E. coli sounds like bad news to many people. In most cases it’s a perfectly normal inhabitant of our intestinal tracts. In healthy humans, it can reach up to 109CFU per gram in fecal matter, according to Human Health. Most types of E. coli are non-pathogenic, meaning they do not cause disease. However, some types … Continue reading “Tracking and preventing Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) outbreaks”
Food allergies are on the rise. Studies show that food allergies are increasing around the world, for both children and adults.1 Scientists are researching ways to reverse or treat allergies, but the only current treatment – besides antihistamines to reduce symptoms – is to avoid consuming specific foods that trigger reactions. Avoiding allergens in foods … Continue reading “Food allergens: how regulations are changing the global food safety landscape”
Food allergies are on the rise. According to National Institutes of Health, as many as 10 percent of people in developed countries report food allergies. The reason why food allergy rates are increasing is still not clear, but researchers have some theories. Many believe it is linked to increased hygiene in households, which weakens children’s … Continue reading “Food Allergens Symposium: How food manufacturers are looking ahead”
Quality assurance is important in all industries, but when it comes to food safety it’s important on several levels. As Henry Ford famously said, “Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.” We suspect he’d probably agree that doing it right is important when the whole world is looking, too. As food safety becomes … Continue reading “Quality assurance in food safety: meet the team”
Are you a food safety professional? Then you don’t want to miss out on one of the most forward-looking events of 2019 – the International Association for Food Protection’s 2019 Annual Meeting, or simply IAFP 2019. This year’s event looks at current trends including artificial intelligence, home food delivery, and emerging foods – like edible … Continue reading “Look to the future in food safety at IAFP 2019”
Eating fads continue to come and go, and some of those trends bring new safety challenges for the food industry. Locally-sourced food – including gardens inside restaurants — raw smoothies, and peoples’ undying love of cookie dough have led to the consumption of unsafe food. Testing for indicator organisms and pathogens in an environmental monitoring … Continue reading “Testing for indicator organisms and pathogens”
None of us likes to be surprised by opening a container of butter and discovering it’s rancid. Nor do we enjoy reaching into a bag of apples to find a soft and squishy one. Food spoilage is inevitable for most products, but certain microorganisms can accelerate the decaying process. Improper storage and handling can expose … Continue reading “Ensuring high-quality and safe food: monitoring for spoilage organisms and allergens”
Food safety experts are shifting their focus from testing end products to ensuring the entire processing environment, including equipment and surfaces, is free of contamination. The old adage – an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – has never been truer for the food and beverage industry. Legislation is helping shift the … Continue reading “Testing your food processing environment”
Food recalls have become something most of us have been aware of or impacted by. Everything from peanut butter to cantaloupe to baby formula has made headline news. Terms like E. coli, Listeria and Salmonella are on the tips of the tongues of not only food safety specialists, but also of reporters and the general … Continue reading “Be proactive with food safety through environmental monitoring”
3M Food Safety recently made history and accepted a gold Edison award for the 3M™ Petrifilm™ Rapid E. coli/Coliform Count Plate in the Lab Advancements category. This is the third time a 3M™ Petrifilm™ Plate product has received an Edison award, and a second time that a rapid plate has been recognized for innovation. We … Continue reading “3M Food Safety Wins Gold at Edison Awards”
