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Environ Health Associated investigated the efficacy of a product known as electrolyzed water on reducing hazards in salad greens in colaboration with ProtonLabs and the University of Washington. The findings have been published in the Journal of Food Science. Our study found that when used on  experimentally contaminated leafy greens an electrolyzed water wash treatment provided a reduction to safe levels in about a minute and complete destruction of all pathogens to undetectable levels after 3 minutes. This technology developed by Protonlabs in Japan has the power to transform the safety of leafy greens. Unfortunately less effective technology developed in Russia has been heavily marketed already in the US, while the Japanese technology is just becoming well known. Environ Health Associates believes this study will open doors for Proton’s Japanese technology that were previously closed to the Russian technology.

What makes the Japanese technology an improvement on the Russian technology is the robust hardware, advanced electronics, and stable chemistry provided by the maunfacture. Environ Health Associates endorses ProtonLabs’ technology. ProtonLabs is the only company offering an effective stabilized electrolyzed water product that can be bottled with shelf life at 2 years under normal storage conditions.

The study showed that an ordinary washing step with electrolyzed water provides an excellent reduction in pathogens and a safe alternative to other treatments. Electrolyzed water resolves to its elemental components with no residue in the environment. The active ingredient, hypochlorous acid (HOCL) is accepted as GRAS by FDA and can be applied to all types of edible foods, including organically grown vegetables.  Continue Reading Break Through in Produce Safety

Research recently released by the Fresh Express Company has added greatly to our knowledge of the route of transmission of E coli O157:H7 in leafy greens. A research team including Michael T. Osterholm, PhD, MPH  at the University of Minnesota and Dr Michael Doyle of the University of Georgia found that flies can carry E coli to …

In another shocking episode of adulteration, Chinese public health officials have announced the recall of infant formula contaminated with melamine. The Chinese obviously have a problem; last year Chinese manufacturers contaminated pet foods with melamine in a fraudulent effort to boost the protein level to make more money. The draw of this additive is apparently…

Egypt is becoming aware of the importance of food safety to its people, and for its well-being as a nation. However, it is important to note that Egypt is not alone in these concerns. Here in the US we just experienced our worst outbreak of Salmonella through contaminated vegetables, and the end of our food supply contamination problem is not in sight. The global problem of food safety requires a global approach, so it is heartening as an American to see Egypt move forward as a nation to help solve this worldwide problem. Egypt is joining the growing number of nations who are creating, rational, science-based food safety strategies to protect public health. This is the right thing to do for public health. Ensuring food safety is critical for all of us and a healthy populace will enhance all other public health and safety initiatives. The worldwide food safety problem will be solved as each country advances its own reforms. Thank you Dr. Mansour, for beginning this effort in your wonderful and fascinating country. Please read below.

 

Food Safety Project Chief: 500,000 Food Violations

 By  Metwalli Salem, Hisham Yassin and Mohamed Haroun    17/9/2008

The head of the Food Safety Agency Project Hussein Mansour said a workingteam has been formed to prepare a strategic plan of action for the agency once alaw was enacted to establish it.

During a banquet organized by USAID, Mansour said the agency aims at unifyingcontrol over regulations and conditions relating to safe food.

 

He noted that official reports have monitored increasing rates of fraud onmarkets, adding that the number of food violations reached 500,000 casesannually. The number of officially registered factories amounted to 3000‘, producing 20% of food production while the remaining 80% is produced byunregistered factories.

 

Mansour noted that the large number of bodies checking food and thedifference in human and technical capabilities of labs might be the reasonbehind low quality of food.

World organizations concerned with human health advised people who travel toEgypt to be vaccinated against Hepatitis A and Typhoid before traveling for theprobability of taking polluted food or water.

 

Egypt is considered, according to Mansour, one of the countries where ratesof contracting such viruses are high, especially in case of visiting ruralareas.

 

Studies conducted by the National Research Institute proved that 100% ofsamples taken from honey are polluted with chloramphenicol, which causes anemiaand spinal atrophy.

Food pollution negatively affects the national economy, he said, noting thatthe US rejected a food shipment from Egypt because it was polluted withpesticides, as well as low quality of packaging

Moreover, the EU rejected a shipment of soybeans and sunflower seeds becausethey were contaminated with aflatoxin.

 

Mansour warned against the effect of food pollution on general health, whichmight lead to the spread of summer diseases and contracting Hepatitis A andkidney failure.

 

He noted dairy products sold in rural areas and some cities are considered amain reason for contracting several diseases, such as tuberculosis, brucellosis, typhoid, scarlet fever, diphtheria, yellow fever, paratyphoid and dysentery.

 

Mansour revealed that a sound animal produces microbe-free meat, but it ispolluted at slaughtering. Studies proved that the average microbes in the meatafter slaughtering hit 216 microbes in each square centimeter and increase to 10-20 millions and 66 millions after reaching the butcher.Continue Reading Egypt Tackles Food Safety-an American Perspective

There are those who would debate whether industry should be the leaders or the follower in food safety. Industry has taken a lead over government, going passed the basic food codes. For example, the USFDA Food Code applied at retail does not require food safety systems to be developed, nor does it require certification that …

Who Owns Public Health Protection?

In an ideal world, the government would have the capacity, resources and determination to ensure public health and safety and government would essentially own food safety as one of its key initiatives, controlling the food industry through laws administered by public health agents of the government. This is the way…