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Singapore recalls Everest Fish Curry Masala over alleged pesticide presence
NEW DELHI: Singapore has recalled the popular product Everest Fish Curry Masala, , which was imported from India, citing the alleged presence of pesticide in the spice. The action was taken in response to a notice from the Hong Kong Center for Food Safety on Thurrsdy, which noted that the product contains elevated levels of ethylene oxide , a pesticide considered unsuitable for human consumption.
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) in an official announcement said, “The Centre for Food Safety in Hong Kong has issued a notification on the recall of Everest Fish Curry Masala from India due to the presence of ethylene oxide at levels exceeding permissible limits”. Read more
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EFAS report on post harvesting water contamination: Microbiological hazards
The EU reporting agency has produced a study on microbiological hazards associated with the use of water in the post‐harvest handling and processing.
The contamination of water used in post‐harvest handling and processing operations of fresh and frozen fruit, vegetables and herbs (ffFVHs) is a global concern. The most relevant microbial hazards associated with this water are: Listeriamonocytogenes, Salmonella spp., human pathogenic Escherichia coli and enteric viruses, which have been linked to multiple outbreaks associated with ffFVHs in the European Union (EU).Read more
NY State creates first age related ban on 2 supplement categories.
The bill targets “SALE OF OVER-THE-COUNTER DIET PILLS AND DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS FOR WEIGHT LOSS OR MUSCLE BUILDING.
1. NO PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION… OR OTHER ENTITY SHALL SELL OR OFFER TO SELL OR GIVE AWAY, AS EITHER A RETAIL OR WHOLE- SALE PROMOTION, AN OVER-THE-COUNTER DIET PILL OR DIETARY SUPPLEMENT FOR WEIGHT LOSS OR MUSCLE BUILDING WITHIN NEW YORK STATE TO ANY PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE UNLESS PRESCRIBED OR ORDERED BY A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER LEGALLY AUTHORIZED TO PRESCRIBE SUCH PILLS OR SUPPLEMENTS UNDER TITLE EIGHT OF THE EDUCATION LAW.
This has not been well received by the supplement industry which state they have no clinical evidence of any of the feared outcomes or concerns addressed by the bill. The heart of the bills intent is to protect children from eating disorders, dysmorphia, and mental health consequences.
The bills authors state ” “Diet pills, weight loss, and muscle-building supplements are often marketed as quick fixes for insecurities. It is our responsibility to protect vulnerable and impressionable kids from harmful products that have serious physical and mental health consequences,” said Assemblywoman Nily Rozic.”
Our industry can find no direct basis for these claims in science,
Many of us understand the impact that large unregulated online retailers have had on safety and authenticity claims made by shady characters entering into the market.
We also understand the impacts of social media and influencers, creating undue peer pressure on the younger generation. Couple that with the ease of one click purchasing of fraudulent supplements making outrageous claims, and you have a recipe for the crises the bill authors are misguidedly trying to address.
Once the law is enacted, it may make it hard for companies to place their product with retail outlets,due to the burden of proof it can put on retailers. (especially in brick-n-mortar locations which are already facing a magnitude of challenges)
For the legitimate manufacturers and providers of good, safe products, Natural Products Association has created a place where you can add your voice to this debate.
EU is reducing use of irradiated foodstuffs.
Ioninzing Radiation is a microbial reduction method used by the food industry on many of the foods at your grocer. If a food has to travel or sit on a shelf, it requires a microbial reduction process.
The amount of foodstuffs irradiated in the EU member states between 2020-2021 fell by almost 30 percent over 2018-2019 period. The categories that still are big users of irradiation include spices, dried aromatics and vegetable seasonings.
Even though the article states irradiation of food stuffs doesn’t expose the consumer to radiation, it also lists the required label warnings of irradiated products. Read more
Process Validation: Bioactive Services & Novolyze
We had the opportunity to do a webinar with our Sterilization process validators, Novolyze. If you would like to know why we have the right to gain your confidence in our processes, you can read through the document below or watch the video ( with added Q&A) Click Here
NOW Foods finds adulterated imposter supplements on Amazon, alerts the platform.
NOW Foods has purchased and tested a number of supplements that look like theirs, being sold on Amazon, to find they are frauds. They have also started testing other branded products sold on Amazon, to find similar results.
When people ask why we are so stringent with safety and ingredient reliability, this is why! Read more
General Mills recalls ice-cream due to toxic ethylene oxide (ETO) levels
General Mills, global food giant, has recalled its Häagen-Dazs Vanilla ice-cream in select markets due to the presence of toxic ethylene oxide, a chemical antibacterial agent and pesticide banned in the EU.
Investigations undertaken by General Mills, identified trace levels of ethylene oxide (ETO) that exceeded authorised regulatory thresholds in batches of its plain Vanilla ice-cream. The recall does not apply to any other products or flavours, since the issue was identified as stemming from vanilla extract that had been provided to the company by a major unnamed supplier. Read more