WASHINGTON, DC: FDA: Irradiating spinach, lettuce OK to kill germs - (Associated Press)
August 21, 2008 – 8:48 pmWASHINGTON — The U.S. government will allow food producers to start zapping fresh spinach and iceberg lettuce with just enough radiation to kill E. coli and other dangerous germs, a key safety move amid increasing outbreaks from raw produce.
Irradiated meat has been around for years, particularly ground beef that is a favorite hiding spot for E. coli. Spices also can be irradiated.
But there had long been concern that zapping leafy greens with X-rays or other means of radiation would leave them limp. Not so with today’s modern techniques.
The Food and Drug Administration determined that irradiation indeed can kill food-poisoning germs and even lengthen the greens’ shelf life without compromising the safety or nutrient value of raw spinach and lettuce. The new regulation goes into effect Friday.
For the complete news item, please visit http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iA5hZT7HxWkBxoW1U2IS-nAOoq-wD92MPDG81
MORE:
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/foodsafety/news/fsnews.cfm?newsid=28159
Related posts:
OPINION: Would you buy irradiated spinach or lettuce? - (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
US: FDA OKs irradiating iceberg lettuce, spinach - (The Packer.com)
US: FDA OKs irradiating iceberg lettuce, spinach - (The Packer.com)
WASHINGTON, DC: Irradiation step doesn’t quiet debate on FDA moves - (Chicago Tribune)
OP-ED: Wiping out bacteria on lettuce has downside - (USA Today)
EDITORIAL: We think: Zapping greens boosts safety, but there’s more to do - (Orlando Sentinel)
US: Your salad could soon be irradiated; FDA approves germ killer for lettuce, spinach - (USA Today)
WASHINGTON, DC: F.D.A. allows some irradiation - (New York Times/ )
US: Irradiation gets the green light - (Miami Herald)
WASHINGTON, DC: Producers go high tech against germs - (Associated Press)
BLOG: FDA is allowing radiation to be used to kill deadly bacteria on spinach and iceburg lettuce Praise and criticism flows. - (Seatle Pi)
New UV toothbrush sanitizer kills 99% of germs & bacteria - (Health Enterprises, Inc. press release)
EDITORIAL: Safer salad - (The New York Times)
US: Regulators expected to allow radiation for spinach, lettuce - (The Fresno Bee)
Preparation-free method for detecting Escherichia coli O157:H7 in the presence of spinach, spring lettuce mix, and ground beef particulates - (Journal of Food Protection®, Volume 70, Number 11, November 2007 , pp. 2651-2655(5))
US: Lettuce rejoice - (The Wall Street Journal)
Pros and cons of commercial irradiation of fresh iceberg lettuce and fresh spinach: A literature review - Part III. Food quality. - (Marler Blog)
US: Report criticizes FDA over spinach packers - (Washington Post/Bloomberg)
US: Report: FDA and fresh spinach safety - (YubaNet.com)
US: FDA to permit irradiation of spinach, lettuce - (San Francisco Chronicle)
BLOG: Move makes food safer - (USA Today)
OPINION: Irradiation of lettuce and spinach doesn’t make sense - (The San Francisco Chronicle)
E. coli investigation continues in WASHINGTON - (The Packer)
WASHINGTON, DC: Salmonella probe puzzles investigators - (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON: FDA hit for slow progress on improving food safety - (Reuters)
US: After last years E. coli outbreak, produce testing diverged at border - (Washington Post)
CALIFORNIA: A year after spinach scare, growers strive to keep produce safe - (San Jose Mercury News)
US: Link to E. coli doubted - (Capital Press)
WASHINGTON: Scientists try to create “good” bacteria to fight “bad” - (McClatchy Newspapers)
Transfer of Escherichia coli O157:H7 to romaine lettuce due to contact water from melting ice - (Journal of Food Protection)
MARLER BLOG: Student sickened by E. coli-tained lettuce files suit - (Marler Blog)
ABSTRACT: Evaluation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 internationalization into romaine lettuce tissues and detection of metabolic changes of internalized bacteria in response to bioavailable carbon using developed bioluminescent assay - (Purdue University)
KANSAS: Food safety for fresh produce begins on the farm - (Kansas State University press release)
UK: New method could end lettuce contamination, say researchers - (Food Production Daily)
ONTARIO: Third case of E. coli linked to U.S. lettuce - (Chatham Daily News)
Relative efficacy of sodium hypochlorite wash versus irradiation to inactivate Escherichia coli O157:H7 internalized in leaves of romaine lettuce and baby spinach - (Journal of Food Protection®)
CFIA: Health Hazard Alert - Dole Brand Hearts Delight Lettuce salad may contain E. coli O157:H7 bacteria - (from a press release)
US: FDA announces final rule amending the food additive regulations to allow for the irradiation of fresh iceberg lettuce and fresh spinach - (CFSAN Constituent Update)
US: FDA announces final rule amending the food additive regulations to allow for the irradiation of fresh iceberg lettuce and fresh spinach - (CFSAN Constituent Update)
WASHINGTON: Industry committee aims to avert food-safety scares - (Good Fruit Grower (Vol. 58 No. 15))
WASHINGTON: E. coli illnesses tied to romaine - (Salinas Californian)
US: FDA announces final rule amending the food additive regulations to allow for the irradiation of fresh iceberg lettuce and fresh spinach - (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
BARFBLOG: Dole lettuce from U.S. found with E. coli O157:H7 in CANADA - (barblog)
BLOG: US: Organic hand sanitizer for crazy parents - (News.com)
ABSTRACT: Survival and transfer of murine norovirus 1, a surrogate for human noroviruses, during the production process of deep-frozen onions and spinach - (Journal of Food Protection)
E. coli in Michigan lettuce traced to CALIFORNIA - (Monterey Herald)
FDA: Leafy Greens Safety Initiative - 2nd year - (US FDA/CFSAN)
OHIO: Wash those hands for a better fair experience - (The Newspaper Network Central Ohio)
CALIFORNIA: Meritech’s handwashing ads win at Mobius Awards - (from a press release)
CALIFORNIA: State regulation of leafy greens stalled - (Associated Press)
US: More E.coli predicted for America’s beef & salad greens - (Health Inspections.com)
CALIFORNIA: Two lettuces used in recalled salads came from Salinas Valley - (The Salinas Californian)
Turning up the food safety debate - (Reuters)
US: Foodmakers won’t be rushing to irradiate greens - (USA Today)
Algeria bomb blasts ‘kill 45′
HONDURAS sends top ministers to Washington to lobby against melon ban - (International Herald Tribune/Associated Press)
KANSAS CITY: Are radiation treatments for salad greens a good idea? NO - (Kansas City Star)
US: Take care while grilling meat - (Freep.com)
FLORIDA: Vegetarian diet no guarantee against E. coli - (Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel)
Amoebas may vomit E. coli on your greens - (New Scientist)
ABSTRACT: Impact of vacuum cooling on Escherichia coli O157:H7 infiltration into lettuce tissue - (Applied and Environmental Microbiology, May 2008, p. 31383142 Vol. 74, No. 10)
Share a computer with friends or co-workers? Then you’re sharing germs! - (HealthInspections.com)
USDA scientists say irradiation could be key to food safety - (Los Angeles Times)
CALIFORNIA: Leafy greens program turns 1 - (Capital Press)
ONTARIO: Lettuce likely E. coli culprit: Ont. health officials - (Windsor Star)
CALIFORNIA spinach sales down 1 year after outbreak - (CBS 5)
ILLINOIS: Food industry discovers new technology to kill E-coli & salmonella - (Biomist Inc.)
WASHINGTON, DC: FDA will open inspection office in China this year - (Associated Press)
MICHIGAN: Company facing E. coli suit denies involvement - (The State News)
WASHINGTON D.C.: Technology to make beef safer - (Washington Post)
ARIZONA: UA researchers offer advice for safer salads - (University of Arizona)
CALIFORNIA: Family farms may wilt under leafy-green law - (Sacramento Bee)
Primeras imágenes de De Niro y Pacino en “Righteous Kill”
WASHINGTON, DC: FDA reports more cases of salmonella illnesses - (Associated Press)
ONTARIO: Niagara E. coli investigation looks to U.S. - (St. Catharines Standard)
US: Playing with danger: Germy playgrounds - (ABC News)
Al Qaeda No. 2: We don’t kill innnocents
ABSTRACT: Leaf age as a risk factor in contamination of lettuce with Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica - (Applied and Environmental Microbiology)
LETTER: Food safety - (New York Times)
WASHINGTON: Marler Clark files E. coli lawsuit against Oregon meat supplier - (from a press release)
CANADA: Germs, including fecal matter, are alive and well on shopping carts, water cooler handles, photocopier buttons and bank machines - (The Review)
Health Hazard Alert- Dole brand hearts delight lettuce salad may contain E. coli O157:H7 bacteria– corrected (again) - (WebMaster CFIA)
CALIFORNIA: 2006 E. coli outbreak linked to local farm - (Bakersfield Californian)
Al Qaeda No. 2: We don’t kill innocents
WASHINGTON, DC: After spinach scare, FDA calls for handwashing - (Bloomberg News)
BLOG: Salmonella, E. coli and now 144 million pounds of unfit-to-eat beef, spark anger on Capitol Hill - (Seattle PI)
ABSTRACT: Electrostatic forces control nonspecific virus attachment to lettuce - (Journal of Food Protection)
WASHINGTON: ACS Thanksgiving podcasts feature advances toward safer, healthier food - (American Chemical Society)
BARFBLOG: Silence of the lettuce - (barfblog)
WASHINGTON beef water system operator under fire for E. coli incident - (Meatingplace.com)
ABSTRACT: Irradiation compared with chlorination for elimination of Escherichia coli O157:H7 internalized in lettuce leaves: influence of lettuce variety - (Journal of Food Science)
Produce Safety & Security International provides follow up for solution to the spinach issue - (World Stock Wire)
US: Food safety rules require vigilance - (The Packer)
UTAH: Lawyers continue work on E. coli settlements - (The Salinas Californian)
MICHIGAN: Produce firm battling taint of E. coli outbreak - (The Detroit News)
WASHINGTON: WA Agriculture Department warns against drinking some raw milk - (Associated Press)
UK: Don’t spread germs; Avoiding cross-contamination in the home - (Institute of Food Science & Technology)
INDIA: Is your food safe? - (The Hindu)
MEXICO ends spinach ban triggered by E. coli outbreak - (Salinas Californian)
SOUTH CAROLINA: Special Report: Germs On The Menu - (Live 5 News)