Asia Pacific | India rejects US food consignment due to GM concerns | India h...
Asia Pacific
India rejects US food consignment due to GM concerns
India has rejected a 1,000-tonne shipment of soya-corn blend from the US because of fears that it may contain traces of StarLink corn, a genetically modified corn that has been banned from human consumption in the US.
Japan To Boost Starlink Testing
Japanese officials announced they would be boosting the StarLink testing they'll be doing on corn coming from the United States. According to a report by OsterDowJones, an official from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare confirmed that 1,200 metric tons of corn in a 19,234-ton shipment was found to contain traces of StarLink but the remainder of the load tested negative.
Americas
Canada Changes Labelling Rules
Amendments to Canada's Food and Drug Regulations for three types of nutrition information came into force from 1 January. For nutrition labelling it is now mandatory for nutrition facts on prepackaged foods, listing calories and 13 nutrients, with a few exemptions.
Venezuela's Chavez, Foes Set for More Confrontation
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez headed Monday for a show-down with his foes, vowing to punish opposition strikers who have crippled the vital oil industry and who say they will defy any government crackdown. Both sides pledged no letup in their conflict, which has plunged the world's fifth largest oil exporter into political turmoil and economic chaos.
Canada loses WTO battle over milk subsidies
Canada has lost its last ditch attempt at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to protect its collective dairy marketing system, with the WTO’s appellate body dismissing Ottawa’s appeal on legal points against earlier negative rulings.
Europe
VanDrie Group Awarded Safety Certificate
Dutch veal producer VanDrie Group has been awarded Lloyd's certification for its total chain production system. The integrated production format makes it possible to assure consumers of even better guarantees, the VanDrie group says.
Specified Risk Material found in Irish beef
Specified risk material (SRM) has been found in a consignment of beef from the Republic of Ireland exported to the UK. The SRM breach was discovered by the British Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) on 16 December.
EU Crackdown on Illegal Meat Imports
New EU rules on the personal imports of meat, milk and their products came into force on 1 January. Passengers from outside the EU will be banned from bringing in meat, milk and their products for their personal consumption (with the exception of certain European states).
USA
Organic Acid Can Stop Listeria, Say Scientists
Researchers in the US have said they may have found a method of beating the potentially lethal food poisoning bacteria listeria. Professor Jimmy Keeton and colleagues at Texas A&M University say acidified calcium sulphate was the only substance of those tested that could kill the bacteria and prevent it from returning.
Just-Foods Report: US Shelf-Stable Meals Market
Study provides an unrivalled analysis of the US shelf-stable meals market, focusing on trends, consumer habits and buying patterns. The report is ideal for companies engaged in this sector looking to understand how the market is structured and its size via easy to read figures, charts and tables.
Battling Bacteria Safely
The use of sanitisers and antimicrobial food preservatives are appropriate methods to control foodborne pathogens without concern for creating "super" bugs - microorganisms resistant to antimicrobial treatment according to the US Institute of Food Technologists.