This is good (https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/personalfinance/tesco-to-scrap-best-before-dates-on-fruit-and-vegetables/ar-AAxArXy?ocid=spartanntp ); maybe he other retailers will follow and reduce the UK’s food waste. My previous blog explores this a little more.Read More →
New Zealand media are reporting an outbreak of botulism in a family eating wild boar meat. Pig hunting is quite popular and game can be left for periods of time before being taken out of the bush. It does seem a bit odd though. Unlike what is stated in the press report the toxins are not very resistant to heat, and the incubation period is usually more than 12 hours, so keeling over mid-consumption unlikely. However, few details are provided, and we await the results of tests. Looks more like a chemical rather than biological problem? UPDATE: The family seem to be recovering but thereRead More →
Have a look here for this article which looks at why food testing for bacterial pathogens is such an involved process. A pdf of the article can be found on my Researchgate page.Read More →
The FSA has just produced some information on behavioural aspects of the transmission of Norovirus. From their website: “The literature review identified 5 strategies for controlling norovirus: Personal hygiene Food handling Washing and cooking food Surface and uniform cleaning Fitness to work Visits to food catering establishments involved in-depth interviews, surveys, and structured environmental and behavioural observations. Strongest evidence was found for: inadequate hand washing; not washing hands before gloving; using bare hands when preparing food; not regularly changing gloves; food handlers instead of trained staff cleaning areas where people vomited; not washing uniform correctly; and returning to work too early after being ill. DataRead More →
Not sure I’d agree with this list . Eggs are not a problem in the UK and, in my opinion, steak is best rare. Just not hamburger. See the numpty mistake in the photo of “raw sprouts” (of the Brussels kind).Read More →
Something unusual with 650 sick. Here’s the linkRead More →
The story can be found here. The diversity of foods subject to recalls because of contamination by this bacterium increases. What happened to the Codex criteria dividing foods into those that do and do not allow growth?Read More →