| Published by the Minnesota Beef Council | October 2011 |
|
|
Quotable Quotes:
Stephen F. Patricio, a melon shipper who is the chairman of the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board, a trade group, said that sales were plummeting, even though only melons from the farm in Colorado were implicated.
"The entire melon category needs to look at the best practices and research that's been done by the California industry and others to best analyze their own risks," Mr. Patricio said. "Or we're all going to continue to suffer." Contaminated Cantaloupe
Stephen Patricio, Chairman, California Melon Advisory Board
Recall Release 071-2011 is updated on Sept. 27, 2011 to reflect that the Aug. 24, 2011 sample of ground turkey referenced in the Sept. 11, 2011 USDA Recall Release has now been confirmed as the Salmonella Heidelberg outbreak strain (XbaI PFGE pattern 58/BlnI pattern 76) and FSIS has lab results that indicates the isolate is resistant to ampicillin, gentamicin, streptomycin, and tetracycline.Ground Turkey Recall
Source: USDA Press Release
"It is worthwhile to note that health authorities such as the CDC have shown that hundreds of lives could be saved every year if only half the ground beef, poultry and processed meats were irradiated."
Robert Tauxe, M.D. US Centers for Disease Control
|
|
|
|
|
Food Safety Benefits of Irradiated Food; Institute of Food Technologists (September 7, 2011):
| |
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - (September 7, 2011): What exactly does it mean when food is irradiated? Following is a Q&A with Christine Bruhn, PhD, on food irradiation and what it means for food safety.
Q: What is food irradiation?
A: It is exposure to a carefully measured level of energy. If you expose food to a little energy - meaning an X-ray or a gamma ray - it will keep insects out of food products. If you treat it a little more, you can destroy food-borne bacteria like salmonella and E. coli. If you use even more, it will destroy any spoilage bacteria and make it shelf stable. It is worthwhile to note that health authorities such as the CDC have shown that hundreds of lives could be saved every year if only half the ground beef, poultry and processed meats were irradiated. This is a tool to help reduce food-borne illness. Read more here.....
|
|
Food Technology Service Earnings Grow 31 Percent; World Market Media Blog; (September 21, 2011):
| |
MULBERRY, FLORIDA: Recent news reports detailed the deaths of eight people from listeria, a food-borne bacterium that was eventually traced backed to cantaloupe grown at a single farm in Colorado. Every year, there are tragic examples of disease spread from farm to table with tragic consequences. Simple sanitation efforts have proven to be mostly effective, but the occasional problems highlight the need to do more in the field of food safety.
Food Technology Service owns and operates an irradiation facility in Mulberry, Florida. This is a highly effective sterilization technique that is used in a variety of industries. The company's irradiation facility uses gamma radiation to provide contract sterilization services to the surgical, pharmaceutical, medical device, food, and consumer goods industries. It also irradiates packaging, spices, cosmetic ingredients, horticultural items, and consumer goods; and disinfects fruits, vegetables, oysters, and meat products to enhance safety or eliminate insect pests. Read more here.....
|
|
Arkansas Firm Recalls Ground Turkey Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination; USDA Class I Recall Notice(September 27, 2011):
| |
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 27, 2011):
Editor's Note: Recall Release 071-2011 is updated on Sept. 27, 2011 to reflect that the Aug. 24, 2011 sample of ground turkey referenced in the Sept. 11, 2011 Recall Release has now been confirmed as the Salmonella Heidelberg outbreak strain (XbaI PFGE pattern 58/BlnI pattern 76) and FSIS has lab results that indicates the isolate is resistant to ampicillin, gentamicin, streptomycin, and tetracycline. USDA Recall Notice: Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation, a Springdale, Ark. establishment, is recalling approximately 185,000 pounds of ground turkey products that may be contaminated with a strain of Salmonella Heidelberg, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced September 27th. Read more here....
|
|
Kansas Firm Recalls Ground Beef Products Due To Possible E. Coli O157:H7 Contamination(September 27, 2011)
| |
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 27, 2011): Tyson Fresh Meats Inc., an Emporia, Kan. establishment, is recalling approximately 131,300 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced September 27th. Read more here.....
|
|
Cantaloupe Listeria Outbreak; Deadliest In A Decade; 16 Dead So Far
|
WASHINGTON, D.C. - (September 28, 2011): Federal health officials said Wednesday more illnesses and possibly more deaths may be linked to an outbreak of listeria in cantaloupe in coming weeks. So far, the outbreak has caused at least 72 illnesses - including up to 16 deaths - in 18 states, making it the deadliest food outbreak in the United States in more than a decade. Read more here....
|
|
Try Harder; Retailer Tells Cantaloupe Growers
| |
SEATTLE: (September 28, 2011): As the official toll in the listeria-in-cantaloupe outbreak rose to 13 dead and 72 sick in 18 states, a major retailer said cantaloupe growers need to do more to prevent outbreaks of foodborne disease.
"I don't think the cantaloupe industry can continue on doing the very same thing and expecting a different result," said Craig Wilson, the head of food safety for Costco, the Seattle-based warehouse retailer, which is regarded as a leader in requiring food safety measures from its suppliers. "It's time for companies to get more aggressive. If they know this is going to happen, let's step up and not let it happen."
William Neuman of the New York Times reports federal officials on Tuesday that there had been at least 19 previous outbreaks involving more than 1,000 illnesses and three deaths resulting from cantaloupe consumption since 1984. We count at least 36 outbreaks.Contaminated Cantaloupe
|
|
Kansas Kettle Queens Learn Food Safety: McPherson (Kansas) Sentinel; (Sept. 10, 2011):
|
McPHERSON, KANSAS: The Moundridge Kettle Queens FCE met at the home of Randy Kessler for a pizza supper. Their topic for the evening discussion was food irradiation. Even though the U.S. food supply is one of the safest in the world, we import 30 billion tons of food from other nations every year. Bacteria and food contaminants don't respect borders.You can choose to buy foods that have been irradiated. More than 40 irradiation facilities currently operate safely in towns and cities across the U.S. According to the Center for Disease Control, food irradiation reduces or eliminates disease-causing germs and keeps food nutritionally unchanged. There is a green and white symbol of irradiation on safe foods. Irradiation has been approved by the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.S. Read more here.....
|
| California Firm Recalls Beef Due to Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination (September 28, 2011): | |
WASHINGTON -- (September 28, 2011): Manning Beef, LLC, a Pico Rivera, Calif. establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 80,000 pounds of beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.Ground Beef Recall |
Food Irradiation Update is being sent as an update on food irradiation by Ronald F. Eustice, Executive Director of the Minnesota Beef Council. Executive Director Minnesota Beef Council 2950 Metro Drive # 102 Bloomington, MN 55425 USA Phone: 952/854-6980 Fax: 952/854-6906 E-mail: ron@mnbeef.orgWebsite: www.mnbeef.org |
| Remember: Food irradiation will do for ground meats, produce, and other foods what pasteurization did for milk.
Sincerely,
Ron Eustice
Minnesota Beef Council |
|
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
|  FOOD IRRADIATION: A GUIDE FOR CONSUMERS, POLICYMAKERS AND THE MEDIA published by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) can be downloaded at Food Irradiation BookIRRADIATED FOODS; published by the American Council on Science & Health Provides Science- provides science-based Information on food irradiation. The booklet can be downloaded at:IRRADIATED FOODS
Food Irradiation Principles and Applications is an excellent source of information about food irradiation. For information go to:Food Irradiation: Principles & ApplicationsFOOD IRRADIATION: QUESTIONS & ANSWERS is an excellent source of information on food irradiation. FOOD IRRADIATION: QUESTIONS & ANSWERS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
