Grocer Calls For Heightened Food Inspections

The U. S. Agriculture Department should expand its risk-based inspection system to focus on products neglected by the Food and Drug Administration to help stop a rash of massive food recalls, an official from a U. S. grocery chain said on April 2. The U. S. food supply system is under fire after a series

Debating Feed Contamination And Foodborne Illness Links

Whether animal feed contaminated by salmonella or E. coli 0157:H7 contributes to the overall burden of food-borne illness in humans is a contentious issue. In a letter March 26 to The Manitoba Co-operator, Graham Cooper, executive director of the Animal Nutrition Association of Canada indicated that the Canadian feed industry has adopted measures to prevent


Tyson Foods Partners With Pet Food Company

U. S. meat producer Tyson Foods Inc. said on March 17 it will take a minority stake in Freshpet, a maker of fresh, refrigerated dog food and treats. “The $17 billion pet food market, which has become one of the top 10 packaged-goods categories, has seen significant growth in recent years. One of the key

Essential Oils Tested For Disease-Fighting Qualities

Oils derived from cinnamon and cloves do more than taste and smell good – they can also fight foodborne diseases, such as E. coli and salmonella, researchers are discovering. This natural ability of some ancient natural oils – from geraniums, cloves, wild oregano, cinnamon and thyme, for example – offers promise in finding alternatives to

Salmonella Insurance Soon Available For Egg Farmers

Anew program to insure Canada’s egg industry against the effects of Salmonella enteritidis (Se) should be ready this spring. The program, expected to be ready April 1, will compensate egg farmers for economic losses stemming from Se in their operations. It will also extend to hatcheries, Manitoba egg producers were told at their recent annual


Stop Recycling Pathogens In Animal Feed

“Something needs to be done to show reduced levels of these frequencies.” – RICHARD HOLLEY, U OF M Two recent high-profile cases of foodborne illness have once again raised concerns about the safety of North America’s food supply. Last year, 20 Canadians died and 36 more sickened after eating processed meat contaminated by Listeria monocytogenes

Salmonella outbreak may spur U. S. food safety

The latest U. S. salmonella outbreak could spur food safety reform in the U. S. Congress, but the process will be slow and consumers will remain at risk until the shattered regulatory regime can be fixed. “Congress is poised to take early action on food safety legislation,” said Caroline Smith DeWall, a director of food

Listeria shed awareness on food safety

“You can’t inspect safety into food. You must build safety in.” – Richard Holley As listeria fades to the back pages, University of Manitoba researcher Richard Holley wants the public to know that there is more to fear from foodborne pathogens like campylobacter and salmonella than the listeria pathogen. Holley’s job in the faculty of