GHANA – The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) Ghana has equipped about 95 operators and managers of Food Service Establishments (FSEs) with skills on good hygienic and catering practices, so as to address food safety concerns. Some of the topics covered include ‘documentation and records keeping’ as well as ‘Food Law’, placing special emphasis on the need for the FSEs…
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U.S – The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are currently investigating a multistate outbreak of hepatitis A infections linked to strawberries. The traceback investigations show that cases in California, Minnesota and Canada report having purchased fresh organic…
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NIGERIA – Through the NextGen project, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has developed new cassava varieties to boost cassava production in the country. Compared to local varieties, the new varieties Baba 70 and Game Changer are higher yielding. While Game Changer can produce 32 tonnes per hectare, Baba 70 can produce 38 tonnes per hectare. The new cultivars…
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GHANA – Ghana has formed a multisectoral-committee to monitor and ensure improvements in Ghana’s Temperature Control Cargo industry in response to challenges faced by exporters and other stakeholders in the country. Members of the committee are drawn from the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA), the Global Cold Chain Alliance, Ministry of Food and Agriculture and representation from some import and export…
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U.S – Industry leader in food safety and operational assessments Steritech, has crowned Wingstop, a chain of restaurants specializing in chicken wings, as this year’s winner of food safety excellence. The awards, known as Excellence in Food Safety awards, were part of the Fast Casual “Movers and Shakers” ceremony held in Chicago. Founded in 1994, Wingstop has quickly become one…
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KENYA – Researchers in Kenya have established that aflatoxins, found in common cereals like maize and wheat, are becoming a major burden on Kenya’s health care system due to their link to cancer. Aflatoxins are a naturally occurring carcinogenic byproduct of common fungi on grains and other crops, particularly maize and groundnuts. The best-known one is Aspergillus flavus, that attacks…
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TANZANIA – The Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) has been asked to enhance food safety surveillance activities which is a fundamental component in protecting people’s health and penetrating domestic and global markets. Kondoa District Commissioner Dr Hamis Kanachi made the remarks when flagging off a food safety training organized by the TBS, through the Tanzania Initiative for Preventing Aflatoxin Contamination…
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INDIA – The Federation of All India Tea Traders Associations (FAITTA) has announced that analysis has shown that teas purchased through auctions are unfit for human consumption, as they are below standards. FAITTA has informed that they had engaged M/S Eurofins Analytical Services India Limited to test the teas purchased through auction sales by various buyers. When tested against the…
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JAPAN – Japan has established maximum residue limits (MRLs) for Zeranol, a synthetic nonsteroidal estrogen used as a growth promoter in animals. Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare informed that the regulation is already in force for those products placed on the Japanese market. Zeranol also known as α-Zearalanol, is derived from Zearalenone, a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium (a fungi…
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SOUTH AFRICA – Hortgro, a deciduous fruit producers organization, has funded a new phytosanitary facility dedicated to deciduous fruit to help improve access to new markets and maintain current ones for the industry. Deciduous fruit refers to fruit that falls off the tree or vine when it is ripe. The category includes apples, Asian pears, figs, grapes and pomegranates. The…
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