Packaging

  • Follow the bug: 10% of chicken packaging contaminated with campylobacter – on the outside

    Posted: December 15th, 2011 - 11:50pm by Doug Powell

    Just cook it doesn’t cut it.

    Especially when 10 per cent of 42 samples of packaging on chicken is contaminated with campylobacter on the outside.

    (And another reason to wrap any poultry in extra plastic, especially if placing into a reusable bag.)

    The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland and other groups said the study confirmed the results of a previous survey by the group that also showed that approximately 10% of samples were contaminated.

    The Chairman of the West of Scotland Food Liaison Group (WOSFLG), Mr Leslie Paton said, “We know that it is fairly common to find Campylobacter in raw chicken but we were quite concerned about the extent to which the external surfaces of the packaging were also contaminated. There are implications for anyone handling such packaging and consumers should take care as there is a possibility of cross contamination to other surfaces and foods.”

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    Other Microorganisms  |  0 Comments
    Campylobacter, Chicken, Cross-contamination, food safety, Packaging, Plastic, Scotland
  • Food trial goes wrong at hospital; 10 sick

    Posted: April 27th, 2011 - 10:14am by Doug Powell

    An investigation is under way at a U.K. hospital after 10 staff who took part in a food trial were struck down with illness.

    Eight of the catering team at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness received treatment in the accident and emergency department.

    The workers were testing a new food product aimed at patients with swallowing difficulties, such as stroke victims and dementia sufferers.

    Symptoms ranged from temporary loss of vision to facial inflammation. None of the staff was detained in hospital and all are now back at work. No patients were affected and the kitchens were not shut down. It is believed that the illness was not food-related, a spokeswoman for NHS Highland said. The food packaging is the suspected source of the illnesses.

    A source, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "Some had lost their vision because their eyes were so swollen, they couldn't open them. It must have been frightening."

    "I am surprised the kitchen was not closed down for a while to find out what was going on," the source added.

    Raigmore has 577 beds and employs around 3,200 staff. The catering department has 60 staff who provide 2,500 meals a day to patients, staff and visitors.

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    Wacky and Weird  |  1 Comment
    Food, Hospital, inflammation, Packaging, test, trial, Uk
  • Cargill launches beef line with leakproof packaging

    Posted: July 19th, 2010 - 6:35pm by Doug Powell

    Consumers ain’t no dummies.

    Cargill asked consumers what they wanted in beef packaging and they said stuff that doesn’t leak.

    David Bisek, associate brand manager for Cargill said in a statement.

    “Shoppers have spoken and Cargill has listened. They told us their No. 1 frustration with current fresh beef packaging is the fact that it leaked. These leaks plague consumers throughout the shopping process: they leave a mess in grocery carts, they stain car upholstery and they necessitate refrigerator clean-up during storage.”

    And the cross-contamination potential is enormous.

    So Cargill introduced a new Grantwood Meats line where beef is vacuum-sealed into a leakproof package with a peel-to-open tab. It is freezer-ready and has a 30-day shelf life from the packing date.

    Meatingplace says the Grantwood Meats line includes muscle cuts and roasts.
     

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    Food Safety Culture  |  0 Comments
    Cargill, grantwood, Leak, leakproof, Meat, Packaging
  • The need for food packaging: The French fight back

    Posted: December 22nd, 2009 - 10:26pm by Doug Powell

    When I was on The Dr. Oz show for 30 seconds a couple of months ago, I noted that leading supermarkets are taking steps to minimize contact between the thousands of sniffling, sneezing and wheezing customers who daily rifle through bread bins, climb on piles of plantains, and snort olives.

    Albert Amgar alerted me to a new spot from the French Plastic and Flexible Packaging Association, highlighting the need for food packaging. I’m looking at you, Whole Foods. 

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    Food Safety Policy, Raw Food  |  0 Comments
    Cooking Show Video, France, Packaging