Food supply chain safety

Agriculture Department to focus inspections on chronic violators
New risk-based approach will consider type of meat being processed, plant size, and history of food safety violations; move comes in response to recent E. coli outbreaks; daily inspections will continue
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Scripps researchers identify botulism-fighting molecules
One compound extends survival time by thirty-six percent; sixteen percent of mice treated with the second molecule survived with no obvious symptoms
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DHS to consolidate Centers of Excellence program
Three centers focussing on biological and chemical weapons will merge; four new centers to come on line; decision prompted by congressional criticism and threatened budget cuts
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Polonium poisoning creates a market need for treatment
Few treatments exists for curing alpha particle damage; Litvinenko’s death sends companies scrambling; Ovation Pharmaceuticals, Biolabs Protectan, and Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals all make claims
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Raman spectroscopy used to identify counterfeit drugs
Breakthrough approach can identify fakes while inside their packaging; researchers at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory adjust the collection point a few millimeters in front of the laser signal; tests on paracetamol and ibuprofen prove the concept
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E. coli able to detect arsenic
From foe to friend, mankind’s enemy lends a hand in the fight against arsenic poisoning in the third world; Edinburgh researchers rely on synthetic biology to develop this easy to use, field-portable test
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Microwave ovens shown to kill anthrax
Florida researchers prove a concept already known to housewives worldwide; four minutes with a wet sponge is sufficient to disable spores; technique unlikely to work on dry envelopes
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iJet releases study on business impact of avian flu pandemic
Using data drawn from its World Pandemic monitoring system, research firm lays out preparation strategies for business; free report available by contacting company
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Somark's inkless RFID tattoos could keep troops safe
Yesterday’s attack in Iraq proves uniforms may not be the best way to distinguish friend from foe; technology intended for tracking cattle could prove a lifesaver for humans; passive RFID is perfectly harmless and does not require line of sight to be read
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New York researchers use copper and hydrogen peroxide to clean water
Scientists adapt the Fenton reaction to clean contaminated sites; free radicals kill bacteria but leave a lot of unwanted copper behind; resulting water is clean but not drinkable; technology will not be available for at least five years
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Cornell researchers find waste treatment kills deadly avian flu
Studies on a similar but less-virulent strain show that UV, chlorine, and digesters are almost equally effective in killing it; avian flu already known to do poorly outside of host; study should lift the hopes of municipal water suppliers
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E-capsule monitors cow health from the inside
Israeli company Veterix develops an electronic pill that reports on animal temperature, heart rate, and digestive activity; farmers receive wireless diagnostics that permit swift identification of the sick; improved monitoring of livestock health key to preventing ourbreaks of E. coli and other livestock diseases.
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CBP and USDA crack down on Canadian lunches
Truckers crossing the border find their salami sandwiches under suspicion; fears of mad caw and other food-borne illness inspire scrutiny; CBP targets those already singled out for further cargo inspection
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Hematech clones prion-free cows
Breakthrough a major step in fighting mad cow disease; cloned animals shown at least partially immune to infection; Hematech hopes to improve the safety of its pharmaceutical line
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Low morale plagues DHS agriculture workers
Merger into Customs and Border Protection a major source of problems; agriculturalists see mission overshadowed by other CBP priorities; DHS says problems were expected
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