Fw: [BITES-L] bites Nov. 17/10 -- II
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Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2010 22:44:25 -0600
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Subject: [BITES-L] bites Nov. 17/10 -- II
bites Nov. 17/10 -- II
Will proposed food safety bill mean fewer sick people? Doubtful
South Park skewers food porn
KANSAS church dinner toll climbs
Solihull teen tests positive for Salmonella following luxury EGYPT trip
A timer for turkey roasting, thermometers also work
Contador's 'contaminated meat' excuse rejected
Senate moves forward on S. 510, the FDA food safety modernization act
FDA shuts down N.J. cheese maker
US: NBC Today Show investigation of imported catfish and other seafood: 'Is your favorite seafood dangerous?'
NEBRASKA inspector accused of faking mad cow tests
Risky restaurants
US: Rotten eggs? Undercover video reveals disturbing conditions at massive egg farm
US: AVMA calls on members to celebrate profession's history
US: Pat Boone launches mail-order steak line
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Will proposed food safety bill mean fewer sick people? Doubtful
17.nov.10
barfblog
Doug Powell
http://www.barfblog.com/blog/145143/10/11/17/will-proposed-food-safety-bill-mean-fewer-sick-people-doubtful
Apparently I'm alone in thinking the proposed food safety legislation won't make much of a difference – especially in terms of sick people.
While tomorrow's USA Today gushes in a headline courtesy of a so-called consumer group that "Proposed food safety bill good for 'everyone who eats,'" for me, it all just sounds like "The old Potomac two-step, Jack."
"I'm sorry, Mr. President, I don't dance."
That's what Jack Ryan as played by Harrison Ford said in the movie, Clear and Present Danger. And that's why I repeatedly ignore what comes out of Washington.
The $1.4 billion food safety bill, which would give the Food and Drug Administration broader powers to inspect processing plants and recall tainted products, cleared a procedural hurdle in the Senate, setting it up as a top measure for Congress to address in its year-end session.
What I told ABC News was this:
"Government sets minimal standards, which the best food producers, processors and retailers exceed daily, while talking heads blather. There are bad players in the system, which government is supposed to catch, but given the pervasive food safety outbreaks over the past 20 years, they don't seem very good at it. Will the new bill mean fewer sick people? Doubtful."
Dr. Douglas Powell, associate professor, Kansas State University
ABC also asked a bunch of other food policy types, and they all agreed, one way or another, that passage of the bill was important.
It's not that important. Dance?
foodsafety18_ST_N.htm?csp=34news&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+UsatodaycomWashington-TopStories+%28News+-+Washington+-+Top+Stories%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potomac_two-step
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/food-safety-bill-make-meals-safer/story?id=12170865
South Park skewers food porn
17.nov.10
barfblog
Doug Powell
http://www.barfblog.com/blog/145141/10/11/17/south-park-skewers-food-porn
Food porn is insidious and awful. As I write this, Amy is anticipating the finale of Top Chef Just Desserts.
Me, I can't stand the celebrity chefs and their terrible food safety. The new episode of South Park tonight wonderfully parodied the indulgence, narcissism and nonsense that characterizes most shows on the Food Network. Here's a preview.
http://www.comedycentral.com/
KANSAS church dinner toll climbs
17.nov.10
barfblog
Doug Powell
http://www.barfblog.com/blog/145142/10/11/17/kansas-church-dinner-toll-climbs
There are now at least 159 individuals have reported becoming ill, with one hospitalization, following a Kansas church dinner earlier this month.
The Sacred Heart Turkey Dinner that was held on the evening of November 8, 2010, in Arkansas City, KS, had over 1,800 people in attendance.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and City-Cowley County Health Department, with assistance from the Kansas Department of Agriculture and the cooperation of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Arkansas City, are continuing to conduct an investigation of a possible foodborne illness outbreak, and are asking for the public's help in completing a survey to identify the source of the outbreak.
"It's really important that everyone who attended the dinner or consumed food prepared for the event complete this survey or contact the health department," said Dr. Jason Eberhart-Phillips, Kansas State Health Officer and Director of KDHE's Division of Health. "Regardless of whether you've become sick, the information you provide will help us better understand what may have caused this gastrointestinal outbreak."
The KDHE survey is available at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SacredHeartDinner.
http://barfblog.foodsafety.ksu.edu/blog/145047/10/11/10/church-turkey-dinner-sickens-22-kansas
http://www.kdheks.gov/news/web_archives/2010/11162010.htm
Solihull teen tests positive for Salmonella following luxury EGYPT trip
17.nov.10
Birmingham Mail
Sophie Cross
http://www.birminghammail.net/news/solihull-news/2010/11/17/solihull-teen-tests-positive-for-salmonella-following-luxury-egypt-trip-97319-27667263/
FOR Midland teenager Luke Mason, two weeks in Egypt was to be an exciting getaway with his parents and younger sister.
But the 13-year-old's family claim they were subjected to a "holiday from hell" when they fell ill at their Sharm el-Sheikh resort Holiday Village Red Sea after booking with First Choice.
And they said Luke tested positive for Salmonella on their return to the UK.
The family's solicitors, Irwin Mitchell, claim it is the fourth year running the firm has taken legal action regarding problems at the tourist centre – with 80 holidaymakers affected this year bringing the total to more than 200.
A timer for turkey roasting, thermometers also work
17.nov.10
barfblog
Doug Powell
http://www.barfblog.com/blog/145138/10/11/17/timer-turkey-roasting-thermometers-also-work
Pop-up turkey timers often lead to overcooked disasters.
Florence Fabricant of The New York Times writes the reason was clear after she called a manufacturer: the timers are set to pop when the meat is 180 degrees, by which point it is hopelessly dry.
(Poor Canadians, still told to cook to 185F, but that may change to 180F; that's what the gravy is for.)
So Fabricant tried out the Perfect Roast Timer, by Kikkerland in SoHo, made in China, is $12.95 at Mxyplyzyk stores, mxyplyzyk.com.
Fabricant says that after an hour and 20 minutes in a 375-degree oven, the legs of the timer whipped straight up from horizontal to vertical. "I let the chicken rest for 20 minutes before carving what turned out to be an utterly delicious bird, done to perfection. The timers are silicon and can be used in ovens as hot as 450 degrees."
Tip sensitive digital thermometers also work. Stick it in.
And here's a Saturday Night Live promo for, uh, Saturday's show, featuring Bill Hader vomiting a turkey and guest host Anne Hathaway dry-heaving afterwards.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/17/dining/17timer.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=rss
http://barfblog.foodsafety.ksu.edu/blog/144490/10/10/10/you-can't-overcook-turkey-that's-what-gravy-failures-food-safety-policy
Contador's 'contaminated meat' excuse rejected
17.nov.10
barfblog
Doug Powell
http://www.barfblog.com/blog/145139/10/11/17/contadors-contaminated-meat-excuse-rejected
For those who care about the doped up world of cycling, the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) has found no evidence to support Alberto Contador's claim that contaminated meat was responsible for his positive doping test.
Sapa-AFP reports the Tour de France champion was provisionally suspended following a positive test for clenbuterol, a banned weight loss/muscle-building drug.
The Spanish rider has claimed that the positive result, which followed a doping test during the Tour de France in July, was the result of eating contaminated meat.
But a report by WADA obtained by the newspaper El Pais said its experts visited the butcher's shop in northern Spain where the meat was purchased and the slaughterhouse that supplies it, and found no evidence of clenbuterol in any of its products.
"None of the inspections, none of the tests on samples of meat found traces of clenbuterol, a banned drug used to fatten cattle quickly," El Pais said.
The report also cited a European Union study from 2008 in which experts tested 300,000 meat samples but found evidence of the possible use of clenbutorol in only one of those.
"Obviously, farmers who cheat will never slaughter their illegally fattened cattle until about 20 days after the last dose of clenbuterol for two reasons: to avoid being caught by checks on the meat and to allow the anabolic steriod to have its full fattening-up effect," the WADA report said, according to El Pais.
If suspended for two years, the 27-year-old has threatened to quit the sport.
Bye-bye.
http://barfblog.foodsafety.ksu.edu/blog/144567/10/10/14/doping-body-dismisses-contador's-contaminated-meat-claims
http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/other/article768185.ece/Contadors-contaminated-meat-excuse-rejected
Senate moves forward on S. 510, the FDA food safety modernization act
17.nov.10
United Fresh
Today, the Senate invoked cloture to move forward with debate on S. 510, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. During the debate on the bill, the Senate will consider a provision in the bill that would exempt certain segments of the food industry including food facilities and farm operations from requirements for basic food safety standards. United Fresh Produce Association Senior Vice President of Public Policy Robert Guenther issued the following statement on the bill:
"The fresh produce industry strongly supports the modernization of federal food safety laws and has supported legislation both in the House and Senate for the last several years along these lines. In fact, United Fresh has testified more than a dozen times before congressional committees advocating for this historic reform to move forward.
Unfortunately, the Senate may undermine this effort by including language in the final bill that would exempt certain sectors of the food industry based on geographic location, size of operation and to whom they sell their food products. Supporters of this effort have portrayed these exemptions as protecting small businesses, that locally-grown commodities are somehow safer, or that federal government standards are not adequate. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The fact remains that when a food safety incident occurs, farmers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers, regardless of size, suffer significant economic hardships. Most importantly, the vast majority of businesses who suffer this economic hardship have nothing to do with any single food safety incident. In addition, small and local food operations have been associated with a number of food safety incidents and recalls over the last decade and are not immune based on size of operation, distance of geography or commodity.
Statements have been made indicating that fresh produce would be covered under this bill and consumers could be more confident in their food supply. Unfortunately, consumers will be left vulnerable to the gaping holes and uneven application of the law created by these exemptions. An effective food safety program in the U.S. is a shared responsibility of everyone. Most importantly, each of us has to do our part whether we are a producer, processor, food retailer or food service provider, or a consumer. This also means that Congress needs to do its part by supporting a uniform food safety bill that will enhance food safety for citizens of this country and reject arbitrary exemptions that pick winners and losers."
The cloture motion was passed on a vote of 74-25. The Senate will now move forward with up to 30 hours of debate on this bill before coming up for final passage.
FDA shuts down N.J. cheese maker
17.nov.10
Courier Post Online
The Associated Press
http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20101117/NEWS01/101117070/FDA-shuts-down-N.J.-cheese-maker
A New Jersey-based cheese producer that the FDA says failed to correct unsanitary conditions has been shut down.
Federal food safety officials found repeated violations at Quesos Mi Pueblito in Passaic. The company produces Mexican products and made various cheeses popular in Latin American cuisine. Owner Felix Sanchez tells The Record newspaper he plans to restart the cheese making operations in the near future. Federal inspectors found 17 alleged hazards during six visits in 2009. An inspection earlier this year turned up cheeses contaminated with Listeria. Mi Pueblito cheeses were sold in grocery stores and supermarkets in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Florida, Virginia and the District of Columbia.
US: NBC Today Show investigation of imported catfish and other seafood: 'Is your favorite seafood dangerous?'
17.nov.10
NBC
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's inspection system for imported seafood is so weak that many Americans are eating foreign catfish and other seafood tainted with chemicals that could cause cancer, birth defects and other serious health problems, according to an investigation aired by the NBC Today Show today, Nov. 17.
In the investigation titled "Is your favorite seafood dangerous?" NBC aired video showing "dirty sewage water used to raise seafood in Vietnam -- the fish pumped with toxic antibiotics and banned drugs just to keep them alive, boosting production and driving down costs."
NBC reported that although 80 percent of the fish consumed in America is raised overseas, the FDA inspects only two percent of all imports.
Ron Sparks, who heads the Alabama Department of Agriculture, told NBC that so few foreign shipments are inspected, "They're not going to get caught. They're sending tons of seafood to this country and if you catch a small percentage of it, why would they stop?"
Sparks said Alabama officials are so concerned over the lapses in FDA standards, that the state conducts its own inspections of imports. He said 40 to 50 percent of the imported seafood Alabama inspects tests positive for banned chemicals and other contamination not allowed under U.S. regulations.
The U.S. Congress approved legislation almost two and one-half years ago that would provide much greater protection for American consumers by shifting inspection and regulation of catfish from the FDA to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which has more stringent inspection and safety programs. The Obama administration has yet to enforce the new protections.
"The administration's refusal to act is all the more shocking because of President Obama's repeated claims that consumer safety is one of the highest priorities of his administration," said Joey Lowery, president of the Catfish Farmers of America. "The U.S. catfish industry welcomes these tougher standards and protections which would apply to all catfish -- domestic and foreign."
Lowery add, "The NBC Today Show investigation demonstrates precisely why this legislation is so critical to the health and safety of American consumers."
The Today Show reported that some chemicals used in foreign catfish farming are "so toxic to humans that they are banned in all foods." The report added, "Scientists say that over time, eating this tainted seafood could cause anemia, cancer, even birth defects."
Alabama seafood chemist Joe Basile told NBC that foreign seafood farmers "quite honestly don't care about the health of U.S. citizens."
View the full NBC Today Show news investigation at this link:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/40230853#39964945
NEBRASKA inspector accused of faking mad cow tests
17.nov.10
Capital Press
The Associated Press
http://www.capitalpress.com/content/AP-NE-Faked-cattle-inspections-111710
OMAHA, Neb. -- A former state cattle inspector has been indicted for faking tests for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, known as BSE or mad cow disease.
The two-count indictment announced Wednesday by the U.S Attorney's Office says 41-year-old Galen Niehues, of Cozad, submitted inspection reports on 92 cattle operations in Nebraska but never actually performed the inspections. He faces federal charges of making false statements and mail fraud.
Risky restaurants
17.nov.10
Racquet
Lauren Seidl
http://www.theracquet.net/news/risky-restaurants-1.1781406
2010 restaurant inspections list reveals health-code violations
The 2010 La Crosse Area restaurant inspections list has been released, and over half of the 33 establishments included are violating at least one health risk factor.
While hundreds of establishments from the Coulee Region are inspected annually, data is released through the La Crosse Tribune one month at a time. Currently only a fraction of the facilities containing any sort of food or beverage is open for the public to view.
The inspection list shows which of the five risk factor violations eating facilities are in violation of. Unsafe sources, inadequate cooking, improper hold, cross-contamination and personal hygiene account for 95 percent of food-borne illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All five are considered critical violations.
The most prevalent serious health violation on the current list is improper hold, which deals with how food is stored and reheated and the proper use of sanitizers. The temperature at which food is stored is the risk factor most often violated in this category.
Personal hygiene is the second most broken violation. Of risk factors listed under this category, number 12, which states that hand-washing sinks must be provided with soap and paper towels and should not be used for anything else, is most commonly breached.
Cross-contamination accounts for the third most common risk factor violation, and it breaks rules stating that sanitizers must be approved by the state health department and that "food must be protected from contamination by filth, insects, raw food and dirty hands," according to the Tribune's list.
Once a facility is found to be violating a health risk factor, a report is written by an environmental health specialist, said Registered Sanitarian Jim Steinhoff. This report is written during the inspection and states compliance dates for each violation.
Steinhoff said that critical violations must be corrected immediately, and follow-up inspections are conducted. If violations are not corrected after the first follow-up inspection, another follow-up inspection is done and costs the facility $60-$100.
"Sometimes establishments may be closed if they pose an imminent health hazard," said Steinhoff, "And sometimes we issue a citation to appear in court if nothing else works."
Establishments violating less serious health codes such as dirty floors, overflowing trash or plumbing are given more time to correct violations. Steinhoff said they could be given anywhere from one week to one month to comply, depending on the nature of the infringement.
According to Steinhoff, "A specific number of violations is not meaningful. The type of violation is crucial."
The report released in the Tribune places violations into five critical categories, but less serious health breaches are included in the total number of violations for each establishment.
Steinhoff gave advice to consumers who are concerned about dining in unsanitary establishments. He said, "Point out suspect problems or complaints to the manager, not just the staff. Take a look at the restroom. An unsafe restaurant will most likely not care about the cleanliness of the public restrooms. If the employees have dirty clothes and don't care about washing hands, using bare hands, don't eat."
For a complete list of violations for 2010 and restaurant inspection reports since fall 2005, visit http://lacrossetribune.com/app/inspection/.
US: Rotten eggs? Undercover video reveals disturbing conditions at massive egg farm
17.nov.10
ABC
Avni Patel
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/rotten-eggs-undercover-video-reveals-disturbing-conditions-massive/story?id=12170755
A new undercover video investigation by a national animal welfare group claims to show disturbing conditions at a Texas farm operated by the country's largest egg producer and distributor.
The Humane Society of the United States says that one of their investigators documented a range of filthy, unsanitary conditions while working at a Cal-Maine Foods operation in Texas over a five-week period this fall. A five-minute video produced by the group shows hens confined in overcrowded cages with rotting corpses, dead and injured birds trapped in cages, eggs covered in feces, and escaped hens floating in manure pits.
The images are a stark contrast to the clean white birds and eggs featured in the video on the Cal-Maine corporate website.
"A lot of these conditions seem to be pretty uniform throughout the industry," said Paul Shapiro, the director of the Humane Society's Factory Farm program. "It's not a matter of just a few rotten eggs."
Battery cage systems allow for large-scale egg operators to house tens of thousands of hens in one barn. The Cal-Maine facility in Waelder, Texas includes 18 barns with more than 180,000 cages and 1,000,000 million hens, according to the Humane Society.
The release of the Humane Society video comes on the heels of Cal-Maine's recent recalls of 1.7 million eggs after the Food and Drug Administration notified the company of positive tests for Salmonella Enteritidis, the form of the Salmonella bacteria that sickens humans, at an Ohio company that supplies eggs to Cal-Maine.
In a statement, Cal-Maine Foods said, "All of the company's facilities are operated in full compliance with existing environmental, health and safety laws and regulations and permits." In addition, the company stated that "all of [its] eggs are produced in accordance with United Egg Producers (UEP) animal care guidelines."
US: AVMA calls on members to celebrate profession's history
17.nov.10
AVMA News
http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/dec10/101201b.asp
The AVMA Executive Board has submitted a resolution to the House of Delegates in recognition of World Veterinary Year in 2011. The HOD will consider Resolution 2 at its regular winter session this January in Chicago. The House Advisory Committee has recommended approval of this resolution.
In the document, the board also asks veterinarians to commemorate the founding of the first veterinary school, in Lyon, France, in 1761 with activities that bring attention to the contributions the veterinary profession has made to society and animals.
The text of the resolution and an accompanying statement from the board appear on this page.
Resolution 2 - 2011 Regular Winter Session
Submitted by
AVMA Executive Board
IN CELEBRATION OF WORLD VETERINARY YEAR
Resolved, that the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the veterinary profession, call upon Association leaders and members to join colleagues from around the world to celebrate 2011 as "World Veterinary Year" with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities to bring attention to the contributions the veterinary profession has made and continues to make to animal health, public health, animal welfare, and food safety.
Statement about the Resolution
The world's first veterinary school was founded in Lyon, France in 1761, which makes 2011 the 250th anniversary of not only veterinary education, but also the 250th anniversary of the veterinary medical profession and comparative biopathology, a basic tenet of the "one health" concept.
As such, it is appropriate to designate 2011 as ''World Veterinary Year'' to bring attention to and show appreciation for the many contributions the veterinary profession has made during its 250 year history, including:
playing a role in the discovery of the causes of numerous diseases that affect people around the world, such as salmonellosis, West Nile Virus, yellow fever, and malaria;
providing valuable public health service through preventive medicine, control of zoonotic diseases, and scientific research;
advancing human and animal health by inventing and refining techniques and instrumentations such as artificial hips, bone plates, splints, and arthroscopy;
protecting the quality and security of the global food supply;
providing crucial assistance to the agricultural independence of developing nations around the world;
providing public health service and veterinary medical support to animals and humans displaced and ravaged by disasters; and
preserving the human-animal bond and promoting the highest standards of science-based, ethical animal welfare.
The AVMA represents the United States on the Executive Committee of Vet2011—the organization headquartered in France coordinating World Veterinary Year events around the globe—and is leading U.S. initiatives during this important celebratory year. These initiatives include support of a recently passed US Senate resolution declaring 2011 as "World Veterinary Year" and a similar resolution under consideration by the US House of Representatives.
Therefore, it is entirely fitting that the AVMA adopt its own resolution in celebration of World Veterinary Year and the 250th anniversary of our profession.
US: Pat Boone launches mail-order steak line
17.nov.10
barfblog
Doug Powell
http://www.barfblog.com/blog/145140/10/11/17/pat-boone-launches-mail-order-steak-line
Would you buy a steak from Pat Boone? Maybe this is a reason for tougher U.S. food safety oversight.
Singer and actor Pat Boone – the man who made rock and roll safe for white people – has launched a line of mail-order meats called Pat Boone All-American Meats.
The line includes filet mignon, ribeye, top sirloin, New York strip, T-bone and porterhouse steaks, all made with U.S.-raised beef. The meats ship frozen.
The brand officially launches today at www.patboonemeats.com.
Boone was inspired by Paul Newman.
"I've been so impressed by what Paul was able to accomplish with his incredibly successful line of salad dressings, that this seemed the perfect way for me to build a legacy that will carry on in the spirit of giving for generations. What better way to enjoy time with family and friends than over a tender, juicy steak and know that your hard-earned money is going to support American ranchers and help feed the hungry all at the same time?"
http://www.meatingplace.com/MembersOnly/webNews/details.aspx?item=19768
bites is produced by Dr. Douglas Powell and food safety friends at Kansas State University. For further information, please contact dpowell@ksu.edu or check out bites.ksu.edu.
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