The success of PulseNet for tracing the source of foodborne illness outbreaks has become the industry’s own worst enemy as more news coverage has eroded consumer trust, according to an ex­USDA food safety expert.

CDC is collaborating with public health and agriculture officials in multiple states, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate an outbreak of human Salmonella Infantis infections linked to direct or indirect contact with dry dog food.

Abstract

Japan is going to ban raw beef liver from restaurants effective July 1, 2012, but the move could be a precursor for a wider ban on equally risky – but beloved – raw foods in Japan. In May 2011, E. coli O111 in raw beef – not liver but hamburger -- killed five and sickened at least 180 in Japan.

“A clean hand is better than a dirty glove,” say the Aussies. For years – decades – I’ve heard from food safety types at food service that they know gloves don’t do much during food prep, but the public complains if workers aren’t wearing their gloves; the gloves stay.

Betty’s Fine Food and Spirits will stay open after the Columbus Board of Health reviewed recent food-safety problems at the restaurant, many of which stemmed from equipment failure. Betty’s owner Elizabeth Lessner said last week that she has spent more than $20,000 fixing air conditioning and coolers to ensure that food stays cold enough to remain safe.

A better way to improve organizations using overlooked employee talent has taken a top award from a notable management group. Marguerite Schneider, an associate professor in NJIT School of Management, is the co-author of "Leadership a Complex Adaptive System: Insights from Positive Deviance." Curt Lindberg, of Complexity Partners, Bordentown, NJ, was her co-author.

“I don’t think we need more laws, we need more leaders.”

That’s one of several gems offered up by David Theno, buried in a too-long piece about food service food safety by Carolyn Surh of QSR.

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Darrel J. Aubertine today warned consumers in and around Chautauqua County to not consume unpasteurized raw farm milk from Castle Farms due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination.