Articles -

This issue of Affidia is the last one of 2020, but it is the first issue in our new format, designed as a fully digital magazine. What you see is part of a larger editorial program, not just a different look. The Journal, which will continue to be available in its printed form, is now more than just a quarterly publication: it is a dynamic, continu [...]

Laboratory managers can choose between plate-based reference methods or proprietary methods. Faster but often more expensive, how can we be sure proprietary methods meet or exceed reference method performance?IntroductionAnalytical methods and their performance parameters have been defined as one of the components of a microbiological criterion for [...]

A complex interrelationship of global, regional, national, and private trade and analytical standards for olive oil and olive oil grading provides assurance at every step from tree to consumer.      Introduction  Olive oil is an ancient food oil with a long history and current prominence in dietary approaches based on traditiona [...]

The list of regulated chemical substances is different, the maxium allowed concentrations are sometimes different and in each country or Federation there are often changes in the regulation. In a few cases such differences can represent a trade barrier.Abbreviations:Codex • Codex Alimentarius CommissionCU • Customs UnionML • Maximum LevelMRL [...]

Digital communication technologies have tremendous potential to facilitate effective risk communication about existing and emerging food safety threats. However, some caution regarding social exclusion and ethical issues is needed.      The need for effective risk benefit communication  Effective risk communication about food is [...]

China and Russia are on a fast track to ramp up food trade, but several food safety issues must be solved first.Russia is eager to partially replace US products in the Chinese food market, but ongoing food safety disagreements remain a stumbling block for export growth. During the first ten months of 2020, Russia exported 3.7 million tonnes of foo [...]

How Neotron, a prominent Italian food testing laboratory, is becoming part of the growth strategy of the Swiss inspection and certification company.Cotecna Inspection SAFounded: 1974Present in: 50 countriesNumber of Laboratories/offices: 160Revenue: not providedEmployees: over 5 000Neotron SPAFounded: 1976Location: Modena, ItalyRevenue: not provide [...]

Simple devices that can be operated by non-laboratory staff are sufficiently accurate for identifying suspected non-compliant food batches. This kind of smart sampling can replace random sampling and make way for more efficient food fraud and safety controls.     The food industry goes to great lengths to ensure the safety and quality of [...]

Do method sensitivities comply with recommended allergen reference doses? The ThRAll-EFSA project is developing a tool to quantify allergens in complex foods using MS techniques for improved analytical accuracy.     The size of the food allergy problem Food allergies are a growing health burden worldwide. Although the true prevalence of f [...]

No topic dominated the media in 2020 like the COVID-19 pandemic.After endless deliberation over infec- tion counts and challenges to national health systems, public debate turned to controversial government-mandated containment measures to reduce COV- ID-19 transmission, such as wearing face masks, social distancing, and curfews. But for those resp [...]

The COVID-19 pandemic will lead to a fundamental change on how we view the health of food industry workers. It will impact every aspect of the plant layout, the physical distancing, the methods for disinfection.   Background   No single global event in recent history has had such a profound impact on food industry workers as the spread of [...]

Testing food manufacturing surfaces for SARS-CoV-2 has been widely promoted during the pandemic but is this approach effective for decreasing virus transmission of the virus?     Introduction COVID-19 is not considered a foodborne illness and surface contamination is not likely a significant source of contamination. Yet, food industry pla [...]

The second quarter of 2020 saw a drop in RASFF notifications, a plausible consequence of the pandemic measures, but has the anticipated increase in food fraud actually occurred?     It is hard to think of another event that has had such far-reaching effects in such a short period of time as the COVID-19 pandemic. We have been witness to s [...]

The complexities of food fraud require an understanding of criminology to remove incentives for criminals and to create more resilient food supply chains.      Introduction Today, food fraud is regarded mainly as a food regulatory/quality issue and it is addressed with the typical approach well known to the food business: risk analys [...]

While consumers around the globe have gradually lost trust in poorly-applied precautionary allergen labelling (PAL) schemes, the UK food industry appears to be willing to embrace the new allergen approach utilising allergen thresholds.      Introduction Food allergies are a significant problem, with an estimated 20 million sufferers [...]