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Study Examines Accuracy of Restaurant Menu Item Calorie Listings

USA Today (7/20, Hellmich) reports that calorie counts listed on restaurant menu items may not be accurate, according to a study published in the July 20 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. For the study, researchers collected “269 restaurant dishes from 42 popular fast-food and restaurants,” then “sent the dishes…to their laboratory … Read more

Senators reach agreement on food safety bill

  This is good news for food safety, but it’s unfortunate it came too late to prevent the salmonella outbreak. The AP (8/13, Freking) reports, “A bipartisan group of senators said Thursday they have reached agreement on legislation designed to enhance the safety of the nation’s food supply,” which “would give the Food and Drug … Read more

More Recalled Eggs

Folks, please check the brand of eggs that you have in your refrigerator, as this recall is expanding. According to a post in the Philadelphia Inquirer, a second Iowa farm is recalling eggs due to salmonella poisoning. Iowa’s Hillandale Farms said Friday that it was recalling its eggs after laboratory tests confirmed illnesses associated with … Read more

Bring Your Own Lunch!

USA Today (6/28, Stoller) reports that according to the paper’s analysis the agency’s “inspectors have cited numerous catering facilities that prepare airline food for suspected health and sanitation violations following inspections of their kitchens this year and last. … The inspections were at the US facilities of two of the world’s biggest airline caterers, LSG … Read more

Eat With Care — Health Experts Question Diet Claims Made by Fast Food Chains

  More fast food companies are providing reduced-calorie choices these days. However, some things are just too good to be true… The New York Times (1/28, Ellin) reports that many fast food companies “have jumped on the reduced-calorie bandwagon” recently, although Taco Bell “is one of the few to promote their low-fat offerings so widely.” … Read more

Taylor says legislation would bring “new era” of food safety

  In a commentary appearing in The Atlantic (1/12), FDA senior advisor Michael Taylor discusses the agency’s food safety initiatives for the coming year. Taylor said the nation “is at an historic tipping point,” with Congress close to passing legislation that will “usher in a new era of food safety in this country.” Citing the … Read more

Congress, USDA urged to raise food-testing standards.

In an editorial, the Philadelphia Inquirer (1/6) praises Congress for “making a welcome push for higher food-testing standards,” citing bills by Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). Noting recent problems with USDA food supplied to schools and “a recent report by the Government Accountability Office [that] questioned whether federal agencies are getting … Read more

Airport Food Safety a Concern

A recent headline in USA Today warns travelers about food safety violations at airport restaurants. Some of the violations are: 1.   Tuna salad and turkey sandwiches are stored at dangerously warm temperatures. 2.   Raw meat contaminated. 3.   Rat droppings. 4.   Kitchens lack soap for workers to wash hands. These are national chains located in airports … Read more