On March 27 China notified the WTO of a proposal for its national standard for flavorings. This standard specifies the requirements, test methods, inspection rules, marks, packing, transport, storage and shelf-life of flavorings. The date for submission of final comments to the WTO is May 27. The proposed date of adoption is 90 days after circulation by the WTO Secretariat (June 27) and the proposed date of entry into force is six months after adoption (September 27). The complete USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Gain report is available at: http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200905/146347789.pdf

SOME VIRUSES HELP FIGHT
FOOD PATHOGENS

“Bacteria-eating” viruses, known as bacteriophages, could be an effective way of eliminating specific food pathogens, according to a recent report from the European Food Safety Authority’s BIOHAZ Panel.

The study revealed that under specific conditions, some bacteriophages could be used to eliminate specific pathogens in meat and milk products.

The research panel noted that bacteriophages tend to persist longer than their hosts and behave as inert particles in the environment. But their long-term antibacterial activity is reduced on dry surfaces and their persistence in food varies with each bacteriophage, and with the conditions of application.

After reviewing peer-reviewed scientific literature, the panel was unable to conclude whether or not bacteriophages can protect against bacteria in cases where the food becomes re-contaminated. The panel recommended further research to gauge the persistence of bacteriophages in foods and their ability to prevent recontamination with bacterial pathogens. Research should focus on specific combinations of bacteriophages, pathogens and foods, it said.

FDA first approved the use of bacteria-eating viruses as food additives in ready-to-eat meat and poultry to protect against Listeria three years ago.

SALES SOAR ON
ACAI-BASED PRODUCTS

Spending on acai-based products by Americans seeking to lose weight, gain energy or slow aging doubled to $104 million last year, according to SPINS – a Schaumburg, Illinois-based market research firm.

Oprah Winfrey discussed the purple Amazon berry with Mehmet Oz on her television talk show in Feburary 2008 when the New York cardiologist presented his “anti-aging checklist” which includes acai, blueberries and tomatoes. “It has twice the antioxidant content of a blueberry,” said Oz.

U.S. consumers are turning “a typical poor people’s food into something like a delicacy,” said Oscar Nogueira, who specializes in the fruit at Embrapa, Brazil’s agricultural research company. Embrapa’s data shows the fruit’s wholesale price in Brazil jumped about 60-fold since U.S. demand took off early this decade.

In 2008, exports from Para, the South American country's main producing state, climbed 53 percent to account for about a quarter of output, according to the local government. However, overall production only slightly increased in the past five years, reported Bloomberg.com.

REGISTER NOW FOR NAFFS
TECHNICAL MEETING

There is still time to register for NAFFS Annual Technical Meeting to be held Thursday, May 28 at the Doubletree Hotel & Executive Meeting Center in Somerset, N.J. The program kicks off with a networking lunch at noon and features “Everything You Need to Know About Formulating With Stevia” where Dr. Varuzhan Abelyan of PureCircle will share his extensive knowledge on stevia extraction and processing. Next an impressive panel of experts – Kevin Allen of I.P. Callison & Sons, Dave Elliott of Environmental Micro Analysis and Ted Lupina of Kalsec – will address the analytical science, techniques, agricultural challenges, ethical and supply side issues of pesticide residue challenges in food and beverage products.

Registration will begin at 11:45 a.m. Complete details are available on www.naffs.org. Register now!

STUDY SHOWS LABS WORLDWIDE
CAN DETECT MELAMINE IN FOOD

Most laboratories worldwide are capable of detecting melamine in food, according to a new study by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC).

Levels of the harmful substance in food samples were measured accurately by more than 70 percent of the laboratories taking part in the study, reported FoodQualityNews.com. The results suggest that the global response to last year’s contaminated milk scandal in China has been effective, according to JRC.

Seventy-four percent of the laboratories detected melamine in samples of milk powder while 73 percent identified the contaminant in sample baking mix within the acceptable range defined by common international measurement guidelines.

After assessing the results of the study, JRC researchers concluded that isotope dilution mass spectrometry with a stable isotope labeled melamine was more accurate than other detection issues.

Participating in the research were 114 laboratories from 31 countries around the world which included Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, U.S. and 21 of the 27 EU member states.

Although the EU does not import milk or other dairy products from China, processed food such as chocolates or biscuits might contain contaminated milk powder. “The European Commission therefore decided that food or feed containing milk products originating in - or transported from – China should be checked. Any product containing more than 2.5 mg/kg melamine must be destroyed,” confirmed the report.

FEMA/FMA TO HOLD
JOINT WORKSHOP

On June 10 the Flavor & Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) and the Fragrance Materials Association (FMA) will hold a workshop on “Process Safety Management in the Flavor & Fragrance Industry.” The workshop will be held at the Marriott Newark Liberty Airport Hotel and is open to members and non-members of both organizations.

MEMBERS IN
THE NEWS

Food Product Design Magazine launched its newly redesigned web site – www.foodproductdesign.com on May 15. The new web site offers many of the same free features as the previous version; however, Virgo Publishing has restructured the navigation for a more user-friendly experience, updated the look, and added new “Applications,” “Business Issues” and “Ingredients” sections.

NAFFS WELCOMES
NEW MEMBER

Nestle Industrial Tea & Coffee, Nestle USA
61 Jerseyville Ave.
Freehold, NJ 07728
Phone: (732) 577-7210
Fax: (732) 431-3011
Website: www.nestle.com
e-mail: leng.tambone@us.nestle.com
Contact: Len Tambone, Mgr. – Industrial Tea & Coffee
Products: Tea and coffee extracts, powders, essences, concentrates
Referred by: Joe Moran, Allen Flavors

NAFFS CALENDAR

May 28 – NAFFS Technical Meeting, Doubletree Hotel, Somerset, NJ
October 1-4 - The 92nd Annual NAFFS Convention, The Resort at Longboat Key Club, Longboat Key, Fla.