Salad E. Coli Scare to End in Weeks with California Resuming Output

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The concerns over the recent U.S. outbreak of E. coli involving romaine lettuce may last no more than a few weeks, as the area of Arizona where the offending produce is believed to have come from is now out of production and California farms are taking over. Federal officials are still trying to trace the… read more

Conagra Brands and Koch Foods Recalled a Total of 254,000 lbs. of Products

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The US Dept. of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on April 11 that Chicago-based Conagra Brands Inc. is recalling approximately 135,159 lbs. of Salisbury steak products (containing poultry, pork, and beef) that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically bone. The problem was discovered after the company received several consumer complaints and three… read more

Panera Recalls Cream Cheese Amid Listeria Concerns

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Panera Bread Co. has recalled all of its 2-oz and 8-oz cream cheese products sold in its U.S. bakery cafes. The recall comes on the heels of a finding in which samples of one variety of 2-oz cream cheese from a single production day showed a positive result for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. Panera said… read more

Chipotle Pledges to Reduce Food Waste at Landfills

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Chipotle Mexican Grill outlined several programs aimed at diverting 50 percent of its food waste from landfills by 2020. The pledge, announced Monday, is an expansion of existing efforts at the Denver-based chain. Chipotle’s more than 2,400 restaurants have already diverted 40 percent of food waste bound for landfills. The company outlined programs that will… read more

Employees Have to Know Just How Important Hand-Washing Is in your Operation

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Vigilant hand-washing is critical to preventing the spread of pathogens such as norovirus and Hepatitis A, which can negatively affect human and business health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illness outbreaks in the United States. For employees to know just how important hand-washing is… read more

Promote your Restaurant’s Dedication to Food Safety

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To successfully execute food safety measures and develop a culture of food safety in your restaurant, your entire team must diligently participate. One mistake, such as using a contaminated utensil to handle ready-to-eat food, can lead to foodborne illness and a tarnished business reputation. According to the Center for Disease Control, roughly one in six… read more

F.D.A. Gives More Guidance on Fiber, Added Sugars

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Guidance from the Food and Drug Administration issued March 1 included a proposed symbol related to the added sugars line on the new Nutrition Facts Panel of certain products. The F.D.A. also provided additional guidance on what the agency looks for when deciding whether an ingredient meets its dietary fiber definition. The draft guidance on… read more

Incidence of Listeria Continues to Decline

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Listeria causes approximately 1,600 cases of foodborne illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.), and about one in five of those contracting listeriosis dies. Almost every case of listeriosis comes as a result of eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes are bacteria that live in soil, water, cattle and poultry animals in addition to thriving… read more

Food Waste, Sustainability Guides Published By NRA

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The 2018 edition of The State of Restaurant Sustainability highlights the sustainability efforts restaurant operators are undertaking in their operations. The association surveyed more than 500 restaurant owners and operators about their sustainability efforts, opportunities and challenges as well as 1,000 consumers about the best ways restaurants can communicate their sustainability initiatives to their guests. Among… read more

Pew: 4 Food Safety Issues Worth Watching in 2018

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The Pew Charitable Trusts highlighted four food safety policy developments the organization will be monitoring in 2018. Pew released its analysis citing the importance of the ongoing implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) in the wake of a foodborne illness investigation of an E. colioutbreak linked to leafy greens that killed one person and… read more