The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published a survey on Salmonella levels detected in slaughtered pigs across the EU in 2006-07 indicating that Salmonella was found in one in ten pigs for human consumption. Salmonella was estimated on average to be present in 10.3 per cent of pigs slaughtered for human consumption, according to the EU-wide report from an EFSA Task Force. Levels for Salmonella detected in pigs varied from 0% to 29% between Member States. Among all Salmonella detected,... ...Read more »

A man has received a record fine after more than 8,000 oysters (703 dozen), which were unsafe for human consumption, were seized at the Sydney Fish Market, Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald said today.Terry Allan Harding was fined a record-high $42,000 for five offences relating to the harvest and sale of unsafe oysters. Mr Harding, from Port Macquarie, was charged by NSW Food Authority officers with harvesting oysters from the Hastings River while all the harvest zones on the river were... ...Read more »

A survey published yesterday by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has ignited concern about the safety of European commercial turkey meat for human consumption. The report, completed by an EFSA Task Force on European farms in 2006-07, found a full range of Salmonella types were estimated to be present in almost one third of turkey flocks reared for human consumption (30.7%) and in 13.6% of turkey flocks kept for breeding purposes. Amongst the full range of Salmonella types, Salmonella Enteritidis... ...Read more »

Health authorities have confirmed Pitts Poultry is at fault for a recent salmonella outbreak but no conclusions have yet been made with regard to how the eggs were contaminated. The salmonella outbreak last month affected more than 100 people, and was traced to raw egg products used by a caterer. This latest concern means that Pitts Poultry have been linked to an outbreak of salmonella seven times in the last four years. However, Biosecurity Australia believes that the processes now in place at... ...Read more »

The New South Wales Food Authority recently warned consumers against drinking unpasteurised milk which is being widely marketed under the guise of a pet food or as a cosmetic (eg bathtime) product. This article discusses the sale of unpasteurised milk and milk products for human consumption throughout Australia, and the risks that are being posed. A NSW Food Authority media release on 23 October 2007 advised that the Authority had received numerous complaints about ‘rogue traders’ selling... ...Read more »