The Refrigerator as a Source of Food Waste - It is More than Code Dating

A study from THE* Ohio State University discusses food waste, specifically associated with items tossed from the refrigerator.  They find that there are a number of factors that lead to food waste..one is making a guess about the safety and quality of the product  in the refrigerator.  Other factors include "refrigerator cleaning frequency, grocery shopping duration and frequently checking nutrition labels are among food-related routines that affect the utilization of refrigerated food. Additionally, “best by”, “use by” and ambiguous date labeling significantly decrease the odds that food items are fully utilized."

Of course there is a focus back on label dating, "Our results suggest that strategies to reduce food waste in the U.S. should include limiting and standardizing the number of phrases used on date labels, and education campaigns to help consumers better understand the physical signs of food safety and quality,” Davenport said."

While the authors suggest there should be more attention on helping consumers make better decisions on whether food is bad or good, this is not always easy even for food professionals.  There are many unknowns as to a particular food in a given refrigerated that impact whether it is good or bad (from a quality more than safety standpoint...for the most part).  What is the temperature of the person's refrigerator? How long has it been open?  How many times has it been taken outside of the refrigerator and for what length of time?  Did anyone contaminate the product when open...with spoilage or pathogenic bacteria?  Is the product subject to oxidative rancidity? 

A stated date code is fine for closed product, but once open...the conditions in which the the product has been exposed have more of an impact.   That is, the exposure to bacteria, oxygen, etc.  At the very least, there will be increased potential for flavor loss over time.

Plus there are so many different items to have to make decisions about...leftover meatballs, jar of pickles, six jars of salad dressing, milk, yogurt, a dozen different condiments, etc, etc, etc.  And we have no clue how long it has been open.    In the end, we are forced to do that occasional mass eviction. 

Guilting people into not throwing food out is not necessarily the answer.  Rather, the key is buying and using what you will use in a short period of time.  Minimize the number of items and rotate them to use oldest first.

Unfortunately, we often buy and store way more than will be eaten in a short time.  We buy stuff that is 'meh' with regard to flavor, so it sits in the fridge.  Bottles come in unit sizes that are way more than we will use within a month or two. 

And as big as an issue of food waste is the packaging material that will end up in a landfill and with plastic, be there for the millennium.

*Trademark applied.

Resources, Conservation and Recycling
Volume 150, November 2019, 104440
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344919303350
Food-related routines, product characteristics, and household food waste in the United States: A refrigerator-based pilot study
Megan L. Davenport a, Danyi Qi b, Brian E. Roe a

Increased Exposure to Microbes in Air Reduces Risk of Asthma in Children

This is more evidence on the importance of exposure to the environment for children...in this case, Finnish researchers found that children who were exposed to a broader range of microbes in the air were less likely to develop asthma.  Further they "showed that farm-like microbiota of the child’s home protected children from asthma also in urban homes."  (I guess I should better appreciate that smell wafting over from the campus cow barns)

File this under - what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.


FIHW
https://thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/-/microbiota-in-home-indoor-air-may-protect-children-from-asthma-how-to-bring-protecting-microbiota-into-children-s-everyday-lives
Microbiota in home indoor air may protect children from asthma – how to bring protecting microbiota into children’s everyday lives? 

Spain - Large Listeria Outbreak Affect 150, Linked to Fully Cooked Meat Product

The largest-ever Listeria outbreak in Spain as affected as many as 150 with one death so far.  The outbreak has been linked to a processed pork plant located in the southern region of Andlusia which manufacturers carne mechada, a pre-cooked meat.  The facility has recalled all product manufactured in the suspect facility.  There is controversy over why it took so long for action where 'it' was first detected on August 5th but took until the 15th of August to issue the alert.

Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-spain-listeria/spain-issues-international-alert-as-listeria-cases-hit-150-idUSKCN1VB1Z0
Spain issues international alert as listeria cases hit 150

CDC MMWR - New Strain of Antibiotic Resistant Salmonella Found in Mexican Cheese and TX Beef

In this week's Morbidly and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) from the CDC, a new strain of Salmonella is reported on.  This strain has decreased susceptibility to azithromycin, a normally recommend oral antibiotic for Salmonella infection.  According to the CDC report, from " June 2018–March 2019, an outbreak caused by multidrug-resistant Salmonella Newport with decreased susceptibility to azithromycin led to 255 infections and 60 hospitalizations. Infections were linked to Mexican-style soft cheese obtained in Mexico and beef obtained in the United States."

The strain had been detected in soft cheese from Mexico as well as in steer slaughtered in Texas as well as beef.  "The genetic similarity between isolates from beef in Mexico, beef in the United States, and a steer in the United States strongly suggests that the outbreak strain is present in cattle in both countries."

"To prevent infection, consumers should avoid eating soft cheese that could be made with unpasteurized milk, and when preparing beef they should use a thermometer to ensure appropriate cooking temperatures are reached: 145°F (62.8°C) for steaks and roasts followed by a 3-minute rest time, and 160°F (71.1°C) for ground beef or hamburgers."  That means you need to use a thermometer.

CDC MMWR

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6833a1.htm
Outbreak of Salmonella Newport Infections with Decreased Susceptibility to Azithromycin Linked to Beef Obtained in the United States and Soft Cheese Obtained in Mexico — United States, 2018–2019

Time to Get Tough on In-Store Micturition and Other Forms of Intentional Contamination

What is up with this....people intentionally contaminating food?  We have this guy who relieved himself on Starbucks material in a Target store, the lady who did her business on a bag of potatoes, and people licking ice cream and putting it back in the display.   A guy just got five years for falsifying results on testing, but what about these people who intentionally tamper with food?

Fox News
https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/man-urinates-starbucks-cups-coffee-police
Man urinates on Starbucks cups, coffee filters, and in employee sink before fleeing the store, police say

CDC Reports Increasing Number of Hepatitis A Cases Across Country

Hepatitis A viral infection has been on the upswing across the country.  Since March of 2016, there have been 24,280 cases reported with 14525 hospitalizations and 236 deaths.  The numbers have been especially high in those who are homeless/have unstable housing or those using drugs.  Pennsylvania has had 376 of those cases while Ohio has had 3244 cases.

This increased level can put a lot of pressure on the foodservice sector, especially in the larger cities where establishments may be more likely to hire those those considered high risk for contracting the illness or have more interaction.

https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/outbreaks/2017March-HepatitisA.htm
Widespread outbreaks of hepatitis A across the United States
Since March 2017, CDC’s Division of Viral Hepatitis (DVH) has been assisting multiple state and local health departments with hepatitis A outbreaks, spread through person-to-person contact.

At a Glance
Since the outbreaks were first identified in 2016, 29 states have publicly reported the following as of August 16, 2019

• Cases: 24,280
• Hospitalizations: 14,525 (60%)
• Deaths: 236

This Week in Allergen Related Recalls for Week Ending August 24, 2019

Reaction Leads to Recall of Cookies Due to Undeclared Egg - Whole Foods is recalling "Decorated Red Apple Cookies” are being recalled because they may contain undeclared egg.  One allergic reaction has been reported to date; the recall was initiated after a customer notified the store. All affected product has been removed from store shelves.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/allergy-alert-undeclared-egg-decorated-red-apple-cookies-issued-southern-pacific-whole-foods-market
Allergy Alert for Undeclared Egg in “Decorated Red Apple Cookies” Issued by Southern Pacific Whole Foods Market Stores
Summary
Company Announcement Date: August 22, 2019
FDA Publish Date: August 22, 2019
Product Type:Food & Beverages  Bakery Product/Mix
Reason for Announcement: Undeclared Egg
Company Name:Whole Foods Market Stores
Brand Name: Whole Foods Market
Product Description:  Iced Sugar Cookies

GA Establishment Recalls RTE Diced Chicken Linked to Listeria Outbreak in Canada

Tip Top Poultry, Inc., a Rockmart, Ga. establishment, is recalling approximately 135,810 pounds of fully cooked  frozen, diced, and mechanically separated ready-to-eat chicken products after it was s discovered on August 17, 2019, by Canadian Food Inspection Agency that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes.  The Canadian buyer recalled their Rosemount branded product on August 19th.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2019/recall-085-2019-release
Tip Top Poultry, Inc. Recalls Fully Cooked Poultry Products due to Possible Listeria Contamination 
Class I Recall 
085-2019 
Health Risk:High 
Aug 20, 2019

Caviar Processor Expands Recall

A Washington State firm is expanding its recall of canned caviar after Canadian authorities found additional lot samples were low in salt.  The original recall was posted on August 15th.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/voluntarily-recalls-grained-salmon-caviar-95g-because-possible-health-risk
Voluntarily Recalls Grained Salmon Caviar 95g Because of Possible Health Risk

Summary

Company Announcement Date: August 21, 2019

FDA Publish Date:August 21, 2019 

Product Type:Food & Beverages 

Reason for Announcement: Potential Clostridium botulinum contamination

Company Name: AWERS, Inc.

Brand Name: AWERS

Product Description: Grained Salmon Caviar