| Published by the Minnesota Beef Council | January 2012 |
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Notable & Quotable:
Steaks and roasts are generally regarded as lower-risk products for microbial contamination than hamburger because the meat is intact and E. coli, salmonella and friends can be killed by searing the outside, while the inside can be rare and microbiologically safe. But what if needles used to tenderize a whole muscle cut of beef push the bacteria from the outside surface to the interior? Read more...
There were 16 multistate outbreaks of foodborne illnesses in the U.S. in 2011, with five of them involving fresh produce, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's annual year in review. Coral Beach of The Packer reports fresh produce involved were: romaine lettuce, cantaloupes (two outbreaks), whole papayas and alfalfa and spicy sprouts. Two outbreaks were related to nuts, one involving Turkish pine nuts and the other involving hazelnuts.
A foodborne illness tragedy 1,300 miles away changed a way of life in Mendota, California, a farm town that proudly calls itself the Cantaloupe Center of the World.
This would normally be the season when farmers plan the summer crop that in good years is valued at nearly $200 million, according to the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board. Instead, they are cutting back on acreage devoted to the fruit and scrambling for ways to reassure a nervous public that cantaloupes are safe to eat.
Pakistani mango growers and exporters recently called for increased use of irradiation as a marketing strategy by the Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC) to capture new international markets. |
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Pakistan growers evolving strategy using irradiation to increase mango exports; Staff Reporter; (January 20, 2012):
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ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN-Growers and exporters of mango recently called for increased use of irradiation as a marketing strategy by the Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC) to capture new international markets.
"The United States is one of the biggest importers of mangoes produced globally with a share of almost 44% and Pakistan has great potential for boosting its to that country", said Chief Executive Officer Harvest Trading, Ahmad Jawad. He said that Pakistani mangoes are famous world over for their sweet flavour with more than 40 different varieties, it is the world's sixth largest producer. But unfortunately less than only five percent of the cultivated crop is exported, he added. Pakistan he said will contract with a US irradiation unit for the treatment, he added. Read more here.....
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USDA/APHIS authorizes import of irradiated South African Litchis to USA. (December 28, 2011):
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WASHINGTON, D.C.: USDA/APHIS has advised the public of their decision to authorize the importation of fresh litchi from the Republic of South Africa into the continental United States. Based on the findings in a pest risk analysis, which were made available to the public for review and comment through a previous notice, APHIS believes that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds via the importation of litchi from the Republic of South Africa.
DATES: Effective Date: December 28, 2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Marc Phillips, Import Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-4394.
Additional information on this topic... |
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Irradiation as Phytosanitary Treatment of Herbal Materials and Products; Business Reporter(December 20, 2011):
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ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN: Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) in collaboration with Nuclear Institute for Food & Agriculture (NIFA) organised a two-day workshop on "Irradiation as Phytosanitary Treatment of Herbal Materials and Products " under its awareness programme. The seminar was aimed at highlighting the importance of Sanitary Phytosanitary certification for herbal medicines.
Herbal medicine was gaining global popularity and its acceptance needed to be acknowledged as a source of export earning. The speakers highlighted the importance of the role of certification in present day trade regime.
Good manufacturing practices were essential components of quality conscious market, they said, adding that the subject was treated in detail during the discourse.
Special Secretary to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Health Dr Noorul Eman was also present. He distributed certificates/shields among the participants. The speakers said that the government should properly patronise herbal medicines sector.
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CDC reports that one-third of foodborne illness outbeaks in 2011 linked to fresh produce; (December 26, 2011): |
ATLANTA -There were 16 multistate outbreaks of foodborne illnesses in the U.S. in 2011, with five of them involving fresh produce, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's annual year in review. Coral Beach of The Packer reports fresh produce involved were: romaine lettuce, cantaloupes (two outbreaks), whole papayas and alfalfa and spicy sprouts. Two outbreaks were related to nuts, one involving Turkish pine nuts and the other involving hazelnuts. Lists for recent years are on the CDC's website. According to the CDC, 2011 was the most active year in recent history for foodborne illness outbreaks that crossed statelines. In 2010 there were 12, four of them involving fresh produce: alfalfa sprouts (two outbreaks) and shredded romaine lettuce. The other case involved an unnamed Mexican fast food restaurant chain that served a variety of items, including several fresh produce commodities Read more here....
Additional articles on this topic.... |
California cantaloupe farms regroup after listeria outbreak; Los Angeles Times; By Diana Marcum; (January 12, 2012):
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MENDOTA, CALIFORNIA. --A tragedy 1,300 miles away changed a way of life in this Central California farm town that proudly calls itself the Cantaloupe Center of the World.
This would normally be the season when farmers plan the summer crop that in good years is valued at nearly $200 million, according to the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board.
Instead, they are cutting acreage devoted to the fruit and scrambling for ways to reassure a nervous public that cantaloupes are safe to eat.
In the fall, the deadliest food-borne illness outbreak in the United States since 1924 was traced to listeria-tainted cantaloupe in Colorado. Thirty people died and at least 146 became ill, with cases spread over 28 states. Read more here...
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Foodborne illness costs US $77.7 billion annually; CIDRAP News; By Robert Roos; (January 3, 2012): | |
ATLANTA: Although the estimated annual toll of foodborne illnesses and deaths in the United States was revised sharply downward by federal officials in 2010, foodborne disease still costs the nation up to $77.7 billion a year, according to a new study in the Journal of Food Protection.
The study, by Robert L. Scharff of Ohio State University, is based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) December 2010 estimate that the nation has 48 million cases of foodborne illness with 3,000 deaths annually. Those numbers replaced an often-cited 1999 CDC estimate of 76 million cases with 5,000 deaths each year.
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Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) prepares for irradiation facility; (December 28, 2011): | |
ANKARA, TURKEY: The Philippine Embassy in Ankara reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that Dr. Lucille V. Abad of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) visited the Department of Chemistry of Hacettepe University in Ankara on December 5 to 9. The visit was in preparation for the establishment of an electron beam (EB) facility in the Philippines in 2012.
A 2011 Dangal ng Bayan awardee, Dr. Abad completed her Ph.D. Program in Nuclear Engineering and Management at the University of Tokyo. To build-up the PNRI's capability for EB radiation processing applications, Dr. Abad visited the Hacettepe University's Polymer Group which is under the supervision of Prof. Olgun Güven.
Applications in health, agriculture and environment benefit from the changes in material properties created by electron beam accelerators.
While the group at Hacettepe University's focus is essentially on basic researches, PNRI, as an agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), concentrates on the development of the technology for specific applications in accordance with the science and technology (S&T) objectives of the Philippines. Read more here... |
Is that E. coli really gone? What happens to O157 when slow-cooking roast beef or grilling blade tenderized steak; BarfBlog; (January 3, 2012): | |
MANHATTAN, KANSAS: Steaks and roasts are generally regarded as lower-risk products for microbial contamination than hamburger because the meat is intact and E. coli, salmonella and friends can be killed by searing the outside, while the inside can be rare and microbiologically safe. But what if needles used to tenderize a whole muscle cut of beef push the bacteria from the outside surface to the interior? Read more here... |
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
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| Remember: Food irradiation will do for ground meats, produce, and other foods what pasteurization did for milk.
Sincerely,
Ron Eustice
Minnesota Beef Council
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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 |
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