Food supply chain safety

CBP Creates New Position to Protect U.S. Agriculture
In the face of an avalanche of unsafe food stuffs being imported from China, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) creates a new position — Deputy Executive Director for Agriculture Operational Oversight — and appoints Kevin Harriger to the post
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China worries about outbreaks of bird flu over winter and spring
Two members of the same family are infected with the H5N1 strain of bird flu in the first case in China since June; China has the world’s biggest poultry population and millions of backyard birds, and the authorities are worried
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Growing concerns about Chinese apple juice imports
In 1996, the United States imported 4.5 million gallons of apple juice concentrate from China; in 2005, 249.54 million gallons were imported; there is growing concern about what goes into these concentrates
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New U.S.-China trade agreement calls for tighter product safety measures
In 2007, $2 trillion worth of goods will be delivered into the U.S. by more than 825,000 importers; experts say the amount of imported goods will triple by 2015; next week the U.S. and China will sign trade agreements aiming to ensure enhanced safety of imported food, drugs, and devices; critics say these agreements do not go far enough
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Foot-and-mouth disease could cost Kansas nearly a billion dollars
Researchers say that the losses for the Kansas economy from a large-scale foot-and-mouth outbreak could reach a billion dollars
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Canadians form research consortium for bioactive paper
Initiative leverages advances in biochemistry with current paper-production processes; researchers aim for food packaging capable of indicating contamination
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Rope offers low-tech solution to E. coli testing problems
Alberta scientists allow cattle a good chew the night before slaughter; on-site lab then tests the saliva for signs of infection
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U.K. researchers detail genome of C. botulinum
Effort helps explains the genetic differences between the various types of clostridia
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Greater role for private industry in foreign food safety
Worries about terrorism notwithstanding, the number of imported food inspectors at U.S. seaports continues to decline; private industry may have to pick up the slack
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Color-changing material indicates chemical weapons exposure
Tiny polymer spheres are melted into a shimmery sheet; technology could have appplications in food safety and anti-counterfeiting efforts
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NASA tests space-bound rapid bacteria assay
Trips to Mars may expose astronauts and their equipment to dangerous bacteria and fungi
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Missouri researcher develops advanced juice-testing technique
Rapid test for Alicyclobacillus should improve exports to Japan; DNA sequencing is coupled with mid-infrared spectroscopy
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FDA rejects notion of food oversight consolidation
David Acheson says no to the idea of creating a new agency or consolidating operations at USDA
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FDA considers testing regime for E. coli vaccines
Canada’s Bioniche Life Sciences has a running start in Canada, but questions remain about who will pay the bill
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Virginia prepares for Food Security Summit
Speakers will include experts on sustainability, food-borne microbes, food distribution, hunger policy, and government regulations
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