|
In
just over six weeks, our inaugural Latin American Symposium on Food
Safety will take place in Campinas, Brazil, in cooperation with Brazil
Association for Food Protection (BAFP) and the International Commission
on the Microbiological Specification of Foods (ICMSF). We invite you to
join us May 26–28 as we explore the theme of "Microbial Food Safety
from Primary Production to Consumption: Are We Headed in the Right
Direction?" through insightful panels, conferences, and poster
sessions. Click on the symposium logo to learn more about this exciting
opportunity.
IAFP Updates
Association Welcomes New Executive Board Secretary
Thank you to our Members who participated in our first online election
process for IAFP's 2008–2009 Executive Board Secretary. Isabel Walls,
Senior Advisor with USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service, will begin her
five-year service to the Board following the 95th Annual Meeting in
August.
Registration Opens for IAFP 2008
We are pleased to announce the opening of registration for IAFP 2008,
the Association's 95th Annual Meeting, to be held August 3–6 in
Columbus, Ohio. We invite you to check out our Web site today for the
most current information and the link to Attendee Registration.
[Link to IAFP 2008]
Featured Abstract from Journal of Food Protection
"Growth and Toxin Production of Proteolytic Clostridium botulinum
in Aseptically Steamed Rice Products at pH 4.6 to 6.8, Packed under
Modified Atmosphere, Using a Deoxidant Pack" was the most widely-read
article in the March issue. Read the abstract here.
[Link to abstract]
April Food Protection Trends: Abstracts and Monthly Columns by IAFP President and Executive Director
Refrigerated and frozen seafood is examined for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes;
a study evaluates pre- and post-training food safety knowledge in
restaurant employees; Gary Acuff reflects on Columbus and the benefits
of the Annual Meeting being held in a new city each year, and describes
the Program Committee's instrumental efforts in the planning process;
David Tharp tells the story of the Association's fast-moving
international efforts, and their impact on food safety education around
the globe.
[Link to FPT]
Food Safety News
Canada Investigating MRSA in Pork Products
The first confirmed report of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) in retail meat in North America has Canadian researchers at work
determining whether people who handle the meat are at risk of being
colonized.
[Link to article]
LGMA Issues First Status Report
Formed in the spring of
2007, the California Leafy Greens Handler Marketing Agreement (LGMA) in
February announced the issue of its first report on audit findings and
other food safety activities from July through December.
[Link to LGMA]
Vaccine Technology Aims to Decrease E. coli Shedding in Beef Cattle
In an effort to increase the safety of beef products, university
researchers from Kansas State and West Texas A&M are studying
Siderophore receptor and porin (SRP) technology for its efficacy in
reducing the number of super shedder cattle, which shed E. coli in high concentrations.
[Link to article]
Dairy Wastewater a Possible Culprit in Lettuce Contamination
A report released by the California Department of Public Health and the
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) examines a 2006 outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 from lettuce, suggesting its exposure to contaminated irrigation water from a nearby dairy operation.
[Link to article]
HIV and Food Poisoning Can Be a Lethal Combination
Researchers from the University of California-Davis have discovered the immune response defect in the gut that allows Salmonella to more easily cross the gut mucosa, enter the bloodstream, and infect other organs in AIDS patients.
[Link to article]
Regulatory Updates
FDA's Strategic Plan Focuses on Four Goals
A February 29 Consumer Update from the US Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) outlines the four goals of its strategic plan for promoting and
protecting the public health.
[Link to FDA]
Research & Reports
US Travel: Risk Factor for Hepatitis A in Canadians?
An analysis of
age-structured compartmental models for hepatitis A transmission and
vaccination suggests that travel to the US may constitute a source of
low to moderate risk for Canadians.
[Link to abstract]
EFSA Examines Impact of Animal Feeding Trials on GMOs
A self-task report from
the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) assesses the use of animal
feeding trials in the safety evaluation of GM plants and derived food
and feed.
[Link to EFSA]
Certain E. coli Lineages Appear to Be More Virulent for Humans
A study out of Michigan State University suggests that genetic changes in E. coli O157:H7 strains have led to an emergent subpopulation of strains with increased virulence.
[Link to abstract]
Report Explores Microbial World
A pdf download of
"Uncharted Microbial World: Microbes and Their Activities in the
Environment" is available from this page of the American Society for
Microbiology (ASM) Web site.
[Link to ASM]
Surveillance and Outbreaks in EU and EFTA Countries
This Eurosurveillance
report discusses cases of foodborne and waterborne illnesses in
countries of the European Union (EU) and European Fair Trade
Association (EFTA) in the third quarter of 2007.
[Link to report]
Tracing the Life Cycle of Salmonella Enteritidis
Researchers at Sichuan
Agricultural University in China use a serovar specific real-time
polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to study Salmonella Enteritidis in the internal organs of mice.
[Link to study]
Report Critiques Inspection of Fresh Spinach
The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform recently issued this 12-page report on "FDA and Fresh Spinach Safety."
[Link to PDF]
FAO/WHO Studies Impact of Animal Feed on Food Safety
The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and
World Health Organization (WHO) have published this 75-page report from
an expert meeting on "Animal Feed Impact on Food Safety."
[Link to PDF]
Items of Interest
Salmonella in Pigs: EFSA Calls for Data
Through April 14, to form an opinion on its "Quantitative Microbiological Risk Assessment on Salmonella
in slaughter and breeder pigs," the European Food Safety Authority
(EFSA) is accepting data that fills specific data gaps along the
farm-to-consumption chain.
[Link to EFSA]
Comments or suggestions for IAFP Report may be sent to report@foodprotection.org, or directly to the Contents Editor, Dr. Jeff Farber, Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Health Canada. E-mail jeff_farber@hc-sc.gc.ca
Thank You to Our Contributors
Logos: LGMA
Photos: USDA/ARS, CDC/PHIL
Publication Images: FDA
For employers. For job seekers. Find who's right for You.
| 
