The Partnership for Food Safety Education held a webinar earlier this month all about handling produce and food safety. Dr. Linda Verrill of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), Ashely Eisenbeiser of Food Marketing Institute, and Ellie Krieger, author and nutritionist, were the speakers. Today we will tell you about Dr. … Read more
Red and green bell peppers have been recalled in California for possible Salmonella contamination. That makes this study even more relevant. Applied and Environmental Microbiology has published research about identified risk factors associated with contamination of produce fields with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. The study found that management practices are crucial to development of effective … Read more
and the Partnership for Food Safety Education have been educating the public about food safety myths and facts for years. Food Poisoning Bulletin recently attended one of their webinars where they addressed those myths. Their latest is: pre packaged produce doesn’t need washing. The truth is that you must read the label first to make … Read more
September is Food Safety Month and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has compiled some tips on washing fruits and vegetables. Safe handling a preparation of fresh produce can reduce the risk of food poisoning which affects 48 million people every year. At the store, choose produce that isn’t bruised or damaged. Pre-cut items, … Read more
After 15 multistate outbreaks of Salmonella food poisoning linked to raw tomatoes from 1973 to 2010, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is researching the fruit’s vulnerability to the bacteria. Twelve of those outbreaks have occurred since 2000, resulting in almost 2,000 illnesses and three deaths. Dr. Eric Brown, director of FDA’s Division of Microbiology … Read more
The Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak linked to cucumbers imported from Mexico has grown to include 81 people in 18 states. That is an increase of 8 new cases since the end of April. Sixteen people have been hospitalized, and there are no deaths reported. The outbreak numbers by state are as follows: Arizona (11), California (28), … Read more
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced an outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul that is linked to imported cucumbers. So far, 73 people in 18 states have been sickened. Fourteen people have been hospitalized. There are no deaths and no recall has been issued relating to this outbreak. On April 24, 2013, the … Read more
The FDA has announced it will extend the comment period for the Food Safety Modernization Act’s produce safety rule beyond May 16, 2013. The deadline will most likely be extended for another 120 days. The extension is in response to multiple requests from interested parties. This is the second time the comment period has been extended … Read more
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a Q&A on new food safety rules for the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The questions about the produce rule cover product tracing, record keeping requirements for high risk foods, the scope of the rules, and information about laws, regulations, and guidance documents. And the rules for … Read more
The USDA has put out a food info sheet about safe food handling and washing food. Does this practice promote food safety? Since we’re told to wash our hands before preparing food, and utensils and pots and pans, it seems logical that washing food makes it safer to eat. Unfortunately, that’s not true. Washing raw … Read more