Food Safety News Items for 5/27/11

USDA Revises Recommended Cooking Temperature for All Whole Cuts of Meat, Including Pork, to 145 °F - while foodservice (FDA regulated) has been at 145ºF, USDA just lowered the consumer recommended temperature to 145ºF (from 160ºF). However, USDA also recommends a 3 minute hold time after cooking.http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_052411_01/index.asp

Cucumbers May Be Culprit in Massive E. coli Outbreak in Germany- This strain, E. coli O104:H4 (not O157:H7) has caused over 200 cases of HUS in Europe with at least 2 deaths . It is believed that these organic cucumbers were fertilized with improperly treated manure. Demonstrates the importance of following GAP principles.
http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2011/05/cucumbers-may-be-culprit-in-mass.html

USDA Urged to Prohibit Antibiotic-Resistant Salmonella in Ground Meat and Poultry – a consumer group is pushing to have USDA prohibit antibiotic resistant strains of Salmonella. This action is controversial in that it would add a huge burden for USDA to test and for companies to monitor, considering the low level of issues we have seen. A broad scale risk assessment should be first completed.http://www.cspinet.org/new/201105251.html


A cluster of Listeria monocytogenes infections in hospitalized adults, Midlands, England, February 2011 – Prepackaged sandwiches made by an outside purveyor the likely cause, however the investigation found issues within the hospital kitchen as well.Eurosurveillance, Volume 16, Issue 20, 19 May 2011


Studies Focus on Feed Ingredient's Effects on Levels of E. coli O157:H7 in Cattle – Study that shows a higher prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in cattle fed with distillers grain in the feed compared to those fed without distillers grain. More work is needed to see if the distillers grain included in the feed is having any selective properties. Part of the push to discover and eliminate this organism upstream in the food chain.http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2011/110519.htm

Spuds, on the Verge of Being Expelled, Start a Food Fight in the Cafeteria – Taking potatoes away from kids? So on empty stomachs, kids can go home and eat candy and drink soda.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748704810504576305250845743700.html

USDA Approves LISTEX as Processing Aid Against Listeria – For those who do not live in Geekdom, this product is a phage,( or virus that attacks bacteria), that is added to food products to kill Listeria. Phage are very specific to their host, in this case, Listeria. I will be interested to see how consumers respond when they find out that companies are treating their food products with ‘viruses’.http://biuroprasowe.netpr.pl/pr/186367/usda-approves-listex-as-processing-aid-against-listeria