Research from the University of Plymouth has demonstrated the ability of nanoplastics to infiltrate the edible radish root, which raises questions about the food safety and public health implications of dietary exposure to plastics.
The advancement not only supports the recycling of “forever chemical” polymers—which are used on cookware and food packaging, for example—but also boasts high recovery of fluorine, a finite resource.
In August, an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O:157 (STEC) infections at Belgian long-term care facilities sickened more than 70 people, resulting in nine deaths. Raw ground beef is the probable vehicle of illness.
A University of Missouri research project is exploring the use of blockchain for improved traceability of food served at restaurants, and increased transparency for diners. The findings suggest that clear traceability information would increase consumers’ confidence in food safety.
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has reported on the outcomes of the recently concluded, £24 million Pathogen Surveillance in Agriculture, Food, and the Environment (PATH-SAFE) program, and announced that it will continue to build on the work of PATH-SAFE with a national Food Surveillance Program.
An ongoing outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to prepared pasta meals has expanded to 15 states, causing 20 illnesses, 19 hospitalizations, and four deaths. The meals were sold under various brand names at Walmart, Kroger, and Trader Joe’s stores.
The proposal would make changes to six existing Statutory Rules to ensure that food and feed safety and standards requirements continue to be fully enforceable in Northern Ireland, and to correct some minor errors.
FDA detected radioactive isotope Cesium-137 (Cs-137) in a shipment of Indonesian cloves, due to heightened surveillance efforts initiated after radioactive shrimp was detected in another Indonesian import. Additionally, the radioactive shrimp recall has been expanded, and now affects Walmart, Kroger, and other retailers nationwide.
The research can serve as a foundation for updating or developing new Restricted Substances Lists to mitigate potential risks to human and environmental health posed by hazardous chemicals used food contact materials.
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