Chlorine dioxide gas may be an effective tool for combating Salmonella on sprouts, according to a new study. Researchers at Rutgers University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have found that
Continue Reading Study: Chlorine Dioxide Gas Offers Hope for Sprout Sanitation
Gretchen Goetz
Gretchen is a Seattle-based reporter covering issues ranging from child nutrition to local agriculture to foodborne illness outbreaks and global food safety issues. In June of 2011 she reported from Hamburg on the European E. coli outbreak. Gretchen graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in English and French before moving to the pacific northwest. She delved into the world of food safety after being a lifelong foodie in order to find out what issues compromise the security of her favorite pastime — eating, and what can be done about them. Gretchen is excited to be part of the diverse and passionate Food Safety News team.
Chicken ‘Juice’ Helps Campylobacter Thrive in Kitchens, Study Finds
The liquid that comes off of a defrosting chicken provides a safe harbor for Campylobacter, according to a new study. Chicken “juice” from a defrosted bird turns a surface into a protein-rich environment in which…
Continue Reading Chicken ‘Juice’ Helps Campylobacter Thrive in Kitchens, Study Finds
Pharmacopeial Convention Publishes Guidance for Combatting Food Fraud
The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) Monday released a comprehensive plan to combat food fraud for monetary gain. The USP said the new guidance is designed to help food manufacturers and regulators pinpoint which food ingredients…
Continue Reading Pharmacopeial Convention Publishes Guidance for Combatting Food Fraud
GAO Finds Fault With Government Tests for Pesticide Residues
Government agencies in charge of monitoring food for pesticide residues must step up their testing programs, said the Government Accountability Office in a new report. While data collected by these agencies has shown low levels…
Continue Reading GAO Finds Fault With Government Tests for Pesticide Residues
Nonprofits Sue FDA Claiming Agency Hasn’t Proven Safety of Animal Growth Drug
A trio of food safety and environmental advocacy groups Thursday filed suit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, saying the agency has not sufficiently proven that ractopamine, a drug fed to pigs, cattle and …
Continue Reading Nonprofits Sue FDA Claiming Agency Hasn’t Proven Safety of Animal Growth Drug
Berkeley Puts First Soda Tax on the Books
The city of Berkeley, CA became the first municipality in the country to approve a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages Tuesday. Measure D, a proposal to levy a 1-cent-per-ounce tax on sugary drinks and syrups, passed…
Continue Reading Berkeley Puts First Soda Tax on the Books
FDA Establishes Definition of 'Gluten-Free' for Food Labels
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday issued a set of standards for food manufacturers wishing to label a product “gluten-free.” The agency set a limit of 20 parts per million for the amount…
Continue Reading FDA Establishes Definition of 'Gluten-Free' for Food Labels
Preventive Controls: Daunting for Some, Standard Procedure for Seafood
The concept of “preventive controls” is an anxiety-producing one for many FDA-regulated food companies right now as the agency prepares to issue a final rule that will make hazard-prevention measures mandatory for processing facilities. As …
Continue Reading Preventive Controls: Daunting for Some, Standard Procedure for Seafood
Cyclospora Case Count Rises to 418
At least 418 people in 16 states are now known to have been sickened with cyclospora infections between mid-June and mid-July, according to updated numbers from state health departments as of the end of the…
Continue Reading Cyclospora Case Count Rises to 418
FDA Lifts Ban on Mexican Cucumbers Linked to 2013 Salmonella Outbreak
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will no longer detain cucumbers from the Mexican growers whose products were linked to an outbreak of Salmonella earlier this year. The agency removed the two cucumber suppliers from…
Continue Reading FDA Lifts Ban on Mexican Cucumbers Linked to 2013 Salmonella Outbreak