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Catering, Food Handling and Awareness *OnTopic* Forum to educate us on safe food handling. Not specifically for Catering or competition but overall health and keeping our families safe too. |
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08-19-2006, 02:14 PM | #1 |
Banned
Join Date: 01-16-06
Location: Wikieup Arizona
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FDA says ok to treat meat with viruses
FDA Says Viruses Safe for Treating Meat
The Associated Press Friday, August 18, 2006; 8:42 PM WASHINGTON -- A mix of bacteria-killing viruses can be safely sprayed on cold cuts, hot dogs and sausages to combat common microbes that kill hundreds of people a year, federal health officials said Friday in granting the first-ever approval of viruses as a food additive. The combination of six viruses is designed to be sprayed on ready-to-eat meat and poultry products, including sliced ham and turkey, said John Vazzana, president and chief executive officer of manufacturer Intralytix Inc. The special viruses called bacteriophages are meant to kill strains of the Listeria monocytogenes bacterium, the Food and Drug Administration said in declaring it safe to use on ready-to-eat meats prior to their packaging. The viruses are the first to win FDA approval for use as a food additive, said Andrew Zajac, of the regulatory agency's office of food additive safety. The bacterium the viruses target can cause a serious infection called listeriosis, primarily in pregnant women, newborns and adults with weakened immune systems. In the United States, an estimated 2,500 people become seriously ill with listeriosis each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of those, 500 die. Luncheon meats are particularly vulnerable to Listeria since once purchased, they typically aren't cooked or reheated, which can kill harmful bacteria like Listeria, Zajac said. The preparation of bacteriophages _ the name is Greek for "bacteria-eater" _ attacks only strains of the Listeria bacterium and not human or plant cells, the FDA said. "As long as it used in accordance with the regulations, we have concluded it's safe," Zajac said. People normally come into contact with phages through food, water and the environment, and they are found in our digestive tracts, the FDA said. Consumers won't be aware that meat and poultry products have been treated with the spray, Zajac added. The Department of Agriculture will regulate the actual use of the product. The viruses are grown in a preparation of the very bacteria they kill, and then purified. The FDA had concerns that the virus preparation potentially could contain toxic residues associated with the bacteria. However, testing did not reveal the presence of such residues, which in small quantities likely wouldn't cause health problems anyway, the FDA said. "The FDA is applying one of the toughest food-safety standards which they have to find this is safe," said Caroline Smith DeWaal, director of food safety for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer advocacy group. "They couldn't approve this product if they had questions about its safety." Intralytix, based in Baltimore, first petitioned the FDA in 2002 to allow the viruses to be used as a food additive. It has since licensed the product to a multinational company, which intends to market it worldwide, said Intralytix president Vazzana. He declined to name the company but said he expected it to announce its plans within weeks or months. Intralytix also plans to seek FDA approval for another bacteriophage product to kill E. coli bacteria on beef before it is ground, Vazzana said. Scientists have long studied bacteriophages as a bacteria-fighting alternative to antibiotics. |
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08-19-2006, 02:18 PM | #2 |
Banned
Join Date: 01-16-06
Location: Wikieup Arizona
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I'm having a hard time with this one.
I just don't trust the FDA that much any more. |
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08-19-2006, 02:31 PM | #3 |
Quintessential Chatty Farker
Join Date: 02-06-05
Location: Southern Minnesota
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I'm no tree hugger but, organic is becoming more appealing to me all the time.
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Kevin |
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08-20-2006, 05:41 AM | #4 |
On the road to being a farker
Join Date: 02-17-06
Location: Temiskaming Shores, Ontario, Canada
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Scary stuff! I try to avoid ready-to-eat anyway. I just don't know what's in that stuff to begin with.
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Peter Beer is proof that God loves us. ____________________________________ Crown Verity gasser Little gasser Meco bullet, CharGriller Refrigerator shelf, pile of rocks, stack of wood Former Klose owner (sob) |
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08-20-2006, 04:44 PM | #5 |
is One Chatty Farker
Join Date: 08-26-03
Location: Fall River, Kansas
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This is not problem for me. The safer the better. But then again I know what a bacteriophage is and what it does. But then again I know that about 25% of the solids in poop are dead bacteria. I would imagine that there are a few bacteriophages in all that mess too. A few more will not hurt much and in fact might help.
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Wichita Wayne Long in the tooth, Long in the tooth, I'm lookin' 'round the corner, An' I'm long in the tooth... |
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08-21-2006, 07:51 AM | #6 | |
Quintessential Chatty Farker
Join Date: 12-05-03
Location: Mt Carmel IL
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Quote:
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08-21-2006, 08:30 AM | #7 |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 04-14-04
Location: Choctaw, OK
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Let's hope they don't end up making a lot of people sick just to save a few hundred with weakened immune systems...
Survival of the Fittest Mod
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Arlin MacRae Primo Oval Junior, Traeger Model 075 Pellet Pooper, Big Chief, Kingfisher Kooker 14" gas/wood combo, PBC Brethren Edition, Pit Boss NASCAR Tailgater Home Brewer, Murderer of Squirrels, Armadillo Inspector Flaming Pig Head Mod Certified KCBS Master BBQ Judge |
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08-21-2006, 08:44 AM | #8 | |
Quintessential Chatty Farker
Join Date: 09-14-05
Location: Vernon, Connecticut
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Quote:
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Guy (Pitmaster) BBQ Team: Lawn Guyland Smokers Stupidity for Dummies …because sometimes, you just can’t dumb it down enough… |
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09-07-2006, 11:14 AM | #9 | |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 09-17-03
Location: Wichita, Kansas
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Quote:
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Bigdog Senior member of the Brethren Weber Platinum Kettle, Weber OTS, Meco square grill, a PK, ECB, UDS, Large BGE, a camping grill, a Blackstone flattop, a Camp Chef grill,The MOAB, and a YS640. MOINK. Pitman for Andy Groneman at the All Things BBQ cooking classes. Smoke on Brother KC Father of the Fatty (the name) 4/20/04 on the BBQ Brethren with inspiration from Brother parrothead. |
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09-07-2006, 01:35 PM | #10 |
is one Smokin' Farker
Join Date: 09-12-05
Location: Owego, NY
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In 10 years they will be carcinogenic?
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Charlie Beasley New Owner of old Bandera (8 years or so) New Smokette 008 (Love IT) |
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