Ireland: Dunnes and SuperValu recall organic kale due to Listeria

Dunnes Stores and SuperValu have recalled their organic kale products as they contain Listeria. The affected products are the Dunnes Stores Organic Kale, pack size: 200g and the SuperValu Organic Kale, pack size: 200g. The affected Dunnes Stores products have the batch code: Lot: 5239 with ‘best-before’ dates of…

Legambiente report

Italian fruit and vegetables safe when it comes to residue levels

Legambiente's Stop Pesticidi dossier reports that Italian fresh produce is safe. 98.7% of samples analyzed are suitable and 61% presents no residue detectable by the equipment. 34% presents residues within the limits of he law. Nonetheless, the overall judgement given does not seem all that positive (…

USDA GAIN Report

Hong Kong lifts ban on romaine lettuce from California

In the evening of February 19, 2019, the Hong Kong government (HKG) informed the U.S. Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) Hong Kong, that it would lift its ban on the import and sale of California romaine lettuce effective immediately. In connection with the previous food incidents concerning US romaine lettuce, the Centre…

Shipments required to have test certificates

Kuwait extends period of checks on Egyptian fruit imports

Eng Adel Al-Suwait, Secretary-General of the Higher Committee for Food Safety at the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition has stated that the committee has recommended the…

Food Standards Australia New Zealand report

Food Standards Australia New Zealand report on strawberry tampering

The government’s response to tampering with Australian strawberries this past year was timely, but areas to improve have been identified in a Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) report. These include centralizing incident coordination to include relevant government agencies such as police, and improving the…

Possible Listeria contamination

Canadian Food Recall - Eat Smart Sweet Kale Vegetable Salad

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) says certain Eat Smart brand Sweet Kale Vegetable Salad Bags are being recalled due to possible Listeria contamination. The affected product was sold in Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and possibly other provinces, in 340 gram packages with a best before…

Statement from FDA on investigation of November '18 outbreak of E. coli in romaine lettuce

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acted quickly to protect consumers from an emerging outbreak of E. coli O157:H7…

NCSL helps make sense out of a maze of state food safety laws

The Nation al Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) - based in Denver - is the independent authority on the legislative bodies that govern America’s states and territories. With funding assistance from The Pew Charitable Trusts and NSF International, food safety has taken its place in the NCSL’s searchable Environmental Health…

PrimusGFS Version 3 update training available online

The Produce Nerd has launched an online PrimusGFS Version 3 Update Training. This online training is garnered towards auditees who have yet to make the switch to PrimusGFS…

US (GA): Scientists use machine learning to identify source of Salmonella outbreaks

A team of scientists led by researchers at the University of Georgia Center for Food Safety in Griffin, Georgia, has developed a machine-learning approach that could lead to quicker identification of the animal source of certain Salmonella outbreaks. In the research, published in the January 2019 issue of Emerging…

Top fruit safety guaranteed

Buyers of fruits, such as apples and pears, have stringent demands when it comes to fruit hygiene. Depending on the retailer and destination, very little or absolutely no detectable pathogens are allowed to be present on the peel of the fruit. At the same time, companies supplying these fruits are also faced with strict residue standards. These…

California: McCain Foods closes facility responsible for 2018’s largest food recall

McCain’s plant in Colton, California, processed millions of pounds of produce potentially contaminated with listeria and salmonella. In 2018 this affected salads at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, as well as frozen food products sold across the country. Now, McCain has closed its plant, which had processed the vegetables,…

Spain: Aragon's garlic won't be affected by reduction of acreage nationwide

In the Spanish region of Aragon, meat, fish, vegetables and legumes are all usually cooked with garlic. This large consumption, however, doesn't translate into a great…

Fresh peaches, nectarines and plums from Chile recalled for Listeria

New York-based firm Jac. Vandenberg Inc. has recalled 1,727 cartons of fresh peaches, 1,207 cartons of fresh nectarines and 365 cartons of fresh plums that were being sold to the public by such major retailers as Costco and Walmart. The imported fruit may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The peaches, nectarines and plums…

Taiwan: High insecticide residues in fruits and vegetables

According to a report by the Council of Agriculture (COA), samples collected two years ago from several crops -including celery and strawberries- were found to contain excessive levels of insecticide residue, The Taiwan Agricultural Chemicals and Toxic Substances Research Institute on Jan. 9 released the results of…

India: Kerala exporters seek government help in lifting Saudi ban

Exporters of fruits and vegetables from the Indian state of Kerala have appealed to the central government seeking help in Saudi Arabia lifting ban on imports of their fruits and vegetables. The ban was imposed by the Gulf state about eight months ago, due to the Nipah virus outbreak. “Farmers and exporters have incurred…

Baby Spinach recall affects Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling various prepared food items in eight states after Satur Farms recalled baby spinach due to a potential contamination of Salmonella.…

Italy: Phosphonic acid in organic crops

Sicural, a laboratory authorized by the Ministry for Agricultural Policy for the analysis of samples taken during checks on organic crops, is currently performing analyses on phosphonic acid, produced by Fosetyl aluminium degradation. This is because of technical regulation RT 16Accredia, which entered…

Increase in dry substance and productivity

Photo-selective nets: the experiences of technicians and operators

The second part of the Agrintech conference on the tenth anniversary of Iridium discussed the use of photo-selective anti-hail nets from a producer and technician standpoint. The introducing intervention was by Tiziano Rondinini, president of the Agrarian Expert Order of Forlì-Cesena, Ravenna and Rimini. After him, Edwige Remy of…

Saudi Arabia: Indian exporters do not heed pesticide residue levels

Sources in Saudi Arabia reported that instances of higher than permissible levels of pesticide residues were found on vegetables exported from India (like okra and green…

Former San Benito County Farm Bureau president:

‘Possibly tough growing season for romaine’

San Benito County lettuce farmers are now deemed safe, as the recent E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce has passed. However, they could face challenges during the next…

Product recall

Inspectors in New York and Florida discover Salmonella in leafy greens

Food inspectors in New York and Florida detected Salmonella in leafy greens from Satur Farms of Cutchogue, New York. This prompted the company to recall consumer and foodservice packages of baby spinach and mesclun. Satur Farms distributed the leafy greens to retailers in New York and Florida, according to a…

Updated Food Recall Warning for Salmonella

Veg-Pak's Hot Peppers Red Thai and Longo's Hot Red Thai Chili Peppers recalled

The food recall warning issued on January 20, 2019 has been updated to include additional product information. This additional information was identified during the Canadian…

Hello Fresh, Chefs Plate meal kits recalled for Salmonella risk

Another company in Canada has recalled products because of possible Salmonella contamination of chili peppers. Hello Fresh Canada Inc. is recalling several meal kits because…

New Canada Food Guide recommends greater consumption of fruits and vegetables

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) and Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) said they welcome the changes announced in Health Canada’s unveiling of the…

Kuwait wants to extend ban on Egyptian fruits & vegetables

Kuwait’s Public Authority for Food and Nutrition (PAFN) has recommended an extension of the period of strict control on consignments of fruits and vegetables coming from Egypt. The term it has in mind is an additional three months starting from January 25. In a press release, secretary of the higher council of PAFN,…

Interview to Prof Walter Davino

ToBRF Virus found in Sicily

The Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (TBRFV or ToBRFV) is unfortunately present in Sicily. Walter Davino shared the terrible news. He is a professor of plant pathology at the Palermo University. In an interview, he told to FreshPlaza how he discovered this pathogen. In the photo above, kindly provided by prof Davino, it is possible to see…

US (CA): Low or no pesticide levels in most fruits and vegetables

Once again, tests showed that the vast majority of fresh produce collected by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) met national pesticide residue standards. During its 2017 survey, DPR found 96 percent of all samples had no detectable pesticide residues or were below levels allowed by…

Canada Herb brand 'Red Chili' recalled due to possible salmonella contamination

Canada Herb brand ‘Red Chili’ has been recalled due to a possible salmonella contamination. The product has been sold in Ontario and is being removed from the marketplace. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is asking those that purchased the product to throw it out or return it to the store it was purchased from. Symptoms of a salmonella…

Qatar: Ministry of Public Health confirms safety Peruvian grapes

The Doha Ministry of Public Health revealed that laboratory test results from the fresh grapes originating from Peru, which were recently withdrawn from the market, showed…

Mayotte: Dimethoate in tomatoes

Dimethoate, an insecticide which is controversial and banned in France, has recently been found on tomatoes from Mayotte. The Prefecture of Mayotte has issued an order and published an alarming…

France: The least-contaminated fruit and vegetables

Over 66,000 tonnes of pesticides and herbicides are used by farmers in France every year, according to La Spéciale d'Envoyé programme, broadcast this week on television channel France 2. Such pesticides remain on the skin of fruits and vegetables, it said, and may then end up on our plates. Over 72% of non-organic fruits,…

Nigeria: Lagos state to enforce standards on sales of fruits and vegetables

The Lagos State Government says it will enforce standards in the sales of fruits and vegetables, to guarantee the health and safety of consumers in the state. Mr Divine…

Food only very rarely contaminated with pesticide residues

Hardly any pesticide residues in food

The German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) has hardly found pesticide residues in food produced in Germany. Only 1.1 percent of the samples tested…

Eliminating major post-harvest diseases for export to US

Jamaica mangoes to get hot water treatment

Jamaica’s Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries (MICAF) has begun accepting applications for consultancy services on the design of a mango hot water…

Wageningen Food Safety Research

The Netherlands will have a new institute for food safety

From 1 June 2019, RIKILT Wageningen University & Research and the Laboratory for Feed and Food Safety of the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), will form a new institute. The new organization is named Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR) and is part of Wageningen University…

Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement working even harder to prevent future outbreaks

US government shutdown has no impact on romaine safety

News of the government shutdown’s impact on federal public health agencies has raised concerns about the safety of the U.S. food supply. Leafy greens producers want consumers to know the shutdown is not having an impact on efforts to prevent foodborne illness outbreaks on their farms. In fact, the…

Indian Institute of Science and University of Agricultural Sciences study

Research uncovers how Salmonella infects plants before harvest

Scientists in India have discovered how Salmonella enters plants to cause pre-harvest contamination of produce. Most Salmonella outbreaks are linked to contamination from…

Biopesticides for a more sustainable agriculture

"Consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about the quality and safety of the food they consume and, therefore, there is a generalized rejection of the use of chemical…

CPMA supports introduction of new food safety laws

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) said it is ready to support the introduction of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) new Safe Food for Canadians…

Fiji: Ministry to confiscate fruits and vegetables with pesticide residues

Fiji’s Ministry of Agriculture is determined to have all fruits and vegetables with pesticide residue on them confiscated. It has announced a pilot program to screen pesticide…

Retail NZ welcomes Nathan Guy Bill on Food Contamination

Retail NZ has applauded National MP Nathan Guy for proposing a Member’s Bill that will create stronger penalties for deliberate food contamination. “Following on from the many recent incidents…

In Germany, food from far away is omnipresent

Fruits from the Far East are conquering the world

In autumn 2012, it was first shown to the general public. Food from China has long been omnipresent in our country. You can find it in the catering industry, in large kitchens…

A first, from IG International Pvt. Ltd.

German apples to be imported into India

Indian consumers will soon be able to buy imported apples from Germany. IG International, a fruit importing firm, is importing a new origin apple called ‘Jonagold’ from Veos, a German company Tarun Arora, Director, Finance and Operations, IG International Pvt. Ltd. told BusinessLine: “Apples from Germany were not allowed…

Grape growers explore Botanical-based and ‘Hybrid’ Technologies

France bans neonicotinoids and restricts pesticide use

Effective September 1, 2018 all Neonicontinoid pesticides have been banned from use in France, because they are believed to be killing the bee population. New French law also…

Final CDC update on the outbreak of E. coli

The CDC has released a final update on the outbreak of E. coli. It also has outlined some general steps to prevent infection with E. coli. As of January 9, 2019, this outbreak appears to be over. Contaminated…

California-based food safety company lauds the benefits of internships

Each year, food safety company SmartWash Solutions™ engages and educates college students on food safety science through its annual internship program. The company said it…

Canada’s new Safe Food law just one week away

The crucial day for Canada’s Safe Food for Canadians Act (SFCA) and the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) is just one week away. The new Safe Food law and regulations will replace 14 sets of regulations on Jan. 15, 2019. Canada’s food safety focus will shift to prevention of food-borne illnesses “by focusing…

California state officials find Monterey County kale, beets & strawberries exceeded pesticide limits

Months after a court ordered a ban on chlorpyrifos sales, a pesticide linked with neurological deficits in children, state officials reported they found chlorpyrifos-contaminated fruits and vegetables for sale in California. Additionally, some Monterey County-grown produce the California Department of Pesticide Regulation tested…

US fruit importer announces BRC certification

LGS Specialty Sales Ltd. (LGS), an importer and distributor of citrus, grapes, and avocados, is thrilled to announce that they are BRC certified. The company said they are one…

Can Ozone be used to treat pathogens in fresh produce?

Helmut Leili, a veteran agronomist and CEO of Cardinal Fresh, has proposed using Ozone treatments to kill pathogens and bacteria in fresh produce. According to Leili, the same principal that is applied as an antibacterial treatment in other capacities can be safely used for fresh produce. "Ozone (O3) is a very…

Fiji: Ministry of Agriculture to screen pesticide residues at municipal markets

Fiji’s Ministry of Agriculture has embarked on a pilot program to screen pesticide residue on vegetables and fruits at municipal markets around the country. As part of the program, the Ministry will use the Pesticide Test Kit at its Fiji Agricultural Chemistry Laboratory based at the Koronivia Research Station where…

Recall of Auchan rocket sachets

The Auchan brand has recalled several batches of rocket bags following the detection of salmonella. This infection results in gastrointestinal disturbances and fever within two days after ingestion of the contaminated products. For children, the elderly or the sick, the risk of dehydration can be dangerous. According to a statement of the…

Public Health Agency of Canada: Romaine lettuce now safe to eat

In Canada, the outbreak of E. coli infections linked to romaine lettuce appears to be over. No new illnesses were reported since mid-November, according to the Public Health…

Did the CDC overreact on romaine lettuce?

Last month, the CDC advised all US consumers, growers, shippers and foodservice establishments to throw away all romaine lettuce and anything that contained romaine due to an outbreak of E-Coli in several states. Some have been questioning the extreme reaction and wondering if the situation could have…

Norway: Customer finds needle in banana

This Thursday, grocery store workers were being urged to pay extra attention to the fresh fruit and vegetables they handle, after a customer at a Coop store in Sarpsborg found…

US: Wegmans cauliflower rice might be contaminated with E. coli

Wegmans has issued a recall for its cauliflower rice and other chopped produce products. Affecting all Wegmans stores, the recall includes 1-pound and 8-ounce packages of cauliflower rice (UPC 2-53135-00000 and 2-53072-00000). Other recalled products include: Wegmans Stir Fry Blend (UPC 2-53358-00000) Wegmans Veggie Rice Blend (UPC 2-53162-00000 The products…

New developments for fruit labels in China

How the exterior of fruits and vegetables look is very important in China, it directly influences how well the product sells. An important part of this exterior is the label on the products. “Nowadays there's a trend for fruits and vegetables with a label to be viewed as better quality fruits by Chinese…

Canada: New food safety regulations to start in new year

Starting January 15, 2019, the new Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) are coming into force and some businesses will need licences for the regulations’ debut.…

Canadians might avoid serving particular foods over holidays

'Recall fatigue' in Canada

A string of high-profile produce recalls may lead to shortages of the most recent culprits ahead of the holidays. But, even if cauliflower and some lettuce varieties stay in stock, experts say…

FSA study reveals levels of Norovirus in UK fresh berry fruit and salad vegetables

As part of a larger study, begun in January 2014, researchers for the UK’s Food Standards Association (FSA) have revealed the results of testing berry fruit and salad…

US food safety alert: Update on the E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce

The FDA, along with CDC and state partners, is investigating farms and cooling facilities in California that were identified in traceback. CDC has identified the outbreak…

FDA investigation

New findings and recommendations related to romaine lettuce E. coli O157:H7 outbreak

On Nov. 20, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned the American public of a multi-state outbreak of E. coli O157:H7…

US Retail managers: Lettuce is back, but at higher prices

People who enjoy their lettuce can breathe a sigh of relief. Romaine lettuce was nationally banned by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in November due to an E.…

Fruits and veg in Thai student lunches heavily contaminated

According to an article on thaivisa.com , fruits and vegetables found in lunches for students under the government-sponsored lunch programme are almost 100 percent contaminated with pesticides. In 99 percent of student and teacher urine samples in four provinces, organophosphate was found, a toxic…

US: Romaine lettuce E. coli outbreak rattled food and grocery industries

When Scott Gottlieb from the FDA asked retailers, restaurants and other commercial outlets to voluntarily pull from the market and destroy any romaine lettuce just two days…

Indian vendors keep selling fruit and veg with stickers

India’s State Food Commissioner has made it mandatory that, effective immediately, fruit and vegetables with stickers on them should not be sold in the market. However, as many are still unaware of the guidelines, fruit and vegetable suppliers, vendors and retailers are still selling fruits and…

US berry and avocado grower speaks at GLOBALG.A.P. SUMMIT 2018

Naturipe’s Director of Food Safety and Social Responsibility Donna Lynn Browne, spoke on several panels at GLOBALG.A.P. SUMMIT 2018 in Lima, Peru. “The GLOBALG.A.P. SUMMIT introduces opportunities to educate our industry,” says Donna Lynn Browne, Director of Food Safety and social responsibility. “We are at the…

Twin cities - Minneapolis and Saint Paul situation

Romaine recall still troublesome for US restaurants

Romaine lettuce is slowly making its way back to the salad bar, but that doesn’t mean business is back to normal quite yet for Twin Cities salad restaurants and grocers. Nearly two weeks after a nationwide recall of romaine lettuce due to an E. coli outbreak, the FDA says most romaine is safe to eat, as long as…

Punjab Food Safety dept tells traders: No stickers on fruits or vegetables

The Punjab Food Safety department has asked traders not to paste stickers on fruit and vegetables, as these can pose health hazards to consumers. The Food Safety Teams have…

Listeria finding prompts nationwide recall of kale salad in Canada

Eat Smart kale salad kits are under recall in Canada. Government sample testing returned positive results for Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Canadian officials did not report how may pounds or packages of the kale salad mixes are subject to the recall. The CFIA notice says retailers nationwide received the implicated…

USDA GAIN report

Japan holds US romaine lettuce in ports

On November 22 2018, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) notified Japanese ports to hold imports of U.S. romaine lettuce until the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notify the public of a change in the regulatory status of romaine…

Nipah virus season: Indian government issues alert

Residents of the Indian state of Kerala have been urged not to eat fruits, gnawed on by bats. Furthermore, they should thoroughly wash all fruits and vegetables before consumption. This alert has been issued by India’s Health Department ahead of the Nipah virus (NiV) transmission season running between…

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