Africa's No.1 Food Safety, Quality & Compliance Magazine
EUROPE – The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has estimated that 0.05 mg/kg is the highest concentration for grayanotoxins, a natural compound found in honey, that would not negatively affect honey consumers. EFSA conducted a risk assessment on the risks to human health posed by the presence of grayanotoxins in honey following a request from the European Commission. The study…
READ MORE
MOZAMBIQUE – Solidaridad and Wageningen University & Research have together carried out a successful program on good agricultural practices in potato farming that has shown that potato production could achieve realistic yields and resource efficiency. The program, funded by Zambezi Valley Development Agency, was carried out in Northern Mozambique’s Zambezi Valley, which has a sufficient water supply and is a…
READ MORE
GLOBAL– A sugar substitute popular in snack bars and low-sugar ice cream, erythritol, may increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, according to new research carried out by the Cleveland Clinic. According to several studies, erythritol has about 70% of the sweetness of sugar and has fewer calories than other sugar alcohols. The sweetener is produced through fermenting corn.…
READ MORE
TANZANIA – Tanzanian research institutes have discovered new high-yielding palm oil seeds known as Terena set to boost the cultivation of the trees and production of edible oil in the country. “President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan I would like to inform you that research institutes in the country have succeeded in discovering and experimenting with the cultivation of the palm…
READ MORE
U.S – A research team from Purdue University has created a brand-new, quicker assay to detect Escherichia coli O157:H7 in ground beef. Professor of Food Science at Purdue University Bruce Applegate, Ph.D., was in charge of developing the assay. The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a “zero tolerance” policy for E.…
READ MORE
KENYA – Scientists from CABI have collaborated with technical professionals from various organizations to explore plant protection products (PPPs) that could combat a variety of crop pests and diseases and guarantee higher production and livelihoods for millions of smallholder farmers in Kenya. Working together, the experts will identify potentially problematic plant protection products from TRACE and RASFF notifications as well…
READ MORE
ZIMBABWE – International research organization ICRISAT has together with the Pan African Seed Company Seed Co Group developed a new hybrid of white sorghum (great millet) that is high yielding and promises greater resilience to erratic rainfall. The new invention has a yield potential of up to 8 tonnes per hectare, offering farmers a 25% yield increase over existing varieties.…
READ MORE
EUROPE – Latest data from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has shown that residues of veterinary medications and other compounds discovered in animals and animal-derived products continue to drop in the EU and that compliance levels are increasing. Data from EU Member States, Iceland, and Norway are included in the EFSA’s annual report for 2021 on veterinary chemical residues…
READ MORE
U.S – The Agricultural and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has provided funding for Texas A&M University researchers to work on developing a nitrite-free technique for curing meat. Nitrites and nitrates, which are frequently added to foods like cured meat to maintain quality and lengthen shelf life, are gaining more and more attention as…
READ MORE
UGANDA – Scientists at the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) have found that maize, sorghum, and groundnuts in Uganda have aflatoxin concentrations that are 10 times or greater than the safety level advised by the World Health Organization (WHO). According to Dr. Godfrey Asea, the Director of Research at the National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI), grains they looked at…
READ MORE