In the news

A study by researchers from the Center of Food Safety at the University of Georgia, published in Food Control (Vol. 119, Jan 2021), suggests that applying sanitizers to tomatoes, pre-harvesting can reduce foodborne pathogens.  The treatment is better than the current post-harvest treatment. A new bactericide comprised of two chemicals, levulinic acid and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), was evaluated. Results obtained from inoculation studies on tomato plants confirmed that this bactericide reduced the count of Salmonella, STEC, and L. monocytogenes populations substantially (P<0.05) when compared with water and chlorine treatment. Results showed that the application of this organic bactericide was effective for the reduction of foodborne pathogens and microbial loads in pre-harvest tomatoes. The approach described is a practical, easy-to-use, labor-cost-effective, and environmentally friendly approach for control and reduction of foodborne pathogens that may contaminate the surface of the produce at the pre-harvest stage.@ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0956713520303856

The list of hand sanitizers on the “do-not-use” list keeps growing. The FDA continues to warn consumers not to use 176 hand sanitizer products due to potential methanol contamination. The FDA says the recalled hand sanitizer products are considered unsafe due to methanol contamination or because they contain low levels of ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol, which are active ingredients in hand sanitizer products. CDC reported adverse events associated with the listed hand sanitizer products, including adults and children who ingested products contaminated with methanol that led to blindness, hospitalizations, and death. New products are added to the list very frequently. The investigation by the FDA into the use of methanol in hand sanitizers is ongoing. @ https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2020/09/11/176-hand-sanitizers-recalled-after-reports-of-blindness-and-hospitalizations-fda-reports/?outputType=amp

A new COVID-19 rapid test was developed by Graphene Leaders Canada (GLC) Inc. (Alberta, Canada) together with its subsidiary GLC Medical (GLCM) Inc. The device is claimed to deliver accurate and reliable results in seconds using a graphene-enhanced sensor that produces a signal when exposed to COVID-19 viral antigens. The GLCM’s test directly detects the virus, ensuring no false positive/negative results, unlike other tests that detect only the byproducts of infection and are therefore unreliable. The device produces a signal when exposed to COVID-19 viral antigens. The GLCM’s test has been developed to indicate a positive result only when the COVID-19 virus is present, allowing for direct and clear interpretation by the user. GLCM’s rapid test is an “at the door” technology, which is perfect before boarding a plane, entering a venue for a concert or sporting event, as it delivers instant results, regaining the confidence to bring us back to our “normal” before the pandemic. @ http://news.rapidmicromethods.com/2020/09/rapid-covid-19-test-uses-graphene.html

 MAPAQ (ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec), in collaboration with the company Les Jardins Picoudi, in Saint-Robert , warned not to consume Coriander microgreens they are likely to be contaminated with Salmonella. The product was sold At several locations in Quebec. It was packaged in rectangular transparent plastic boxes and sold refrigerated. No case of illness associated with the consumption of this food has been reported to MAPAQ to date. @ https://www.mapaq.gouv.qc.ca/fr/Consommation/rappelsaliments/2020/09/Pages/4189.aspx