Food Safety
Disease Outbreaks Tied to Imported Foods Increasing according to the CDC
By Dr. Mercola
The more steps your food goes through before it reaches your plate, the greater your chances of contamination becomes.
If you are able to get your food locally, directly from the field or after harvest, such as directly from a farmer or farmer’s market, you knock out numerous routes that could expose your food to contamination.
So it is not surprising that new research released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that foodborne disease outbreaks linked to imported foods are on the rise.
As Food Imports Rise, so do Foodborne Disease Outbreaks
Foodborne disease outbreaks linked to imported foods rose in both 2009 and 2010 (data for 2011 is still being analyzed).
In all, 39 outbreaks and 2,348 illnesses were linked to imported foods from 15 countries.
However, nearly half of the outbreaks occurred in 2009 and 2010 …
Most of the outbreaks were due to fish (17 outbreaks) and spices (particularly fresh or dried peppers), which are also among the most commonly imported foods.
For instance, data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Economic Research Service (ERS) reveals that 85 percent of seafood eaten by Americans is imported! As rates of food imports rise (ERS data shows that U.S. food import has nearly doubled from 1998 to 2007), it’s likely that disease outbreaks will become increasingly common. As it is, the numbers are thought to be a serious underestimate, as food-borne disease outbreaks are commonly under-reported.
IOM: FDA’s Inspection Approach to Imports is ‘Impractical’
by Helena Bottemiller
An increasing portion of the food on our plate is coming from beyond our borders, but how do we know that it’s safe? A new study by the Institute of Medicine looks at the “daunting” task of ensuring safe food across the globe and comes to the conclusion that it’s going to take lot more than random, infrequent inspections.
The flood of imported food and drugs is putting a lot of stress on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the agency charged with overseeing the safety of food, drugs, cosmetics and medical devices. The volume of imported FDA-regulated products has tripled over the last decade, increasing by 13 percent each year since 2002. Now an estimated 40 percent of fruits and nuts and 85 percent of seafood consumed in the United States is imported.
The IOM suggests that FDA’s traditional method of trying to keep a handle on food and product safety by making periodic inspections is impractical because 20 million types of FDA-regulated foods arrive from more than 300,000 factories in 150 different countries.
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Recalls
Salmonella Concern Spurs Tahini Recall in Canada
By News Desk
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume Ayyam Zaman brand Extra Fine Tahina it may be contaminated with Salmonella.There have been no reported illnesses.The affected product, Ayyam Zaman brand Extra Fine Tahina, is sold…
Cryptosporidium Spurs Parsley Recall in Canada
By News Desk
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume Boskovich brand fresh parsley imported from the U.S. because it may contain Cryptosporidium.There have been no reported illnesses.The affected product was sold only on March 19, 2012…
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Allergen Alert
Allergen Alert: Coconut Candy With Milk
By News Desk
Fung Shing International Corp. of Maspeth, NY, is recalling Star Light Coconut Candy because it contains milk not declared on the label.People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions…
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Articles of Interest
Tiny Turtles Poison 72 in 17 States With Salmonella
By Mary Rothschild
Drop that tiny turtle. Now please wash your hands.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting more cases of vomiting and diarrhea from a multistate outbreak of Salmonella poisoning caused by handling small pet turtles.In three overlapping outbreaks, at…
Pitcher Strains Oblique Muscle From Severe Vomiting
By News Desk
Food poisoning is bad when it causes vomiting so severe that it strains an oblique muscle.The Colorado Rockies say that is why 28-year old Josh Outman has been placed on the 15-day disabled list (DL), meaning he will not join…
Researchers Find Banned Antibiotics in Feather Meal
Study finds flouroquinolones, raising questions about illegal usage
by Helena Bottemiller
New research raises questions about whether poultry producers might still be using an antibiotic that was banned in 2005 after being linked to increasing antibiotic resistance.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future (CLF) and Arizona State University tested feather meal — a byproduct made of ground-up poultry feathers commonly added to chicken, swine, cattle and fish feed — and found a surprising variety of drug residues, including fluoroquinolones, a class of antibiotics critical for fighting infections in humans.
The findings surprised scientists because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the class of drugs, which includes cipro, in poultry production in 2005 in response to rising fluoroquinolone resistance among Campylobacter bacteria, a leading cause of foodborne illness.
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