Avoiding Food Scandals

The dioxin scandal in European eggs in early 2011 is being followed by new dioxin-like PCB tainted eggs found in Germany. The source of the 2011 poison was tracked back to fatty acids  of the production of bioDiesel which were illegally added to the feed of hens. However, no source is known which might have caused the 2012 PCBs which poisoned organic eggs of North Rhine-Westphalia/Germany and conventional free range farms in Lower Saxony/Germany. PCBs levels in eggs were found to be six times the permitted limit.

The EU- Directive 1999/74 defines and specifies the standards for the protection of laying hens, defining the barn egg, the free range egg and the organic egg. [1]

OPERA reported in September 2011 that neutrinos generated at CERN in their laboratory  in Switzerland were detected at Gran Sasso National Laboratory in Italy speeding the 730 kilometres distance between both labs 60 nanoseconds faster than light might travel such distance, contradicting the theory of relativity of Einstein. [1]

The initiative The “Threaded publications” initiative by BioMed Central aims to increase transparency in science communication and enhance the discoverability of evidence-based health information. The initiative addresses the current problem of disconnected articles relating to a specific clinical trial, and sound research failing to be published, aiming to make threaded publications interoperable between multiple journals and publishers. [1]

In Bavaria, Germany, 25 farms were closed off in mid January 2012 after urine of  pigs tested positive for chloramphenicol, an important antibiotic. Officials found that feed supplied to pig farms by the Bavarian dairy factory Ehrmann contained the antibiotic.

Approximately half of importers and distributors of medical equipment in the Kingdom are unlicensed, according to a Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) official. According to Saleh Al-Tayar, a  member of the SFDA, the Saudi medical market was a testing ground for various medical products as there was no system to regulate it until four years ago. [1]

According to Khalid Al Hosni, laboratory tests found large amounts of bacteria and fungi in the drink, which falls short of the UAE accepted health standards. The fungi found in Vimto drink  produce dangerous toxins that could lead to serious diseases. Mister AlHosny urged the public not to buy the drink if they found it in stores and to report shops selling it to the municipality. [1]

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) assessed the risk of  pathogenic bacteria that may contaminate seeds intended for sprouting and sprouted seeds (sprouts, shoots and cress) which are  generally consumed raw or minimally processed. [1]

Pathogenic bacteria can contaminate seeds and grow during sprouting. Furthermore, preventing initial contamination during production, storage and distribution of seeds is of the foremost importance.