Pesticide found in popular breakfast foods, test finds
Glyphosate, the most widely used agricultural herbicide, was found in 11 of 24 breakfast food samples tested recently. The Alliance for Natural Health-USA (ANH-USA) conducted the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing.
This pesticide, recently named a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO), was detected in oatmeal, bagels, organic eggs, potatoes and even non-GMO soy coffee creamer. This shows that it is being passed on by animals who ingest the chemical in their feed. Its presence in eggs and dairy supports the fear that the chemical is accumulating in the tissue of these animals, and therefore presumably also in human tissue, in a process called bioaccumulation.
Water from whey could be reclaimed for equipment cleaning
Reconditioned water is safe to use for equipment cleaning in food processing plants, according to a study published in the Journal of Dairy Science.
A new process developed by Yulie Meneses and Rolando Flores at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln allows manufacturers to recycle and reuse water from whey for cleaning-in-place systems. It uses ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis to recondition 47 percent of wastewater from whey of cheddar cheese.
Under current regulations, only potable water may be used to clean food contact surfaces and equipment surfaces, but the researchers noted that reconditioning and reuse of water is a promising alternative that can already be used for initial cleaning of fruits and vegetables as well as scalding of meat and poultry.
Sauerkraut cannery cited for safety violations after worker falls into vat
A food processing company faces $143,550 in federal penalties after an employee fell more than 17 feet into an empty vat and broke multiple bones. GLK Foods, the world’s largest sauerkraut manufacturer, was cited for the fourth time in five years for exposing workers to fall and machine hazards.
Following an inspection, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued one willful, two repeat, five serious and one other-than-serious safety violations to the cannery in Bear Creek, Wisconsin. The company was given 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the finding.