News

Instrument capable of many food safety tests.

06/19/2012 12:54:27 PM
Andy Nelson   http://www.thepacker.com/

 

A new platform from a food safety technology provider can allow many kinds of tests on one instrument.
Camarillo, Calif.-based Hygiena’s Ensure platform is a quality monitoring system that uses a single instrument to collect, analyze and report data from many quality indicators, according to a company release.
The Ensure platform is capable of a variety of tests, including water tests and coliform/E. coli tests.
The technology has generated significant interest in the produce industry, said Johnny Clark, president of Titusville, Fla.-based American C.H.E.F. Consulting and the only independent food safety consultant/marketing distributor for Hygiena in Florida.
“We have sold several to the produce industry both in Florida and other locations,” Clark said.
The Ensure platform runs on an instrument that features a protected USB connection, a large screen and a sealed, seven-button keypad. The unit also provides test results in 15 seconds.

The 2012 Dirty Dozen Plus and the Clean 15

Worried about pesticides and produce? Wondering if it's worth it to go organic? The Environmental Working Group has released its 2012 guide to the most- and least-contaminated crops out there -- its "Dirty Dozen" and "Clean 15" lists -- and this year there are a few new items to watch out for, including certain types of baby food.  To read the rest of the story...http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/2012-dirty-dozen-plus-clean-15-buying-organic-000700620.html

Shining Light on a Hotel Room's Dirtiest Things

Wow, here is another story about what you might get from your next stay in a hotel.  Hotels are missing the opportunity of saving guests from taking home more than a pleasant night's sleep by not validating their cleaning processes.  Here is part of the story from the My Health News Daily web site.  If you are a hotel and want to learn on how to validate the cleaning processes in your hotel, get in touch with us and find out about the Hygiena ATP testing system.

Want to stay away from germs during your next hotel stay? Then don’t turn on the TV or lights — new research shows that TV remotes and light switches are among the most contaminated items in hotel rooms.  Researchers from the University of Houston took bacteria samples from several items in hotel rooms in three regions of the United States. While the toilet and sink were expected to have high levels of bacteria, researchers also found more surprising items with high contamination levels, such as the remote and the switch on the bedside lamp.  Hotel rooms “don’t have to have it ready for surgery,” said study researcher Jay Neal, a microbiologist at the University of Houston, but there certainly is room for improvement in their cleanliness.

Article from:   http://www.myhealthnewsdaily.com/2730-hotels-bacteria-contamination-remote.html

Hygiena International, a global supplier of rapid hygiene testing systems, has recently commenced a new hospital evaluation program in the US involving the SystemSURE Plus ATP product.

The SystemSURE Plus ATP monitoring system, which is comprised of a handheld luminometer and swabs, works through the collection and quantification of ATP remaining in organic residues still present following conventional cleaning operations. The identification of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) as an indicator of surface cleanliness has become an established hygiene technology within the healthcare market. ATP is the energy molecule present in all living cells, and its presence is evidence of organic contamination, which can provide the nutrient base for the growth of harmful bacteria and infectious micro-organisms.

Using bioluminescence technology, the Hygiena SystemSURE Plus ATP monitoring equipment provides rapid indications of ATP levels and the hygienic status of contact surfaces, so that appropriate corrective action can be taken without delay. Hygiena SystemSURE can be used to demonstrate cleaning efficacy and show continuous improvement, while identifying and implementing training requirements and their impact on patient experiences. Some facilities have used the system to provide evidence of value for money from their contracted in services such as cleaning and catering. Care homes and ambulance services are now using the technology to demonstrate adherence to CQC.  For more information on the Hygiena International rapid hygiene testing system, contact us at: 321-567-4408.

RECALL...Ready-To-Eat Pork Product

Hawaii Firm Recalls Ready-To-Eat Pork Product for Possible Listeria Contamination

Recall Release CLASS I RECALL FSIS-RC-037-2012 HEALTH RISK: HIGH Congressional and Public Affairs Bill Bagley (202) 720-9113

WASHINGTON, June 2, 2012   Keoki's Lau Lau, a Honolulu, HI establishment, is recalling approximately 400 pounds of a ready-to-eat pork product due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today. 
The following product is subject to recall:

• 12 oz. tubs of "Keoki's Kalua Brand Pork"
• 48 oz. tubs of "Keoki's Kalua Brand Pork"

The product bears the establishment number "EST. 12429" inside the USDA mark of inspection and batch numbers 546 and 552. The products were produced on May 24 and 25, 2012, and distributed to retail establishments in Hawaii.
The problem was discovered by the firm during follow-up testing conducted after a positive result from a FSIS routine monitoring sample. FSIS and the company have not received any reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of the products. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider.

Consumers seeking more information about this recall should contact Jamie Kema, Office Manager, at (808) 832-4231. Members of the media should contact Gary Ishimoto, President, at (808) 832-4224.

An Updated Message - Recall of South Korea Shellfish

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -June 1, 2012 - On Friday, May 25, 2012, at the end of the business day, the FDA issued a Constituent Update on shellfish from Korea. This update supplemented an announcement released on May 18th, clarifying that canned product (now in addition to fresh and frozen shellfish from Korea) was considered adulterated. The Constituent Update includes the statement that no U.S. illnesses from the consumption of Korean shellfish have been reported in 2012.

In light of the FDA Update of May 25th, effective immediately, Crown Prince is notifying all of its wholesalers to suspend shipments and retailers to remove South Korean shellfish from their shelves. The affected products are:

Item UPC 0 73230 00052 2 – Crown Prince Whole Boiled Oysters
Item UPC 0 73230 00852 8 – Crown Prince Natural Whole Boiled Oysters
Item UPC 0 73230 00851 1 – Crown Prince Natural Smoked Oysters in Olive Oil
Item UPC 0 73230 00866 5 – Crown Prince Natural Smoked Oysters with Chili Pepper

This only affects oysters from South Korea. No other Crown Prince items or countries of origin are affected by this recall.

It is the understanding of Crown Prince that negotiations between the South Korean and U.S. governments have been escalated and additional information will be provided in the near future. The President of Crown Prince Seafood, Dustan Hoffman will be traveling to South Korea at the end of the week to further investigate this matter. Please quarantine the product and contact Crown Prince at 800-423-4676 or orderpw@crownprince.com for return instructions pending a final decision. Please continue to check the Crown Prince website for the most current updates.