Top Stories
Bacteria, parasites raise concerns over pork safety
|
New research from Ohio State University found higher rates of bacteria in pigs raised in antibiotic-free settings compared with those in conventional pork facilities.
This comes as consumers are increasingly interested in pork raised without (or with reduced amounts of) antibiotics — and as scientists begin to detect antibiotic-resistant bacteria in pigs.. This comes as consumers are increasingly interested in pork raised without (or with reduced amounts of) antibiotics — and as scientists begin to detect antibiotic-resistant bacteria in pigs.
|
|
(c) 2008 by Knight Science
Journalism Fellowship Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
|
“Animal-friendly, outdoor farms tend to have a higher occurrence of Salmonella as well as higher rates of parasitic disease,” said Wondwossen Gebreyes, lead study author and associate professor of veterinary preventive medicine at OSU. While 39 percent of conventionally raised pigs were infected with Salmonella, 54 percent of pigs raised without antibiotics were. Pigs are usually raised in ventilated barns, with antimicrobial drugs added to their feed, but antibiotic-free pigs spend more time outdoors and only receive such drugs when they are obviously ill.
The ratio of pigs with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite was 6:1, affecting 1.1 percent of all conventionally raised pigs vs. 6.8 percent of the antibiotic-free. Most surprisingly, two of the 616 naturally raised pigs tested positive for Trichinella spiralis; researchers would have expected to detect no more than one case per 14,000 pigs.
If infected, symptoms of Trichinella would include diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue and fever, followed by headaches, cough, aching joints and muscle pains. However, neither bacteria nor parasites are thought to pose a human-health risk as long as the pork is thoroughly cooked. The USDA recommends that consumers cook fresh pork to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pigs in the OSU study — 292 from conventional farms, 324 from antibiotic-free — had blood samples drawn on farms in North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin. Infection rates on antibiotic-free farms were consistent in all three geographic regions. Still, Gebreyes avoids drawing policy conclusions: “Does having an antibiotic-free and animal-friendly environment cause the re-emergence of historically significant pathogens? I think that is an extremely important question for consumers, policymakers and researchers to consider.”
He adds: “The disadvantage is that it appears to create a favorable environment for strains of the bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.” Non-medicated pigs tend to get less-resistant bacteria (but higher rates of them). The danger of “superbugs” has come into sharper focus thanks to unrelated studies (no antibiotic-free swine) by University of Iowa researchers. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, they found antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains in 147 of the 299 pigs tested with nasal swabs.
The OSU study, just published in Foodborne Pathogens and Disease, was funded by a grant from the National Pork Board and is part of the university’s “Targeted Investment in Excellence” (TIE) program. A variety of OSU veterinary-medicine studies of swine and poultry production can be accessed at http://vet.osu.edu/2487.htm, including a 2006 study of “multidrug-resistant Salmonella in antimicrobial-free and conventional pig-production systems.”
Hunt for tomato source fuels debate over FDA expansion
Under scrutiny by Congress and aware of the need to better police the nation’s food supply, the FDA is taking the lessons of the current Salmonella tomato alert to heart. “We have to find ways to do this better,” says the FDA’s David Acheson, who was quoted in the Chicago Tribune. Tomatoes, which provide no labels or traceable history, have created a clue-free sense of déjà vu: the U.S. has been here before, hunting E-coli-infected spinach in 2006 after at least three people died.
The FDA’s most recent guidelines regarding tomatoes are posted at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/tomatqa2.html.
Food scientist among “coolest jobs”
A recent CNN.com/Living feature touted the virtues of nine job categories. Weighing in at No. 3 was “Food Scientist,” praised as a job offering unique challenges and respectable salaries (Career Builder cites $53,810 as a median salary based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data).
For more, visit: http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/06/02/cb.cool.pay.jobs
Research Briefs
Predictors of childhood obesity
USDA research now confirms what many parents and observers instinctively knew: that more TV equals more pounds around the waist, even in kids. For each additional hour watched per week, researchers found, the odds of a child’s becoming overweight increased 3 percent. Even more striking was the value of shared family meals, and the negative impact of missing such family interactions: for each family meal per week that a child does not experience, his/her odds of becoming obese increases an estimated 9 percent.
The study, whose formal title is “Ecological Predictors and Developmental Outcomes of Persistent Childhood Overweight,” resulted from a collaboration between the USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) and the University of Missouri at Columbia. Data from 8,000 children, Kindergarten through 3rd Grade, were studied to assess the influence of socioeconomic status, gender, race, and behavioral and environmental factors — all shown to have an impact.
To see the study, go to http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/ccr42/ccr42.pdf.
Pulsed UV light joins fight against E. coli on berries
Researchers K.L. Bialka and A. Demirciof the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Penn State University, have published results of experiments in which strawberries and raspberries were subjected to pulsed ultraviolet light to kill microbes.
Small fruits are increasingly implicated in outbreaks of foodborne illness in the U.S., of which fresh produce is now the second leading cause. Conventional methods of decontamination are not effective, so there is a need to evaluate new techniques. The results obtained in this study indicate that pulsed UV light has the potential to be used extensively to decontaminate such berries.
Pulsed light was applied to strawberries and raspberries at varying UV doses and times. On raspberries, maximum reductions of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella were 3.9 and 3.4 log10 CFU/g at 72 and 59.2 J/cm2 respectively. On the surfaces of strawberries, maximum reductions were 2.1 and 2.8 log10 CFU/g at 25.7 and 34.2 J/cm2 respectively. There was no observable damage to the fruits at these UV doses.
For more see: Journal of Food Science
Thai NSF office to safeguard Asian food, water quality
NSF International has opened a new regional headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, to house Asia-Pacific operations of its water and product certification division and NSF-CMi food safety division. The office will provide technical assistance, inspection and certification services to manufacturers and retailers, and is intended to service multinational corporations and small- to medium-sized enterprises in complying with regulations and best practices.
“Our Asian office in Thailand will expand the reach of our service portfolio to meet the increasing regional demand for brand protection through third-party auditing, testing and certification,” said Koen Bontinck, NSF vice president of International Operations. Pierre Sbabo, formerly with GE’s Water & Process Technologies, will serve as managing director of NSF Asia-Pacific.
Company News
Cargill debuts sea salt to meet growing demand
Cargill introduces a cut-sea salt product, harvested from the Pacific rather than from dried salt deposits or lakes, under the name Sea Salt Grinder. It is Cargill’s largest-sized sea salt product, about the size of a peppercorn, and is intended to mix well with other seasonings and provide maximum flavor. It contains no anticaking or free-flowing additives, and meets the requirements of the Food Chemical Codex.
Demand for sea salt is growing. The Innova New Product Database shows that over 800 products containing sea salt were introduced in 2007, a 16 percent increase over 2006. Cargill’s own research shows that over 80 percent of all home meal preparers are aware of sea salt, and about half use it. The company attributes much of this increased interest to consumers’ awareness of new cooking techniques and global cuisines, fueled in part by televised cooking and travel shows
Reorganization at MGP Ingredients
Among the senior executives assuming new positions in Atchison, Kan.-based MGP Ingredients, Inc., is Don Coffey, Ph.D., formerly vice president of innovation (since joining MGPI in July 2007) and now vice president of Ingredient Solutions. Dr. Coffey had spent most of his career at Dow Chemical Co. and, from 1985 to 1997, worked in Dow’s METHOCEL cellulose-derivatives business unit.
Tim Newkirk, president and chief executive officer of MGPI, said the transitions stem from the recognition that the company is shifting from a plant-driven model to one focused on product technology driven by customer demand. “Don Coffey’s background and expertise are very well-suited to facilitate our increased focus on commercializing … products and technologies,” says Newkirk. “His new role will be critical to our strategy of developing strong, innovation-based partnerships with our customers.”
Tyson sues USDA over antibiotic-free label
Tyson Foods, alleging it was treated “arbitrarily and capriciously” by federal regulators, has filed suit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Earlier in June the poultry company had been ordered to remove its “Raised Without Antibiotics” chicken label. According to the USDA, the label was inappropriate because Tyson used antibiotics in its hatcheries 2–3 days before chicks were hatched.
McDonald’s to reintroduce sliced tomatoes
The Associated Press has reported that global fast-food giant McDonald’s will begin serving sliced tomatoes again. A multistate Salmonella outbreak had led the restaurant chain to stop using them in its sandwiches for several days.
McDonald’s spokeswoman Danya Proud was quoted as saying the company will reintroduce sliced tomatoes in the next seven to 10 days. Federal authorities, who have not yet pinpointed the source of the outbreak, stated that parts of Florida and Mexico had been supplying most of the nation’s tomatoes when the outbreak began in April.
Regulatory News
The Codex Alimentarius Commission to hold it’s 31st Session
The Codex Alimentarius Commission, which holds its 31st Session from June 30 to July 4 in Rome, Italy, will consider standards, elect officers, and review its committee structure and reports, the Trust Fund, and the Codex Strategic Plan (2008 – 2013). Its agenda is posted at http://www.codexalimentarius.net/download/report/698/al3101Ae_web.pdf. The U.S. Codex Office, which receives support from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, can be contacted at USCodex@FSIS.USDA.gov.
Farm bill passes again, faces second veto and override
The Farm Bill was again passed by Congress (after a May 22 presidential veto) and, once more, faces a threatened veto. In view of the almost-certain second congressional override, USDA is moving forward with implementation. The $286 billion bill sent to President Bush now includes missing pages (accidentally omitted from the prior printing) authorizing U.S. food aid abroad during the global hunger crisis. Bush claims the bill is too generous with farm subsidies, but many House and Senate Republicans support it — including ranking Senate Agriculture Committee member Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), whose staff’s research shows the bill is actually less costly over 10 years than the previous farm bill.
Administration officials say further delay in getting food aid into law could delay shipments of aid to developing countries, where food shortages and starvation are on the rise. According to Stephen Driesler, deputy assistant administrator for legislative and public affairs at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), “we are going to start to see real problems” if food-aid legislation doesn’t take effect soon. The bill also pays for domestic nutrition programs such as food stamps, which would see increases of around $1 billion a year, and allocates almost $30 billion for farmers to idle their land or to pay for other environmental programs.
IFT & Meeting News
IFT Task Force on Strategic Plan Implementation
The Task Force on Strategic Plan Implementation (TFSPI) has been asked to advise the Board of Directors on how to best make the IFT strategic plan the organizational driver and to align IFT’s volunteer resources with the IFT strategic plan. The task force’s goal is to increase member participation and involvement in meaningful volunteer experiences.
Why is this important for IFT?
- To make sure that our efforts are focused on the priorities identified in the strategic plan.
- The nature of volunteerism is changing – according to research from Independent Sector, people have less time to volunteer, are less willing to make long-term volunteer commitments, and desire to participate in activities that are meaningful and have a direct impact on society and the greater good.
- In professional societies, individuals are looking for volunteer experiences that are strategic in nature/outcome oriented, will help advance the profession, and enable them to mentor future leaders.
The task force will present its report to the Board of Directors this month, and, if approved, the recommendations will be implemented for fiscal year 2008-09. To view the task force’s report, please visit http://members.ift.org/IFT/Communities. To provide your feedback on the report, please access this quick online survey.
If you are interested in volunteering to serve on a future volunteer workgroup, please email Erin Carter at ecarter@ift.org. A more formal call for volunteers will be issued over the coming weeks.
IFT member receives ASM award
The 2008 American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Gen-Probe Joseph Award was presented to Bala Swaminathan, vice president for Technical and Business Development at Atlanta-based IHRC, Inc. This award, which recognizes a microbiologist demonstrating exemplary leadership and service in public health, was presented at the 108th ASM General Meeting in Boston, Mass., earlier this month.
Dr. Swaminathan was instrumental in developing PulseNet, a molecular subtyping-based network to detect outbreaks involving foodborne pathogens. He is also known as the author of over 120 publications, and for his study of the foodborne disease potential of Listeria monocytogenes.
Not going to IFT’s Annual Meeting in New Orleans?
You can still participate in sessions by registering for live webcasts, straight from the meeting.
Nanoscale Science for Food: A Primer
June 30, 2008, 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. CST
Discoveries in nanotechnology affect a wide range of applications in the food industry including food safety, food processing, product and ingredient development, and food packaging.
Join Dr. Hongda Chen, Leader for Bioprocess Engineering and Nanotechnology at USDA Cooperative State Research, Education & Extension Service, and Drs. Rickey Yada and Bernadene Magnuson, of the University of Guelph and Cantox Health Sciences respectively, as they discuss the issues and challenges for nanoscale science in food applications. This symposium will provide you with an overview of nanotechnology and offer information pertinent to applications in foods including potential benefits and risks.
Sustainability Through Carbon Footprinting
July 1, 2008, 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. CST
Today, many companies in the industry and beyond are seeking to understand the actual greenhouse gas impact from their operations and supply chain so that they can begin to manage and reduce their footprint. Learn what matters most in collecting data for the greenhouse gas emissions footprint, and how to ensure that the results are actionable.
Interact live with Stacey Smith, Director of Food and Agriculture at Business for Social Responsibility who will discuss sustainability within the food and beverage industry. Additionally, Ellen Feeney of WhiteWave Foods and Kyle Tanger of Clear Carbon Consulting will explore the process and pitfalls of collecting data for GHG footprint as well as mitigating the carbon impacts of food and agriculture.
These webcasts are open to all by registering and participating live from your location. Visit ift.org/knowledge for more information. When registering, please enter this code: 0608EM1223
Short courses offer focused food science education
Is your organization able to integrate food science basics with culinary arts, or at least identify the resources that help you stay current on culinary trends? Are you working toward developing a plan to help prevent recalls? Are you new to food safety but required to execute food safety regulations? Are the products your company produces in compliance with all the labeling requirements?
IFT’s Pre-Annual Meeting Short Courses are two-day, interactive, targeted education courses will help you discover the latest best practices, gain insight and perspective from industry experts, and share practical know-how with your peers.
- Recalls: Best Practices in Prevention, Management, and Crisis Communications
- Food Safety for the Non-Food Scientist
- Labeling Requirements and Implications for Foods Marketed in the U.S.
- Food Science for the Non-Food Scientist
- Microencapsulation in Food Applications
- Ingredient Applications for Product Innovation and Consumer Health
- Concept to Commercialization – Blending Culinary Arts & Food Science
- Sensory and Consumer Research in Food Product Development
For more information, visit ift.org/IFT08. When registering, please enter this code: 0608EM1224
|
