Latest news with #Cronobacter
Otago Daily Times
4 hours ago
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Food safety stalwart given recognition
Photo: suppied Four decades of food safety work have earned a local scientist national recognition. University of Otago food science Professor Phil Bremer (pictured) has been named winner of the Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award at the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology's Industry Awards. In a statement, New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle said they were delighted to present Prof Bremer with the award. "With more than 40 years of contributions to the food safety sector, Prof Bremer has made a significant contribution to food safety science ... His work has helped build effective food safety culture, industry best practice, equipment and processing technology, product and packaging development, and science and research." A key achievement of his was leading the development of a guide to prevent contamination of infant formula with Cronobacter, a lethal bacterium for infants under six months old. Prof Bremer serves as chief scientist at the New Zealand Food Safety and Scientific Research Centre and sits on several industry steering groups. — APL
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Work on food safety recognised
Phil Bremer. Photo: supplied Southern scientist Phil Bremer's more than 40-year contribution to the food safety sector was recognised last week. The professor of food science at the University of Otago was presented the Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award. Prof Bremer, of Dunedin, said it was a privilege to be recognised "for a career you've really enjoyed". New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle said Prof Bremer's many achievements included leading the development of a guide to prevent contamination of infant formula with Cronobacter, a lethal bacterium for infants younger than 6 months. "New Zealand dairy companies now benefit from this resource, which helps to ensure the safety of infant formula for the youngest consumers, at home and abroad," he said. "With more than 40 years of contributions to the food safety sector, Prof Bremer has made a significant contribution to food safety science, publishing more than 200 academic papers. "His work has helped build effective food safety culture, industry best practice, equipment and processing technology, product and packaging development, and science and research." Prof Bremer is a current member on several industry steering groups and the chief scientist at New Zealand Food Safety and Scientific Research Centre. The award was presented at the joint annual conference of the centre and New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology in Palmerston North.
Scoop
7 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Recognition For 40-Year Contribution To Strong Food Safety Culture And Sector
Press Release – New Zealand Food Safety With more than 40 years of contributions to the food safety sector, Professor Phil Bremer has made a significant contribution to food safety science, publishing more than 200 academic papers. New Zealand Food Safety congratulates Professor Phil Bremer for scooping this year's Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award at New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology's Food Industry Awards last night. In addition to his roles as Professor of Food Science at University of Otago and Chief Scientist New Zealand Food Safety and Scientific Research Centre (NFSSRC), Professor Phil Bremer is also an active member on several industry steering groups. 'We are delighted to present Professor Bremer with the award,' says New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle. 'With more than 40 years of contributions to the food safety sector, Professor Bremer has made a significant contribution to food safety science, publishing more than 200 academic papers. 'His work has helped build effective food safety culture, industry best practice, equipment and processing technology, product and packaging development, and science and research.' Among his many achievements are leading the development of a guide to prevent contamination of infant formula with Cronobacter, a lethal bacterium for infants under 6 months of age. 'New Zealand dairy companies now benefit from this resource, which helps to ensure the safety of infant formula for the youngest consumers, at home and abroad,' says Mr Arbuckle. 'Professor Bremer has made an immense contribution to the quality and breadth of food safety science in New Zealand, and to the strength of the wider food safety sector, with a number of leadership roles in New Zealand food safety associations and societies across his 40-year career. He also passes on his knowledge undertaking significant post-graduate supervision.' Mr Arbuckle says New Zealand Food Safety's ongoing support of the award is an important opportunity to celebrate champions of food safety culture, research and applications in food production. 'We applaud Professor Bremer, all 2025 award nominees and past winners whose contributions and commitment support New Zealand's world-class food safety system,' says Mr Arbuckle. Previous winners of the Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award include Dr Pierre Venter (2024) and Dr Rob Lake (2023).
Scoop
7 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Recognition For 40-Year Contribution To Strong Food Safety Culture And Sector
New Zealand Food Safety congratulates Professor Phil Bremer for scooping this year's Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award at New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology's Food Industry Awards last night. In addition to his roles as Professor of Food Science at University of Otago and Chief Scientist New Zealand Food Safety and Scientific Research Centre (NFSSRC), Professor Phil Bremer is also an active member on several industry steering groups. 'We are delighted to present Professor Bremer with the award,' says New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle. 'With more than 40 years of contributions to the food safety sector, Professor Bremer has made a significant contribution to food safety science, publishing more than 200 academic papers. 'His work has helped build effective food safety culture, industry best practice, equipment and processing technology, product and packaging development, and science and research.' Among his many achievements are leading the development of a guide to prevent contamination of infant formula with Cronobacter, a lethal bacterium for infants under 6 months of age. "New Zealand dairy companies now benefit from this resource, which helps to ensure the safety of infant formula for the youngest consumers, at home and abroad,' says Mr Arbuckle. "Professor Bremer has made an immense contribution to the quality and breadth of food safety science in New Zealand, and to the strength of the wider food safety sector, with a number of leadership roles in New Zealand food safety associations and societies across his 40-year career. He also passes on his knowledge undertaking significant post-graduate supervision.' Mr Arbuckle says New Zealand Food Safety's ongoing support of the award is an important opportunity to celebrate champions of food safety culture, research and applications in food production. "We applaud Professor Bremer, all 2025 award nominees and past winners whose contributions and commitment support New Zealand's world-class food safety system," says Mr Arbuckle. Previous winners of the Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award include Dr Pierre Venter (2024) and Dr Rob Lake (2023).
Forbes
23-04-2025
- Health
- Forbes
How Will RFK's Cuts At The CDC, FDA And NIH Affect You?
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 19: People including researchers from Chicago area universities gather ... More on the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) campus to voice concerns about the potential loss of federal funding for medical research on February 19, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. The researchers are worried about the future of their projects as the Trump administration cuts grant funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). (Photo by) The Department of Health and Human Services announced drastic cuts that would gut 20,000 jobs on March 27—FDA (3500), NIH (1200), CDC (2400), and more from other agencies. A leaked draft budget released by the Washington Post and Politico on April 10 shows that the Office of Management and Budget plans cuts of $40 billion to HHS. The NIH and CDC will each face reduction of more than 40%. How will that affect the public? Cuts at the CDC emphasized programs looking at smoking, gun violence, and climate change—topics that this administration has devalued. Under discussion are plans to eliminate the domestic HIV prevention program, although HHS officials told Politico this was part of streamlining programs for efficiency and not actually eliminating them. The $1 billion spent on the program is largely funneled to the states for testing, surveillance, offering PrEP prophylaxis to prevent HIV, and outreach. What will states do now to make up for the shortfall? Although costly, the HIV prevention programs pay for themselves. Each newly diagnosed person accrues $500,000 in lifetime healthcare costs. In 2022 alone, 31,800 people were newly diagnosed, which would translate to $15.9 billion in cost. Journalist Marisa Kabas has a running list of HHS departments that have already been gutted to the point of non-functionality. They include the Cuts at CDC: Cuts at FDA: Cuts at NIH: These are just a smattering of the planned agency cuts. Some have already been implemented; others have not. One other notable cut is that the Head Start program, which provides early child care and education, has lost all of its funding from HHS's Administration for Children and Families. The FDA will no longer investigate food outbreaks. They just suspended a quality control program that tests milk and cheese for bird flu and other pathogens. The administration says that the states will pick up that work. Given how strapped state public health departments are now, it's hard to envision how this will happen. Also, many outbreaks cross multiple states and require extensive cooperation. A prime example is the outbreak of Cronobacter infections from powdered infant formula in 2022. A novel treatment for deadly pancreatic cancer, using an mRNA vaccine, is threatened by grant 'purity'tests for mentioning a 'forbidden' word, 'mRNA.' Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, now the head of HHS, has been vocal in his criticisms of mRNA vaccines. Because of this, scientists have reportedly been warned to scrub the word mRNA from their grant proposals for cancer trials. RFK Jr. has previously called mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations 'dangerous.' He also tried to have their approval rescinded in 2021 when deaths from Covid were rampant. The NIH has also axed research in vaccine hesitancy, with acting Director Matthew Memoli saying the agency is not interested in exploring ways to 'improve vaccine interest and commitment.' When we have widespread bird flu infections, we will likely be in trouble because mRNA vaccines can be developed faster than most egg-based vaccines. The Novavax vaccine, which is not mRNA-based is also in distress because of RFK Jr's mistrust and lack of knowledge. The FDA was slated to transition Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine from emergency use authorization to full licensure on April 1. But both RFK Jr and Tracy Beth Høeg, now a special assistant to Marty Makary (head of FDA), have opposed Novavax. RFK Jr. said, 'It is a single antigen vaccine. And for respiratory illnesses, the single antigen vaccines have never worked.' RFK Jr is wrong. Paul Offit, a leading vaccine researcher, immediately challenged this, as did Peter Marks, the former head of the FDA's biologics center, who was recently ousted, and other prominent physician researchers. RFK Jr. is neither a physician nor a scientist. Hoeg has promoted incorrect information about COVID-19 vaccines, including misinterpreted data, multiple people with vaccine expertise said. Further, in 2022, Novavax explained that their bivalent BA.1 + wild type formulation performed no better than single antigen formulations. Previously, Marty Makary, now head of the FDA, said, 'Novavax may be the best Covid-19 vaccine to date. It uses a tried and true mechanism of action and can be easily stored and transported. Needs a better PR firm.' Novavax's COVID-19 vaccination has far fewer side effects than the mRNA vaccines. Given all the expert opinions and data supporting its use, why did the FDA not approve its full licensure? Will we have access to any Covid vaccines next year? It appears increasingly doubtful for many. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met last week and is leaning towards recommending 'risk-based' boosters, with semi-annual boosters for those over 65 or immunocompromised (by whose definition?) and no vaccination needed otherwise. That ignores that even 'mild' Covid infections can cause long Covid and years of side effects, including cognitive impairment. If ACIP doesn't recommend vaccination, insurers are unlikely to pay for it. Are you hoping for a new drug for your cancer? Don't hold your breath! Did you know that funding from the NIH, totaling $187 billion, contributed to 354 of 356 drugs (99.4%) approved from 2010 to 2019? This is not an extravagant waste— the return was $2.56 for each dollar invested. A number of clinical trials, done to test new drugs or treatments before approval, have already stopped when HHS abruptly canceled funding. So many leaders at the NIH were fired that there is no one left to sign off on grants for funds that Congress already approved. (This means the administration is ignoring the will of the people by not dispersing these funds already allocated by Congress). There is an upcoming Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on April 30: Biomedical Research: Keeping America's Edge in Innovation. This title is clearly an oxymoron. Should you wish to share your thoughts, you can reach your senators at or here.
