Archive for March, 2010

Irradiation pitched as peach crop defense

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

By Dan Chapman
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Flies come and flies go, but one particularly pernicious bug may one day imperil Georgia’s big-dollar peach and blueberry crops.

Promising irradiation technology developed by an Atlanta company, though, could zap the fly all the way back to Asia.

Tuesday, U.S. and Georgia business and agriculture officials met here to discuss a $250,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded study on irradiation’s impact on the state’s peach and blueberry crops.
(more…)

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ScanTech Sciences Presents at Lockheed Martin-sponsored Investor Showcase

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

Company Unveils Electronic Cold-pasteurization Technology
Arlington, TX – March 22, 2010 – ScanTech Sciences, a developer of advanced food-treatment systems, was selected as a top Texas Emerging Technology Fund presenter this year at WBTshowcase (World’s Best Technologies).

The event, held during the week of March 15 in Arlington, TX, provides commercial market exposure to innovative technology firms from around the world. Attending this year’s event, which was sponsored by Lockheed Martin, were venture capitalists and other investors from Silicon Valley to New York.
(more…)

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FDA: Spice Industry Must Do More to Prevent Food Contamination

Monday, March 15th, 2010

Here’s one to watch: According to The Washington Post, the FDA said the government wants the spice industry to do more to prevent food contamination. That would involve using several treatment methods, including irradiation.

This news comes after a string of salmonella illnesses linked to black and red pepper—and after 16 U.S. recalls since 2001 of tainted spices.

Legislation is pending in the Senate that would require food companies to take more steps to avoid contamination. The measure would also mandate that importers verify the safety of foreign suppliers and imported foods. The House overwhelmingly approved the bill last year, according to the Post.

For the full story, go to

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/13/AR2010031301111.html

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Posted in Announcements, Starn's Report | No Comments »

Could Your Gravy Mix Be Contaminated With Salmonella?

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

A massive product recall of a popular flavor enhancer, and the foods it eventually goes into, is likely, according to a story I read today in Food Quality News.

The FDA says salmonella was recently discovered in “hydrolyzed vegetable protein” produced by a company called Basic Food Flavors. The story says officials discovered the contaminate in the company’s Las Vegas manufacturing facility.

Fifty-six products, from bouillon to gravy mix, have already been affected. In a conference call, an FDA official said he is unsure of how many more products will be harmed but noted that the recall will potentially be “very large.”

For more info, check out http://tinyurl.com/yj4qjr3.

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Posted in Recalls, Starn's Report | No Comments »