Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are industrial chemicals which are used in several industrial processes and consumer products, due to their special technical properties. This group of substances includes more than 4,700 different compounds.

In the perfluoroalkyl substances sub-group, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) are the most thoroughly studied substances. Like many PFAS, these two compounds are not readily degradable, and are now detectable in the environment, the food chain, and in humans.

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Can edible insects trigger allergies? In September 2020, the BfR launched a new joint research project to protect consumers from potential allergic reactions: Allergen-Pro. The aim:
to establish methods for the in-depth analysis of allergens in food and to describe their impact on those with allergies. Seven partners from Switzerland and Germany are involved in
developing suitable and reproducible detection methods for insect components in food products.

Those with food allergies must avoid allergens in food. Health problems can be triggered by even the smallest traces for those affected. This is why manufacturers of ready-made foods
must list the ingredients on the packaging. A special declaration obligation applies to major allergens, such as peanuts, celery or egg, even if these are only found in small quantities in
the recipe.

However, the declaration of allergens that inadvertently enter a food, in other words which are not part of the regular ingredients, is not regulated. These kinds of inadvertent allergenic entries can happen due to transport and production conditions, for example, and pose a health risk to those with allergies.

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Listeria was detected in almost a quarter of frozen vegetable samples in England, according to a study.

Between December 2018 and April 2019, 1,050 frozen fruit and vegetable samples were collected. Listeria monocytogenes or other Listeria species were detected in 167 samples of vegetables. Listeria monocytogenes was present in 10 percent of frozen vegetables.

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Officials in Sweden and Denmark are investigating a hepatitis A outbreak with frozen imported berries suspected to be the source of infection.

Since mid-July, nine patients with the same type of hepatitis A virus have been reported from five different regions in Sweden. The latest patient fell ill on Sept. 18.

Six women and three men from Norrbotten, Västra Götaland, Stockholm, Uppsala and Södermanland are infected with the liver virus. Patients range from 2 to 78 years old. Also, a couple of people are ill in Denmark.

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Consultation to seek comments from stakeholders on the proposal to make the Animal Feed (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020.

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This year has brought nothing but huge changes for the world, especially for the food industry. Shutdowns, new operational models, and re-openings at this scale are new territory for us all. Even the definition of food safety culture has changed from “what you’re doing when no one is watching” to “what you do when everyone is watching.”

Customers and employees have their eyes open wider than ever before. Employees are watching to make sure you’re not taking their safety for granted, and customers are watching closely to make sure your employees’ actions don’t ring any alarm bells for health and safety.

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The UK National Food Crime Unit have launched a new newsletter, intended as a means of informing professionals about what they believe to be current issues affecting the food industry. You can read the first issue: NFCU Industry Newsletter September.pdf, and if you’d like to sign up to their newsletters, you can reach out to NFCU.Outreach@food.gov.uk.

Monthly summary of articles on food fraud and adulteration - July-August, 2020. Food fraud cases: wine, fish and fish products, eggs and egg producs, non-alcoholic beverages, milk and milk products, prepared dishes and snacks, herbs and spices, alcoholic bevarages, cereals and bekary products, fruit and vegetables, meat and meat products, nuts, fats and oils, honey and other.

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As transparency becomes ever more important to consumers, Nina Constantine from Eurofins Genomics discusses the new frontiers in food safety and traceability.

Traceability, food fraud and food safety have never been more interlinked; we are seeing a growing demand from consumers for transparency on the provenance and safety of products.
As such, we are turning to Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) methods, combined with other emerging technologies, such as blockchain, in order to help respond faster, more accurately and more effectively than ever before.

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REF: IRC259676

DEPARTMENT: Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute Northern Ireland (AFBI)

LOCATION: AFBI Stormont, Belfast, BT4 3SD

EFSA's Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ) has launched today, 7^th October 2020, an open consultation on several sections of the draft scientific opinion on “maximum levels of cross-contamination for 24 antimicrobial active substances in non-target feed”. These sections include the description of the methodology proposed to answer the term of reference 1 of the mandate, which is related to antimicrobial resistance development, the uncertainties associated with it, and the data gaps/other considerations identified.

Additional sections of the draft opinion are shared to provide the background, contextualize the methodology, and to provide an example of the assessment if the methodology would be used (e.g. tetracyclines). These additional sections are provided only for information and are not submitted for consultation.

Please note that the deadline for interested parties to submit written comments is 18 November 2020.

Please find here the link to the dedicated EFSA webpage where you will find all relevant information and documents.

https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/Public_consultation_AMR_GP_feed

In case of any questions or enquiries on the consultation, please contact biocontam@efsa.europa.eu

More than 40 people are sick and almost a third have needed hospital treatment as part of a foodborne Shigella outbreak in Denmark.

From the end of August, 42 people have been registered with shigellosis in the country.

The outbreak is being investigated to try to pinpoint the source of infection and help stop it with experts doing final traceback investigations ahead of plans to reveal results next week.

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The Food Standards Agency’s National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) and Food Standards Scotland’s Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit (SFCIU) have today published an assessment of food crime threats to the UK.

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Food Standards Scotland’s Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit (SFCIU) has published its food crime priorities for 20/21, alongside a joint UK Food Crime Strategic Assessment with the Food Standards Agency’s National Food Crime Unit.

The SFCIU has taken an evidence and intelligence-based approach, working with partners and industry to identify key areas of concern which have previously and continue to be targeted by criminals, to the detriment of consumers and responsible businesses. The priorities are

• Red meat
• Fish
• Counterfeit / illicit alcohol
• Wild shellfish

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The factory of a sandwich producer in England linked to an illness was contaminated by Listeria for almost three years, a report into the incident has found.

In July 2017, Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from the blood of a 53-year-old in a hospital in Yorkshire and Humberside with an underlying health condition. The man had eaten sandwiches made by the company while in the hospital at least 12 times in the three weeks prior to illness.

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The Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) are looking for an Agrifood Livestock and Aquaculture Intern - it's open to PhD students with a focus on innovation in the Livestock and Aquaculture industry.

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Interested in joining our Senior Leadership Team to help deliver on our Strategic Plan and on our vision of “The Marine Institute as a global leader in ocean knowledge, empowering Ireland and its people to safeguard and harness ocean wealth”?

Organisation Description:

The Marine Institute is the national agency responsible for Marine Technical & Scientific Advice & Services, Research, Technology, Development and Innovation. The Institute provides government, public agencies and the maritime industry with a range of scientific, advisory and economic development services that inform policy-making, regulation and the sustainable management and growth of Irelands’ marine resources. The Institute also undertakes, coordinates and promotes marine research and development, which is essential to achieving a sustainable ocean economy, protecting ecosystems and inspiring a shared understanding of the ocean.

The Institute works closely with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) and a network of other Government Departments, Semi-State Agencies, national and international marine partners.

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Research by scientists in Australia could help open up new possibilities to treat enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) infections.

University of New South Wales (UNSW) microbiologists discovered a molecular pathway that controls Shiga toxin production. The findings were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

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