UK: 25% of food tests show unsafe levels of bacteria - (The UK Herald)
November 22, 2007 – 10:23 pmAlmost one-quarter of food products tested in Scotland showed “unsatisfactory” levels of bacteria, latest government results show.
The figures from the Food Standard Agency Scotland (FSAS) show 23.8% of foods sent to the laboratory, from cakes to meats and fruit, failed tests which gauge acceptable quality and safety levels.
The worst offenders in the microbiological surveillance were meat and related products, where out of 1720 samples, 455 (26.5%) were found unsatisfactory.
Significant levels of pathogens were also found in cakes and confectionery (33.5% of 236 samples) and, perhaps surprisingly, herbs and spices (62.5% of 80 samples). One sample of fresh herbs was found to be contaminated with salmonella.
Hugh Pennington, professor of microbiology at Aberdeen University, was quoted as saying, “Many herbs and spices are coming from places where the hygiene practices are not of the same level that we have here. The issue with herbs is that they are mainly ready to eat, […]
MORE:
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/foodsafety/news/fsnews.cfm?newsid=22726
Related posts:
NEW ZEALAND: Food tests widened - (New Zealand Herald)
FLORIDA: Food poisoning to blame for sorority illness - (WCTV.tv)
STUDY reveals high bacteria levels on footwear - (from a press release)
AUSTRALIA: The plop thickens: gelato tests ‘inconclusive’ - (The Sydney Morning Herald)
FLORIDA: First E. coli test OK — but water isn’t cleared yet - (Orlando Sentinel)
NEW ZEALAND: Melamine-tainted biscuits and milk drink withdrawn - (NZFSA)
AUSTRALIA: Vegetable chips spur health alert - (Sydney Morning Herald)
AUSTRALIA: Parasite-infested canal reopened - (ABC News Online (Australia))
U.S.: One way to avoid meat recalls: Wait for test results - (USA Today)
WASHINGTON: Spokane high school students sickened by sour milk - (Bellingham Herald)
NEW ZEALAND: Southland milk products tested for E.coli - (New Zealand Herald)
IOWA: Tests find salmonella in poultry - (The Gazette)
MASSACHUSETTS: Even before tomato warning, many Americans lacked confidence in the food safety system - (Harvard School of Public Health)
JAPAN: A long-sought test for direct detection of disease-causing E. coli bacteria - (ACS)
NEW YORK: Source of legionnaires’ outbreak identified - (WBNG News)
ONTARIO: Health Unit investigating possible E coli outbreak - (The North Bay Nugget)
WASHINGTON: Direct test for detecting disease-causing E. coli bacteria developed - (Thaindian News)
Top five food safety myths - (Sydney Morning Herald)
NZFSA NEW ZEALAND dairy testing statement - (NZFSA)
NEW ZEALAND: Poison shellfish warning - (Dominion Post)
Current control measures effective against microbes in the plant air: study - (Food Production Daily)
Scripps scientists develop new tests that identify lethal prion strains quickly and accurately - (Scripps Research Institute)
HONG KONG: 99.7% of food passes safety tests - (Health and Community)
VERMONT: Officials test beef for E. coli at Addison plant - (Rutland Herald)
SHOW DE GOLES: ¿Donde están los goles en este show?
NEW YORK: Wegmans said now requiring tuna suppliers to test for mercury - (Progressive Grocer)
JAPAN finds second type of pesticide in Chinese dumplings - (Malaysia Star/Associated Press)
CALIFORNIA: Restaurant closed after E. coli found in water - (SignOnSanDiego.com)
FLORIDA: Restaurants refuse to show inspection reports to customers - (wftv.com)
ONTARIO: E. coli found in tests on beef at Guelph packing plant - (Welland Tribune)
CANADA: More food inspection tests needed: Smiths Snacks GM - (The Western Star)
SOUTH AFRICA: Dirty water used on fruit, vegetables - (Business Day)
NEW ZEALAND: Nutrient levels investigated - (New Zealand Food Saftey Authority)
U.S. focuses on more E. coli strains - (Wall Street Journal)
New International Food Safety Network Infosheet — Study highlights potential cross-contamination; researchers find bacteria and viruses on lemon - (foodsafetyinfosheets.ksu.edu)
INDIA: Safety food is vital - (Government of India)
Hub food safety inspectors find violations - (The Boston Channel)
JERUSALEM: MKs will have to bring food from home after infected cafeterias shut down - (The Jerusalem Post)
CALIFORNIA: Records show bacteria at plant - (Ventura County Star)
BRISBANE eatery fined for food poisoning - (Yahoo! News)
HONG KONG tests more food after egg scare - (USA Today/Associated Press)
50,000 S. Koreans protest ‘unsafe’ U.S. beef
FLORIDA: West Palm not ready to lift boil-water order in entire city: But part of service area may have restriction lifted today - (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
US: Salmonella finds in Mexico lead to import alerts - (ThePacker.com)
FSAI warns industry on importance of food recall procedures - (Food Safety Authority of Ireland)
AUSTRALIA: Contaminated baby food taken off shelves - (The Sydney Morning Herald)
BARFBLOG: Can TV cooks become food safety celebrities? or Have you spotted Doug Powell ranting? - (barfblog)
BARFBLOG: Is free soft-serve ice cream for pregnant women a good idea? - (barfblog)
HONG KONG: Mooncakes pass safety tests - (News.gov.hk)
US: Bacteriophages as novel antimicrobials for food safety - (USDA News Release)
NEW ZEALAND: The rotten link in the food chain - (The Dominion Post)
Cryptosporidium found in SYDNEY canal - (Sydney Morning Herald/AAP)
SYDNEY: Food bill leaves a bitter taste - (Sydney Morning Herald)
OKLAHOMA: State warns about untreated swimming spots - (KOCO.com)
INDIANAPOLIS: Hold the Ice - (WTHR Channel 13 News)
WISCONSIN: Food poisoning may have caused inmate sickness - (Fox 11)
CHINA: Food safety struggle bearing fruit - (China Daily/Associated Press)
Dr. Mom was right–and wrong–about washing fruits and vegetables - (Science Daily)
NEW ZEALAND: Additions to Campylobacter strategy - (Scoop)
NETHERLANDS: Poultry workers carry antibiotic-resistant germs - (World Poultry Net)
NEW ZEALAND survey gives consumers confidence in their own food - (Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ))
Toxic cheese scare rattles ITALY - (CNN Europe)
NEW ZEALAND: Food Recall — E. coli in Happy Valley Dairies milk - (New Zealand Food Safety Authority)
NEW ZEALAND: Teenager’s discovery excites scientists - (New Zealand Herald)
FLORIDA: State ag chief warns of food illnesses - (from a press release)
ONTARIO: New test for contaminated sprouts - (Ontario Farmer)
AUSTRALIA: Fish of the day sauce a killer - (Sydney Morning Herald)
NEW ZEALAND: FSA announces additions to Campylobacter strategy - (Scoop)
AUSTRALIA: Play safe with BBQs - (Westender)
US: Why is the debate over raw milk is so emotional, when the facts are so clear? Here is a new theory - (The Complete Patient)
OKLAHOMA: Country Cottage well water tests positive for bacteria - (Tulsa World)
IOWA: Foodborne illnesses need to kept in perspective - (Agri News)
VIETNAM: Toxins found in most safe produce in northern farms - (Tien Phong Online)
ONTARIO: Listeriosis bacteria found at Toronto plant - (Globe and Mail)
WASHINGTON, DC: Brasher: Unsafe food leads to calls for increased FDA authority more authority - (Des Moines Register)
Agriculture Secretary reminds PENNSYLVANIANS to practice food safety in power outages - (Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture)
AUSTRALIA: Gut pains, courtesy of Macdonald - (Sydney Morning Herald)
CHINA says no “Olympic pork” for Games - (Guardian Unlimited)
USDA offers food safety tips for mailing food gifts this holiday season - (USDA News Release)
Kidnapped girl hosts TV chat show
ABU DHABI food safety tests 100% accurate - (Gulf News)
WISCONSIN: Kwik Trip stressing food safety - (WKBT.com)
Inhibition of food poisoning and pathogenic bacteria by Lactobacillus plantarum strain 2.9 isolated from ben saalga, both in a culture medium and in food - (Journal of Food Control, Volume 19, Issue 9)
WASHINGTON, DC: USDA says more tainted beef likely - (Des Moines Register)
ABSTRACT: Aflatoxin M1 levels of Turkish white brined cheese - (Food Control (Volume 20, Issue 3, March 2009, Pages 196-199))
EFSA: Food can pass resistant bacteria to people - (European Public Health Alliance)
US: After last years E. coli outbreak, produce testing diverged at border - (Washington Post)
MASSACHUSETTS: Restaurant inspection audit key findings - (SouthCoastToday.com)
Brand ‘will move on from this crisis’ - (The New Zealand Herald)
SINGAPORE: PrimaDeli may have to remain closed for at least another week - (Yahoo! Singapore)
NEW ZEALAND: Food safety when shopping - (Scoop News)
PENNSYLVANIA: Passions run high in raw-milk debate - (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Agriculture official calls U.S. meat supply safe - (Wall Street Journal/Associated Press)
New International Food Safety Network Infosheet — Brisbane, Australia restaurant fined over bacteria - (International Food Safety Network)
HONG KONG: 99.5% of food passes safety tests - (news.gov.hk)
WASHINGTON: E. coli loophole cited in recalls - (The Chicago Tribune)
CANADA: Inspectors fear repeat of listeriosis outbreak - (TheStar.com)
UK: Listeria warning over chilled foods - (Press Association)
Court: Thai PM should quit over TV show
USDA CONSUMER ALERT: Keeping food safe during an emergency - (USDA FSIS)