Halal Meat May Be Processed Differently, But is it Safer?
Of over one billion Muslims globally, approximately four million live in North America. Immigrants from various cultures bring with them distinctive culinary traditions and Muslims are no exception. In addition to styles of cooking, Muslims also adhere to dietary laws (halal), which strictly regulates the slaughter and processing of meat. Food processed in concordance with […]
Should You Trust Your Nose to Detect Bad Food?
Food aromas are cherished memories. You probably still fondly remember the amazing smell of apple pie or steak from the backyard barbeques of your childhood. While we enjoy smells we like, we also rely on our olfactory prowess to save us from eating spoiled food. In fact, for many the sense of smell is our […]
Would You Feel Safer With Robots Behind the Fast Food Counter?
As children, we watched TV shows like The Jetsons that showed flying cars and robots serving food. While the car companies have so far let us down, robots may soon be preparing and serving food at fast food restaurants. Increased pressure to raise employee wages has prompted chains to rethink their business model and replace […]
The Risks of Going Gluten-Free
The gluten-free craze is causing consumers to switch. The messages are: saving those we love from gluten is a noble cause, all over the world, gluten-free has become the diet of athletes and celebrities, if you want to look young, active, and attractive, go gluten-free., and this diet is saving lives. A gluten-free diet is […]
How Safe Is Organic Food Really?
Germany 2011, a mysterious illness swept the country. More than 3,000 people fell ill and 31 died. The source of the infection was unknown. Imported Spanish cucumbers were suspected but it was later discovered that the source was much closer to home – bean sprouts grown at a small organic farm in northern Germany. While […]
Spirituality vs Science: Is Kosher Food Safer?
As you rush past the tempting baked goods aisle in the supermarket searching for your beloved produce section, a kosher symbol catches your eye. You walk up to the package and notice the word ‘parve’ is written on it. What’s a parve? – you think to yourself – and what is “kosher” anyway? With all […]
On the Tencer & Grose Show: Food Safety Issues in Canada
According to Public Health Agency of Canada, four million Canadians will come down with food poisoning this year. You would think that in today’s day and age, foodborne illness wouldn’t be an issue anymore, especially with the food you buy in the supermarket. But is that true? Dan Tencer and Andrew Grose interview Steven Burton, […]
Paperless HACCP Plans: The Value of Food Safety Software
by Karine Lawrence, Sirocco Food + Wine Food safety specialists working in industry know that developing and maintaining a HACCP-based food safety program requires a significant amount of administrative paperwork. With pressures to go paperless coupled with increasing regulatory and industry requirements, more and more food businesses are turning to computer solutions to manage food […]
Vancouver Sun Reports: Kosher Check Integrates Food Safety with Icicle
by Jenny Lee, Vancouver Sun Take a little non-profit agency run by an innovative orthodox rabbi — in no way a contradiction in terms — and you get Kosher Check, a Vancouver kosher certification agency that sends rabbinical inspectors as far away as India and China. “Companies want to get kosher certification because it makes […]