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reusable food shopping bags and packages can contain a high level of bacteria, yeast, mold and coliform counts which pose a significant food safety risk, warns a new study from sporometrics, an environmental microbiology lab based in toronto, canada. swab tests of reusable bags last november revealed a bacteria count of 1,800 colony-forming units while 550 were discovered in tupperware containers.

a new guidance from the british meat processors association (bmpa) is designed to help manufacturers cut down on salt in their products without compromising quality and safety. the publication provides information and practical tips for businesses on how to reduce salt in meat products, while considering factors such as food safety, labelling and additives.

new regulations on microbiological safety will not result in increased testing procedures for most companies, industry experts say. "don't panic," advises kaarin goodburn, the managing director of the uk's chilled food association. goodburn, who was involved in providing advice during the european commision's drafting of the legislation, said she was concerned that some companies might be fooled into thinking the regulation would increase the level of food safety testing they would have to do.

food makers have until 1 january to implement procedures for testing their processing plants and products for dangerous bacteria such as listeria and e. coli. the procedures, as set out by the microbiological criteria for foodstuffs regulation, seeks to harmonise the industry's procedures for detecting the presence of dangerous bacteria. it is being introduced as part of the bloc's new food hygiene regulations, which also come into effect on 1 january.

the chief executive of the uk's food standard agency (fsa) used last week's keynote speech to discuss food safety detached from the everyday context of media hype and public scare stories. speaking at the society of food hygiene technology annual lecture in london's millennium mayfair hotel, dr jon bell underlined the importance of balancing public fears and actual risk.

we report elsewhere today on confirmation from the uk food and drink federation that food safety is an absolute priority for uk, and european, food manufacturers. but just this week the british medical association reports in the scientific journal 'gut' that cases of serious food poisoning in england and wales requiring admission to hospital have risen in real terms over the past decade -despite rates of overall illness having halved over the same time period.

following recent calls for controls on the widespread incidence of the common food bug campylobacter, safefood, a body that sets out to promote food safety in northern ireland and eire, held a meeting at the university college in dublin this week to discuss the development of preventative programmes. researchers outlined their current activities and demonstrated how these will be applied to foodchain monitoring and management.

warranted or not, it comes as no surprise to learn that there is growing concern among uk consumers over food safety. according to new research from mintel, 41 per cent of adults were concerned about the safety of food in 1997, while in 2002 this figure has risen to 44 per cent of consumers. the report revealed that there is a considerable difference in attitude between men and women with over half of women (51 per cent) worried about food safety, compared to just 36 per cent of men.

the british reputation for being too polite to complain about foodservice issues may be a myth, according to a new survey released this week. nine out of ten britons would complain if they were served undercooked chicken in a restaurant but only 65 per cent would do so at a dinner party, according to a survey released as part of national food safety week. the food standards agency (fsa) reports that if pink chicken was served during a business lunch, 72 per cent of those polled said they would complain.