Starters & Appetisers: Day 3 – 12 Days of Food Safety
Starters & Appetisers: Day 3 12 Days of Food Safety Bread often accompanies many starters and appetisers at this time of year and can add a wonderful touch to your holiday gathering, offering a range of flavours and textures that are sure to be enjoyed by your guests. Below are a few examples of starters and appetisers ideas using bread that are perfect for the festive season: Cranberry and Brie Crostini is a scrumptious appetiser that combines the creamy richness of brie with the sweet-tart flavour of cranberry sauce on toasted baguette slices. Pull Apart Bread with Camembert is delicious and indulgent
Festive Drinks: Day 2 – 12 Days of Food Safety
Day 2: Festive Drinks 12 Days of Food Safety During the holiday season, it's customary for us to fill our refrigerators with a variety of festive drinks. Whether alcoholic or non-alcoholic, these beverages become a special treat, some exclusively enjoyed during this festive time in our calendar. Common festive drinks includes: Mulled Wine (Alcoholic & Non- Alcoholic): A warm beverage made with red wine, typically heated and flavoured with spices like cinnamon, cloves, and sometimes citrus fruits. It’s perfect for winter and holiday gatherings. Eggnog (Alcoholic & Non-Alcoholic): A rich and creamy drink made with milk, cream, sugar, whipped eggs, spices (nutmeg
Nibbles: Day 1 – 12 Days of Food Safety
Day 1: Nibbles 12 Days of Food Safety This year, as part of our Holiday message, BFD have decided to recognise the extraordinary lengths the Food Safety industry take to ensure our health and well-being over the festive season. Tune in each week on our social media platforms to follow the BFD "12 Days of Food Safety" where we will be focusing on the most popular festive foods & drinks. Nibbles With the holiday season just five weeks away, many of us are starting to purchase snacks to enhance the festive season. During this time, people typically indulge in various holiday nibbles to complement the festive
Job Vacancy -Product Specialist
Fortress Diagnostics are seeking a highly motivated Product Specialist. The candidate should have a science background either through university studies or another 3rd level qualification. As a Product Specialist, you will be responsible for developing in-depth product knowledge and effectively communicating its features and benefits to both internal stakeholders, external customers and distributors. The position will be based in our growing food diagnostic sister company, Biorex Food Diagnostics. This is a unique opportunity to expand your skills, knowledge and career prospects whilst playing a critical role in driving product adoption. Full product training will be given. Applications from graduates are welcome. Responsibilities Provide
Chickens being sourced from farms using Fluoroquinolone antibiotics
It has been reported in a new investigation that "Three UK retailers are buying meat from chickens in Poland that were given a group of antibiotics (fluoroquinolones) used to treat human Salmonella infections." "It revealed SuperDrob is sourcing chicken from farms that use fluoroquinolones antibiotics, which are also used to treat human Salmonella infections. The company confirmed to investigators that the drugs were used but denied overuse and said that this is also prohibited for its suppliers." http://bitly.ws/JCmZ How sure can we be, that withdrawal periods after administration of antibiotics are being adhered to? Biorex Food Diagnostics offer Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays for the
Prohibited antibiotic Metronidazole found in honey
Metronidazole, an antibiotic that is used to treat a variety of infections but can also cause neurological abnormalities, such as seizures in some people, has been found in honey tested in Canada. Globalfoodconsumers.org states that the honey has been sold in Quebec and Ontario, prompting the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to recall the product immediately. Bees, like humans and other animals, are susceptible to infection by bacteria, viruses and parasites. Some bee diseases can be treated with the use of antibiotics; however, use or inappropriate use of antibiotics may lead to the prohibited accumulation of antibiotics in honey. Therefore, traders should
The Dangers of Mycotoxins
‘Mycotoxins are toxic compounds that are naturally produced by different types of fungi’, (ESFA). The substance grows on a variety of food and feed consumed both by humans and animals. Mycotoxins can grow on foodstuffs such as cereals, dried fruits, nuts, spices and animal feed. It is of the upmost importance for border controls and companies to test for the substance as it can have adverse effects in humans and animals. Mycotoxins are naturally produced mould. There are several ways to prevent mycotoxins in foods, such as; Stop growth of infested fungi by re-drying the products, Removal of contaminated seeds, Inactivation
What is the human health risk associated with pesticides in chicken eggs?
Pesticide presence in food is a great concern for many people throughout the world. Individuals wonder about the health risks associated with consuming food infected with pesticides and how to know the food they consume is safe. Despite this concern from consumers, food producers believe it is beneficial to use pesticides due to it reducing damage to crops from weeds, animals and germs, (Countryside Online). By using this on their crops, they in turn collect a larger harvest as less animals, insects and bacteria have destroyed their produce. There are many forms of pesticides that can affect different food groups,
Presence of allergen soy not declared in rice from Italy
The presence of allergen soy has not been declared in rice from Italy. This issue was flagged as ‘serious’ by the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed, (RASFF). Due to this alert, the product has been recalled by the Italian company. Testing for the allergen at the company base allowed for this issue to be flagged. There are severe health hazards for not correctly testing and labelling produce which is why the RASFF plays such an important role in the food and feed produce world. Soy is a common food allergy and depending on the severity of the allergy, can
Aflatoxins found in pistachio kernels from Turkey.
Last week at the German border, a ‘serious’ level of aflatoxins were found in pistachio kernels from Turkey. The finding, which happened on 11th January 2022, meant action had to be taken on the Turkish goods. The pistachio kernels were rejected at the border and the consignments were detained, (RASFF). As border control flagged this issue as ‘serious’, it can be assumed that the levels of aflatoxins found in the pistachio kernels could be hazardous to consumers. The sampling found Aflatoxins total and Aflatoxin B1 in the contaminated goods. Consumption of aflatoxins pose a serious health threat to both humans and livestock,