticides’

Grapes commonly available in local Indian markets have heavy amounts of pesticides, fungicides and insecticides, even surpassing international safety standards. This means…

EU steps up monitoring of Kenya’s horticulture imports

East African fresh produce exporters are being locked out of the lucrative EU market by the strict regulations on the use of chemicals. The EU, which is the leading importer…

Through to November 2020

FDA will test romaine lettuce for pathogens

After four outbreaks in less than two years where likely contaminated romaine lettuce contained deadly E. coli O157: H7, the Food and Drug Administration has decided to turn to microbial testing for clues for the next year to try to figure out what’s happening. Earlier this year, the agency announced…

APHIS analyses risks associated with importing carrots from Republic of Korea

The US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has prepared and is accepting comments on a pest risk analysis (PRA) regarding the…

Study shows IFCO's sanitation process is effective against ToBRFV

The latest food safety testing conducted on IFCO Reusable Plastic Containers (RPCs) has confirmed damaging pathogens – viruses and bacteria -- are removed or deactivated by…

Helping to catalyse the entire fruit value chain

Coca Cola to complete $1.7 bn investment in India’s ‘Fruit Circular Economy’

Global FMCG major Coca-Cola is on track to complete all its investment commitments in India, including the $1.7 billion funding to create a “Fruit Circular Economy” meant to…

Church Brothers Farms announces new VP of food safety and quality

Church Brothers Farms hired Grace Ho as the company’s new vice president of food safety and quality (FSQ). “This role is critically important and we wanted to hire the right…

Russ Davis Wholesale issues recall due to possible listeria contamination

Russ Davis Wholesale (RDW), a fresh produce processor and distributor, in an abundance of caution is voluntarily recalling multiple products due to possible contamination of…

U.S. grower increases criteria for yearly internal food safety audits this season

As the majority of the Mexican hot house vegetable seasons get underway, produce distributor and grower, Divine Flavor, has started to include more criteria into their yearly internal food safety audits to help growers comply with areas related to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Working closely…

Whole Foods recalls Mann Packing products due to possible Listeria contamination

In response to Mann Packing Co., Inc’s recall of vegetable products, Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling multiple products from its stores in the United States. Mann…

Quality often questionable as well

Leafy greens in Pune markets jump from affordable to pricey

Leafy green vegetables, although poor in supply and quality, are setting new price highs in the markets across the city of Pune. The rain, affecting veggie supplies to…

2018 outbreak analysed

First Australian Salmonella Havana outbreak has been traced to alfalfa sprouts

According to researchers, the Salmonella outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts last year was, in fact, the first identified Salmonella Havana occurrence in Australia. During June 2018, an increase in Salmonella Havana was detected through routine surveillance by the Communicable Disease Control Branch…

Istanbul, Edirne, Tekirdağ and Kocaeli provinces

Health Minister Koca urges calm over spinach poisoning

Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca urged citizens not to panic amid an increasing number of food poisoning cases due to spinach consumption. The number of patients poisoned from spinach mixed with toxic herbs has risen to 196, Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Tuesday, adding that there was no need for…

More voluntary recalls issued due to possible Listeria contamination

Two companies, GHNW LLC and Wegmans Food Markets, have issues voluntary recalls due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, in connection with the recent recall…

Canada: Freshcut vegetable recall as reponse to possible Listeria contamination

A nationwide recall of freshcut vegetables continues to expand with dozens of products and multiple brands now on the list. Products potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes are coleslaw, riced cauliflower, green beans, noodles, kale salads and more. Some of the products do not expire for 10…

Toxic weeds found among spinach samples

Spinach hospitalises dozens in Turkey

At least 66 people have been hospitalized across Turkey over the past four days for food poisoning that is suspected to have originated from spinach mixed with a toxic weed. The case is serious enough to have prompted officials to launch an investigation and gather samples. Istanbul's health authority on…

Due to E. coli fears

Guyana temporarily bans import of romaine lettuce

This Monday, Guyana officials announced a temporary restriction on the importation of romaine lettuce. It said the move comes on the heels of an outbreak of the E. coli…

Wawona Frozen Food voluntarily recalls frozen raspberries due to possible health risk

Wawona Frozen Foods is voluntarily recalling packages of frozen raspberries and frozen berry mixes containing raspberries sold at Aldi Grocery Stores and frozen raspberries sold at Raley's Family of Fine Stores because they have the potential to be contaminated with Hepatitis A. The frozen raspberries…

Possible Listeria contamination in sweet kale bagged salad blend

Sobeys Inc. is recalling some of its Compliments brand sweet kale bagged salad blend because of possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. This recall was triggered by Canadian…

US: FDA hid romaine-related outbreak from public for more than 6 weeks

An outbreak of E. coli infections linked to romaine lettuce sickened people in a dozen states from July through early September, but US officials did not release any…

Again jeopardising exports

EU again hits Kenyan produce with ‘high chemical use’ label

The European Union has returned Kenya to list of countries that use high levels of crop protection agents on their horticultural produce. This, again, poses a threat to exports, the country's major source of foreign exchange. The negative labelling comes just five months after Kenya was delisted in…

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