Australians have been urged to throw out cantaloupe (rockmelon) due to the Listeria outbreak in that has left two people dead. Ten elderly people across Australia were diagnosed with listeriosis after consuming cantaloupe. Two of the six who became ill subsequently died. The outbreak has been linked to a rockmelon grower in Nericon in the NSW Riverina region. The company stopped production after being notified of the contamination. There have been 15 cases of listeria infection in Australia this year in total. Ten are being blamed on the contaminated rockmelon. @ https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/01/australians-told-to-throw-out-rockmelon-after-two-deaths-in-listeria-outbreak
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Melon association says fruit bought before Wednesday should be discarded or returned
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Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on implementation of the new Nutrition Facts label for foods
FDA announced today their intent to launch a major educational campaign related to the new nutritional label. The new label distinguishes between sugars that are naturally occurring in foods and added sugars. The FDA is also issuing final giddiness to the food industry https://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/ucm528532.htm. This update includes updated requirements for serving sizes that more accurately reflect what people actually eat and drink. FDA had extended the compliance date from July 2018 to Jan. 1, 2020, for manufacturers with $10 million or more in annual food sales and to Jan. 1, 2021, for smaller manufacturers. @ https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm598808.htm?utm_campaign=03012018_Statement_NFL&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua
This guidance document explains FDA’s current thinking on information needed when submitting a citizen petition and the scientific review approach we plan to use for evaluating scientific evidence to determine whether an isolated or synthetic non-digestible carbohydrate that is added to food (hereinafter “added non-digestible carbohydrate”) has a physiological effect that is beneficial to human health.
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Researchers from Guelph-based Bionano Laboratory have a developed a nanotechnology sensor for rapid detection of Norovirus
The researcher’s t Guelph University in Canada describes a rapid and highly sensitive point-of-care device for rapid determination and quantitation of noroviruses. The paper-based biosensor microfluidic device has a screen-printed carbon electrode that enables electrochemical virus detection within an hour. Its chip is packed with silica microbeads zones to filter and enrich a Norovirus-infected sample. The researchers claim that this simple and cost-effective device is designed to be used in the field. @ https://bionanolab.ca/laboratory/lab-news/341-biosensor-detects-norovirus-on-the-spot-in-one-hour
Biosensor Detects Norovirus on the Spot, in One Hour – Food Safety Tech ( link ) Researchers from Guelph-based Bionano Laboratory have a developed a nanote…
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Resilient earth microbes might grow on Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus
Some very resilient Earth microorganisms might be able to grow in Enceladus. Scientists have successfully cultivated a few of these microorganisms in the lab under the same conditions that are thought to exist on the moon, opening up the possibility that life might be lurking there. This is the first study that shows that life may have found a way to survive in an extremely cold and unfriendly environment deep within the Solar System. @ https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/27/17053164/enceladus-saturn-moon-alien-life-microbes-methane-hydrothermal-vents
The organisms survived in Enceladus-like conditions