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Arsenic found in baby formula containing organic brown rice syrup

Rice is among the plants that are efficient in taking up arsenic from the soil, environmental chemist Brian Jackson of Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., and his co-authors said in Thursday's issue of the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. Long-term exposure to extremely high levels of inorganic arsenic can increase the risk of lung, liver and bladder cancer as well as miscarriage and infertility.

18 Feb 2012

FDA requests a budget of $4.5 billion to protect and promote public health

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is requesting a budget of $4.5 billion to protect and promote the public health as part of the President's fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget – a 17 percent increase over the FDA enacted budget for FY 2012.

14 Feb 2012

SDIX, BD enter collaboration for development of microbiology detection solution

SDIX, a leading provider of biotechnology-based products and services for a broad range of life science, biotechnology, diagnostic and food safety applications, and BD Diagnostics, a segment of BD, a leading global medical technology company, today announced the signing of a comprehensive agreement whereby the two companies will collaborate in the development of a microbiology detection solution.

From BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) 6 Feb 2012

Is sugar as bad as alcohol and tobacco?

According to US health experts, sugar is as damaging and addictive as alcohol or tobacco and should be regulated. The University of California team suggests new policies such as taxes are needed to control soaring consumption of sugar and sweeteners. Prof Robert Lustig argues in the opinion piece called “The Toxic Truth About Sugar” in journal Nature for major shifts in public policy.

3 Feb 2012

Plasma can be an effective method to kill pathogens on uncooked poultry

A new study by food safety researchers at Drexel University demonstrates that plasma can be an effective method for killing pathogens on uncooked poultry. The proof-of-concept study was published in the January issue of the Journal of Food Protection.

3 Feb 2012

Report highlights gaps in health IT implementation

A report from the Bipartisan Policy Center noted that gaps persist in the nation's efforts to transition from a paper-based to a computer-based health records system.

30 Jan 2012

First Edition: January 30, 2012

Today's health policy headlines include a report that GOP leaders are pledging quick action on legislation to extend the payroll tax break and to prevent a scheduled cut in Medicare physician payment.

30 Jan 2012

Genetic technology to make inedible seeds more edible

Every night millions of people go to bed hungry. New genetic technology can help us feed the world by making inedible seeds more edible.

30 Jan 2012

Society of Toxicology 51st Annual Meeting and ToxExpo to be held March 11-15

More than 7,000 toxicologists from every corner of the globe are expected to attend the Society of Toxicology (SOT) 51st Annual Meeting and ToxExpo-, which will highlight toxicology's crucial role in creating a safer and healthier world. The five-day meeting will take place at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco from March 11-15, 2012.

25 Jan 2012

UNL project to reduce Shiga-toxin producing E. coli threat

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will lead a $25 million project to reduce throughout the beef production chain the occurrence of E. coli strains that pose a major threat to public health.

24 Jan 2012

Phenomenex, AB SCIEX collaborate to improve food testing

AB SCIEX, a global leader in life science analytical technologies, and Phenomenex, a global leader in separation science techniques, today announced a collaboration agreement designed to significantly improve food testing.

24 Jan 2012

MSU focuses on cultural competency to help turn tide of new infections

While global attention to HIV/AIDS remains strong, a lack of focus on prevention strategies is stonewalling health experts in many developing nations, specifically in the Caribbean.

20 Jan 2012

Consuming adequate quantities of dietary fiber can improve health

We should all be eating more dietary fiber to improve our health - that's the message from a health review by scientists in India. The team has looked at research conducted into dietary fiber during the last few decades across the globe and now suggests that to avoid initial problems, such as intestinal gas and loose stool, it is best to increase intake gradually and to spread high-fiber foods out throughout the day, at meals and snacks.

12 Jan 2012

Low-voltage alternating current can effectively eradicate E. coli on beef

A short burst of low voltage alternating current can effectively eradicate E. coli bacteria growing on the surface of even heavily contaminated beef, according to a study published in the International Journal of Food Safety, Nutrition and Public Health. The technique offers an inexpensive and easy to implement approach to reducing the risk of food poisoning, which can occur despite handlers complying with hygiene standards.

12 Jan 2012

AVMA warns against further restrictions on cephalosporin usage in food animals that are not backed by science

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) announced today that the FDA's order prohibiting certain uses of cephalosporins in food animals appears consistent with the current AVMA position on the limited prohibition on extra-label drug use, but warned against further restrictions not backed by science.

7 Jan 2012

Roka raises $47.5M in Series D round

Roka Bioscience announced today that it has secured $47.5 million in Series D financing. New investor Aisling Capital participated in the financing along with existing investors OrbiMed Advisors, New Enterprise Associates, Inc., and TPG Biotech. In conjunction with the financing, Josh Bilenker, M.D., Partner at Aisling Capital, will join Roka's Board of Directors.

6 Jan 2012

New standards to ensure quality of probiotic food ingredients proposed

With strong consumer interest in probiotics-and new manufacturer innovations for incorporating these ingredients into a broader array of food products-new standards to help ensure the quality of probiotic food ingredients are being proposed for public review and comment.

4 Jan 2012

Neogen develops new Reveal Q+ test for deoxynivalenol

Neogen Corporation has developed a new test for deoxynivalenol (DON) that combines the speed and simplicity of a lateral flow test with the fully quantitative precision of a more demanding testing method.

4 Jan 2012

AsiaInspection, Silliker launch new service for food industry

Silliker, a Mérieux NutriSciences company, and AsiaInspection are launching AsiaFoodInspection, a service combining Silliker's 40 years of experience in food safety and AsiaInspection's unique network of 350+ inspectors and online platform for quality control in Asia. AsiaFoodInspection offers inspections, testing and audit services in Asia for the food industry.

9 Dec 2011

Publicly posting enforcement and testing data on meat processing facilities could be beneficial

Publicly posting enforcement and testing data corresponding to specific meat, poultry, and egg products' processing plants on the Internet could have "substantial benefits," including the potential to favorably impact public health, says a new report from the National Research Council.

1 Dec 2011