Fw: [BITES-L] bites Nov. 21/10
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Date: Sun, 21 Nov 2010 06:00:45 -0600
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bites Nov. 21/10
'Food safety in Canada is an accident;' imports, retailers face scrutiny
Listeria and cheesemaking are often together
A sackful of dead pheasant is not the best night for a restaurant inspection
NEW ZEALAND: Meat 'inspectors' failing to find defects
US: Growers question food safety bill
UK supermarket chain wants cameras in abattoirs to control cruelty
A foodborne outbreak of cyclospora infection in Stockholm, SWEDEN
CHINA to examine meat plants before reopening imports
Norovirus infections show signs of spreading in JAPAN: survey
NEW YORK's district attorney seeks injunction against New York business
CANADA: Health hazard alert: Undercooked pork may cause illness
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'Food safety in Canada is an accident;' imports, retailers face scrutiny
20.nov.10
barfblog
Doug Powell
http://www.barfblog.com/blog/145214/10/11/20/%E2%80%98food-safety-canada-accident%E2%80%99-imports-retailers-face-scrutiny
"Food safety in Canada, believe it or not, is an accident. It really is," says Rick Holley, a University of Manitoba food-safety expert and an adviser to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
That's how Toronto's Globe and Mail newspaper kicks off a week-long series on the global marketplace for food, and how Canada has yet to come to terms with the regulatory, economic and technological challenges of global food, by reporter Steven Chase.
Last year, Canada imported more than 33 million litres of apple juice from China; 11.8 million kilograms of pickles and relish from India and 4.9 million kilograms of cashews from Vietnam, all part of a two-decade-long surge that has made imported food – often from developing countries – a significant component of the Canadian diet. All of it is grown or processed far beyond the reach of Canada's food inspection system, which – contrary to what consumers might expect – is still struggling to catch up to the reality of a global food market.
Critics say Canada's ability to safeguard its citizens from the risks of both domestic and imported food is falling behind – charges levelled even as efforts are under way at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to update practices for the 21st-century global marketplace.
Today, foreign food makes up 15 to 20 per cent of this country's diet.
Importers are not currently required by Ottawa to provide documentation that traces a primary food product to its origin. Some food retailers and importers may, however, already collect this information for their own commercial purposes.
Chief Food Safety Officer Brian Evans says CFIA intends to propose that importers be required to document the origin of all " single entity products" – as opposed to multi-ingredient goods – they bring into Canada. These would include fish, eggs, leafy greens, salads, fresh fruits and vegetables. We would like to have country of origin traceability requirements as part of the first set of regulations going forward. We would like to see that in 18 to 24 months."
However, he said, the timing and final details of such a plan is up to the government.
Roughly about 1 to 2 per cent of foreign food imports that enter Canada are inspected. The agency heavily inspects some products such as meat and also pays closer attention to goods that have a history of carrying food-borne illness – such as fish or leafy greens or eggs.
The CFIA argues that the absence of big problems shows the system works. In any given day, Dr. Evans says, about 100-million meals are eaten in Canada – which works out to about 36.5 billion meals at year. And what's going wrong? There are about 250 to 300 recalls of food each year following inspections or consumer complaints. Canadians also suffer an estimated 11- million cases of acute gastroenteritis each year – a relatively minor amount – and one that federal authorities suggest is largely due to food preparation mistakes or bad hygiene rather than substandard imports.
However, the University of Manitoba's Dr. Holley says a push for traceability is not a priority when there are other problems with food safety, including a lack of comprehensive information on what is making Canadians sick. "It's like putting a sunroof on a car that has bald tires."
While regulators waffle over how to improve food safety, some of the world's largest grocery sellers have been using their market muscle to force suppliers to clean up or risk being punted from retail's most sought-after shelves.
Leading the run are the same corporate giants critics blame for jeopardizing food safety amidst their globe-spanning pursuit of abundant cheap food. But no one is arguing about the impact grocery heavyweights are having on safety in the global supply chain, where their border-transcending clout eclipses the reach of public regulators.
Wal-Mart, the world's largest grocer, cut through a highly political debate over tainted hamburger meat in the U.S. this year by forcing suppliers to conduct specialized tests for E. coli and salmonella.
In Canada, Loblaws became the first national retailer to insist private-label suppliers comply with safety standards under the Global Food Safety Initiative, an alliance started by eight of the world's largest food retailers.
Jorgen Schlundt, the recently departed director of food safety at the World Health Organization, worries big retailers view food safety as a marketing tool.
"There is a huge difference between what consumers ... think is important and what is really important," Dr. Schlundt said. "It is extremely important that the science that standards are built upon and the standards themselves are not made by industry – not made by the people who are supposed to be monitored by government," he said.
I'd rather those standards were publicly available and marketed at retail so consumers – who probably know a lot more about food safety than Dr. Schlundt thinks they do – could support those producers and processors that consistently provide microbiologically safe food – and can prove it.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-to-lead/global-food/the-quest-to-put-some-bite-into-foreign-food-inspections/article1806035/
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-to-lead/global-food/food-cop-to-aisle-five-the-grocery-stores-new-bag/article1806921/
Listeria and cheesemaking are often together
20.nov.10
barfblog
Doug Powell
http://www.barfblog.com/blog/145200/10/11/20/listeria-and-cheesemaking-are-often-together
The New York Times reports this morning that listeria can pose special challenges for artisan cheesemakers. Many make their cheese right on the farm, where the bad bacteria are right outside the cheese room door (or inside – dp). And small producers often lack the safety training and resources available at bigger companies.
For example, Sharon McCool got a shock last year as she prepared to begin selling the first batch of cheese she had made from milk produced at her family's organic dairy, Rosecrest Farm, in Chehalis, Wash. State inspectors told her the Swiss cheese she had labored over for months was contaminated with listeria.
Tests showed that the bacteria was contained in a mixture of wine, water and salt, called a smear, that Ms. McCool had been brushing on her cheese each day as it aged. Without knowing it, she was dosing the cheese with listeria.
Ms. McCool threw out 900 pounds of cheese, changed some of her practices, got rid of the smear and started over.
Ms. McCool and her husband, Gary, have for years operated a dairy, where sanitation is paramount, so she thought she was well versed in food safety. But she now sees that she had overlooked some obvious pitfalls.
Before, Ms. McCool said, she had been so proud of her new business that she had often showed visitors around, possibly introducing listeria through their shoes or clothing.
Now, visitors are kept out. "Pretty much everything is really a whole lot stricter," Ms. McCool said.
The number of small-scale, artisan cheesemakers has boomed in recent years but little or no formal training is required. Safety rules and enforcement also vary from state to state.
Soft cheeses — including brie, mozzarella and queso fresco — are more likely to become contaminated with listeria because they have a relatively high moisture content and low acidity, creating a more hospitable environment for the bacteria. In addition, listeria grows well at low temperatures, so even it can thrive even in a refrigerator.
The F.D.A. said it is inspecting both raw-milk and pasteurized cheese facilities for listeria, and recalls this year have been for both types of cheeses.
The agency also said it was reviewing the aging rules in light of evidence that the 60-day period might not be effective.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/20/business/20artisan.html?_r=1&src=busln
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/20/business/20artisanside.html?_r=2
A sackful of dead pheasant is not the best night for a restaurant inspection
20.nov.10
barfblog
Doug Powell
http://www.barfblog.com/blog/145201/10/11/20/sackful-dead-pheasant-not-best-night-restaurant-inspection
Eater.com reports that Daniel Boulud held an annual $1,000 a head fall game dinner last night as a fundraiser for the upcoming competition of Bocuse d'Or.
He, chef Gavin Kaysen, and Ariane Daguin, the founder of D'Artagnan, served up woodpigeon and chestnut ballotine, Juniper scented grouse pâté, and a whole foret of game.
Boulud appeared slightly stressed as he revealed at the beginning of dinner that a city Health Inspector was on the premises to discern the restaurant's letter grade. It took the chef away from most of the festivities, as the DOH goon stayed all dinner long. As Josh Stein noted, "… a night when Daguin brings a sackful of dead pheasant is not the best night for a restaurant inspection."
http://ny.eater.com/archives/2010/11/health_inspector_drops_in_for_bouluds_1000head_dinner.php
http://eater.com/archives/2010/11/19/love-loss-and-inspection-at-the-daniel-game-dinner.php#daniel-game-dinner-6
NEW ZEALAND: Meat 'inspectors' failing to find defects
21.nov.10
The New Zealand Herald
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/agriculture/news/article.cfm?c_id=16&objectid=10689133&ref=rss
Meatworkers trained to look over carcasses after slaughter have been failing to detect defects in meat, which has United States importers worried, the union representing meat workers says.
A six-month-long trial has begun at Wanganui meat plant Affco Imlay where meatworkers are carrying out inspection tasks normally done by independent government meat inspectors.
New Zealand Public Service Association national secretary Richard Wagstaff said it was revealed on the first day of the trial that the US would not accept meat from the company, despite assurances that export partners had been informed and approved of the trials.
"We're hearing from our meat inspector members who've been observing the trial that the meat company 'inspectors' are failing to detect defects, disease and faecal matter.
"That's hardly surprising given that they've only had two or three days training. Independent meat inspectors thoroughly train for twenty weeks," he said.
Trials are also due to start at Alliance Mataura (Southland) and Silver Fern Farms' Pareora (Timaru) in which meatworkers take responsibility for finding and removing "chronic and or localised abnormalities" in sheep meat.
New Zealand Food Safety Authority director of market access Tony Zohrab said last month the new inspectors would have to be trained so that they could identify and, if need be, remove material.
"We're not moving away from Government inspection. The animals still will be inspected, but companies will be allowed under the trial protocol to remove certain suitability defects.
"But we're going to need government inspectors into the foreseeable future, irrespective of the results of these trials," he said.
US: Growers question food safety bill
20.nov.10
Bakersfield.com
Courtenay Edelhart
http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x1206833904/Growers-question-food-safety-bill
Agricultural groups are ambivalent about the Food Safety Modernization Act, a proposal being debated in the U.S. Senate that among other things would boost inspections, require better record keeping and broaden the authority of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The bill was introduced last year in the wake of a huge recall of salmonella-tainted peanut butter products. A companion measure passed in the House of Representatives, but Senate Bill 510 stalled until the largest recall of eggs in U.S. history gave it a second wind.
On the one hand, growers and ranchers have an obvious interest in avoiding expensive recalls that frighten consumers away from buying their products.
At the same time, "I'm always skeptical of what the federal government does because they do things in broad strokes and don't take the time to talk to people in the industry to see what would be most effective," said Sean McNally, vice president of corporate and government affairs for Grimmway Farms.
McNally said he prefers the model of the California Leafy Green Products Handler Marketing Agreement to heavy-handed government regulation.
The leafy green agreement is a public-private partnership founded in 2007, a year after an E. coli outbreak in spinach. Its more than 100 members are shippers and processors of leafy green products such as spinach and lettuce.
They worked together to develop food safety practices in collaboration with farmers, academics, food safety experts and industry scientists, and verify compliance with mandatory government audits.
UK supermarket chain wants cameras in abattoirs to control cruelty
20.nov.10
barfblog
Doug Powell
http://www.barfblog.com/blog/145202/10/11/20/uk-supermarket-chain-wants-cameras-abattoirs-control-cruelty
In early 2008, the Humane Society of the United States released video documenting animal abuse at Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co. of Chino, Calif., secretly shot by an undercover employee.
That $100-million-a-year company does not exist anymore – brought down by someone using an over-the-counter video recording device.
In April 2009, Cargill Beef announced it had implemented a third-party video-auditing system that would operate 24 hours a day at its U.S. beef plants to enhance the company's animal welfare protection systems. All of Cargill's U.S. plants were expected to have the program in place by the end of 2009.
In Feb. 2010, Cargill announced it would expand its remote video auditing program to monitor food-safety procedures within processing plants.
Last week, a new undercover video investigation by a national animal welfare group claimed 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 said 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.
On Nov, 19, 2010, The Independent reported that Morrisons became the first U.K. supermarket to promise to install CCTV at its abattoirs to reassure the public. The RSPCA called for other chains to follow suit. The supermarket said CCTV images from its Colne and Turriff abattoirs would be stored for 30 days and made available to the Food Standards Agency (FSA). Spokesman Martyn Fletcher said: "Our customers want to know that animals are treated well through the slaughtering process and we believe installing CCTV cameras is the best way to demonstrate we have the highest possible standards."
Slaughterhouse cruelty has been under the spotlight after Animal Aid captured breaches of welfare laws at six out of seven randomly selected abattoirs – including one supplying organic meat, where pigs were kicked in the face.
September's footage from F Drury & Sons reinforces the suspicion many, if not most, of the 370 abattoirs in England and Wales break the rules.
Speaking on behalf of F Drury & Sons, the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers said the 20-second rule had been designed for religious slaughter when animals are not stunned. "The likelihood of a stunned animal being conscious is extremely small," said its veterinary officer Stephen Lomax. "This is not an animal welfare issue."
He blamed government vets for not alerting owners to the "deplorable" abuse found elsewhere. He said: "There's no excuse for all the self-serving arguments the FSA gives about these vets [monitoring abattoirs] not having enough time. They spend a great deal of time phoning their boyfriends, reading the newspaper or filling in useless forms. The system has failed."
The FSA initially denied illegality at F Drury & Sons, but changed its mind when challenged.
Companies would protect their brand and build trust with the buying public by having their own video to supplement claims of humane handling and food safety.
http://barfblog.foodsafety.ksu.edu/blog/140789/10/02/10/cargill-expands-video-monitoring-packing-plants-ultimate-goal-reduce-e-coli-and
http://bites.ksu.edu/news/145165/10/11/18/us-rotten-eggs-undercover-video-reveals-disturbing-conditions-massive-egg-farm
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/news/supermarket-chain-pledges-cctv-in-abattoirs-to-stamp-out-cruelty-2138180.html
A foodborne outbreak of cyclospora infection in Stockholm, SWEDEN
20.nov.10
BioPortfolio
http://www.bioportfolio.com/resources/pmarticle/73054/A-Foodborne-Outbreak-Of-Cyclospora-Infection-In-Stockholm-Sweden.html
Summary
Abstract During May and June 2009 an outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis infection involving 12 laboratory-confirmed and 6 probable cases was detected in Stockholm County, Sweden. Imported sugar snap peas from Guatemala were the suspected vehicle, based on information obtained from patient questionnaires. This is the first reported outbreak of cyclosporiasis in Sweden and the second in Europe.
CHINA to examine meat plants before reopening imports
20.nov.10
Calgary Herald
Kim Guttormson
http://www.calgaryherald.com/life/China+examine+meat+plants+before+reopening+imports/3860063/story.html
Chinese inspectors will be visiting Canadian meat plants soon, an important requirement before the country reopens its borders to Canadian beef.
Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said Friday that he expects shipments to resume "very quickly" after the delegation finishes its work.
In June, China promised to ease barriers to Canadian beef put in place seven years ago when BSE was found in some Alberta cattle.
Dennis Laycraft, executive vice-president of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, said every country that reopens its markets goes through the inspection process.
"Once they do that, we're very confident we'll see some access," he said, adding it allows countries to confirm for themselves Canada's safety procedures.
China has the potential for $100 million a year in sales of beef and tallow, he pointed out.
"We see China as a big market, but it's going to grow into the future," Laycraft said, adding it's also the largest market in the world for tallow, or rendered fat.
"It's important to be getting in there early, as the growth is occurring, and get well established.
"It's going to be a very significant market in the future."
Norovirus infections show signs of spreading in JAPAN: survey
20.nov.10
Manichi Daily News
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20101120p2g00m0dm001000c.html
TOKYO -- The number of people suffering from gastroenteritis symptoms such as repeated vomiting and diarrhea believed to be caused by the norovirus has rapidly increased nationwide in recent weeks, a survey by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases showed Saturday.
The number of patients averaged more than five per clinic covered in the survey in the first week of the month, the second highest level in the past 10 years for this time of year and more than twice as many as a year earlier, it said.
"For prevention, it is important to thoroughly wash hands with soap," said Yoshinori Yasui, a chief researcher at the institute. "Because infections mainly spread among children, those with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea should try to avoid going to nurseries, kindergartens or schools," he said.
The institute compiled the number of infectious gastroenteritis patients reported from about 3,000 pediatric clinics across Japan. The number has increased for three consecutive weeks, with those aged 7 or younger accounting for at least 70 percent.
NEW YORK's district attorney seeks injunction against New York business
19.nov.10
USDA FSIS
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_&_events/Const_Update_111910/index.asp
Loretta Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, filed a civil complaint against NY Gourmet Salads, Inc., and another corporation controlled by Spada, Crystal Salads, Inc.
The complaint alleges that the defendants violated the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) and the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA). The suit seeks a temporary restraining order as well as a preliminary and permanent injunctive relief against the defendants for selling uninspected poultry and meat products to the general public.
NY Gourmet prepares, packs and distributes poultry and meat products. The government's claims arose from several investigations conducted by FSIS which revealed that the defendants have disregarded the health and welfare of the consumers of their products.
The complaint alleges that, since at least 2009, the defendants have repeatedly violated regulations by preparing, transporting and offering poultry and meat products for sale that have not been inspected for wholesomeness as required by PPIA and FMIA.
The Brooklyn-based company has been cited for ignoring a suspension of federal inspection services by USDA and maintaining its facility under insanitary conditions, as demonstrated by multiple findings of Listeria monocytogenes.
CANADA: Health hazard alert: Undercooked pork may cause illness
20.nov.10
Marketwire
http://www.sys-con.com/node/1622026
MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- Editors note: A photo is included with this press release on Marketwire's website.
Charcuterie La Tour Eiffel, Blainville, QC made the following public announcement on November 20, 2010:
Charcuterie La Tour Eiffel is warning the public not to consume certain sliced and shaved roast pork products because they may contain pork that is insufficiently cooked. Undercooked pork can contain parasites or harmful bacteria and consumption could result in illness.
The affected products are sliced and shaved La Belle Bretagne Cooked Garlic Roasted Pork and Tour Eiffel Roasted Pork Old Style. These products are known to have been distributed in Quebec, but may have been distributed outside the province as well. These roasted pork products were sold in a 175-gram retail package with a Best Before date of November 18, December 2 and in variable weight with a best before date of December 25 and 31. They were also sold at deli counters as shaved or sliced La Belle Bretagne Cooked Garlic Roasted Pork with a Best Before date of December 14, 26, January 3 or 9, and Tour Eiffel Roasted Pork Old Style with a Best Before date of December 31. Some deli packages may not bear a label indicating brand or a Best Before date. Consumers are advised to check their refrigerators and dispose of any affected product or return it to the store where it was purchased for a full refund. If the original product identity or Best Before date is not evident you are advised to check with your retailer or supplier to determine if the product is affected.
There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products. However, as a precautionary measure, Charcuterie La Tour Eiffel is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace.
Pork must be thoroughly cooked before eating. Consumption of undercooked pork could result in a wide range of symptoms that may include but are not limited to: vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, headache and body ache. Most healthy people will recover from most illnesses caused by eating undercooked pork within a short period of time. But in rare cases, chronic, severe, or even life-threatening symptoms may occur.
Charcuterie La Tour Eiffel is working cooperatively with the CFIA to ensure the affected products are removed from the marketplace.
Anyone with concerns or questions about the recall should contact Charcuterie Tour Eiffel at 1-877-858-8800 or contact the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).
To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/NOV%2020%202010%20Labels%20Roast%20Pork_1.pdf
Contacts: Charcuterie La Tour Eiffel 1-877-858-8800 CFIA 1-800-442-2342 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday)
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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