Infection Control Today

We can thank KSU professor Doug Powell for sending a link to this article from Infection Control Today(online). Since September of last year, this is the kind of reading material the industry has seen too much of. Some excerpts:

The FoodNet data showed there continues to be little change in the incidence of Salmonella cases, and progress made in 2003 and 2004 in reducing the number of cases of with E. coli O157 infections has been lost
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"As recent outbreaks have shown, too many people in the United States are getting sick each year from foodborne illnesses," said Julie Gerberding, MD, MPH, director of the CDC. "For instance, the outbreaks involving tomatoes, lettuce and spinach underscore the need to more effectively prevent contamination of produce. We're also working to strengthen our ability to quickly detect and identify foodborne illnesses. We know the faster we can detect an outbreak, the faster we can take actions that will help protect people."

TK: But wait, Powell has more from the CDC Morbidity & Mortality Weekly...

Cold brings hurricane impact

The cumulative crop damage from the cold in the Southeast has hammered growers hard, and it isn't over yet. Here is coverage from The Packer's Doug Ohlemeier on the expected damage to crops.

Here is coverage from the AP on the same topic. This report says 50% of Georgia peaches and 80% to 90% of S.C. peaches may be lost.

New E. coli test

Don't ask me what a mosquito sized biosensor is, but this story indicates scientists have developed such a device and it could prove useful.
From UPI:

U.S. scientists say they have developed a mosquito-sized biosensor that can rapidly detect tiny amounts of disease-causing E. coli bacteria in food.
The single-step technology developed by Drexel University researchers takes only minutes, compared with hours required by conventional tests for common food poisoning agents.


TK: Whether mandatory GAPs or GHPs, fail safe E. coli testing, or a kill step like irradiation, we are bound to have safer food.