NEWS PLUS | Issue 5

January 31, 2020

As leaders in food safety, we provide a weekly global update brought to you by our Food Plus+ team delivering an enhanced food safety & quality system to protect your brand..

1. 'New ASF cases confirmed in the Philippines, as the UK and Australia join forces in simulated African swine fever exercise

30.01.2020. Global. African Swine Fever

Officials in the Philippines are reporting new outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF) in two towns, bringing the total number of affected towns or provinces to 11 since the first cases were reported in the country in July 2019.

Source 1: Meatingplace

Source 2:The Pig Site

2. WHO declares novel coronavirus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern

30.01.2020. Global. Coronavirus

This follows yesterday’s second meeting of the Emergency Committee convened by the WHO Director-General regarding the outbreak of novel coronavirus 2019 in the People’s Republic of China. There are now 7711 confirmed and 12167 suspected cases in China, and 83 further cases in 18 countries.

Source: World Health Organization

3. Sainsbury’s net zero pledge: EU retailers ramping up the pressure for sustainable food system transition

29.01.2020. UK. Sustainability

Sainsbury's is investing to make its operations carbon neutral by 2040. The news comes as further evidence that sustainability is an important issue for the food industry's European retail customers and consumers, contributing to mounting pressure on suppliers to act. 

Source: Food Navigator 

4. WHO: New guidance for human risk of AI

27.01.2020. Global. Avian Influenza

The World Health Organization has released new guidance for humans handling birds that may be infected with avian influenza.

Source: Poultry World

5. EFSA: All STEC subtypes may cause severe illness

30.01.2020. Global. E. coli

All Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains are pathogenic and potentially associated with severe illness, according to an EFSA scientific opinion.

Source 1: Food Safety News

Source 2: EFSA

6. Russia confirms foot-and-mouth disease on farm in the far east

30.01.2020. Russia. Foot and Mouth

According to reporting from Reuters, Russia has registered an outbreak of food-and-mouth disease (FMD) in pigs and cattle on a farm in the eastern Zabaikalsk region. 

Source: The Pig Site

7. Local authorities find one in five food samples contain undeclared allergens

29.01.2020. UK. Allergens

Approximately 20 percent of samples tested by local authorities in the UK contained potentially dangerous hidden allergens, according to research by Unchecked.uk and the Times.

Source: New Food Magazine

8. Recall roundup: baby food, oregano, cheese and raw ground beef

29.01.2020. Global. Recall

Food and beverage products are recalled due to reasons ranging from contamination to incorrect labeling, and here is New Food’s roundup of the most recent cases.

Source: New Food Magazine

9. When the UK leaves the EU, will ‘meaty’ names leave plant-based labels?

27.01.2020. UK. Brexit

The future is uncertain for 'meaty' descriptions of plant-based foods in the UK. If we ban the terms 'burger' and 'sausage' for plant-based offerings, what does that mean for 'beef tomato' and 'veggie fingers'? questions the Vegan Society. 

Source: Global Meat News

10. Botulism suspected in Argentina, confirmed in Iceland

28.01.2020. Argentina/Iceland. Clostridium Botulinum

Authorities in Argentina are investigating two suspected cases of foodborne botulism linked to a brand of pickled wild boar.

Source: Food Safety News