The Food Safety Report

Investigators uncovered testing irregularities and have revoked hundreds of food saftey certifcates at various establishments in the San Fransico, Calif. area. Apparantly some food saftey inspectors were giving certificates to people "who never took the exam and provided test takers with answers."

"The San Francisco Department of Public Health began notifying more than 300 restaurants Tuesday that their certification holders have to be retested" - Article at MercuryNews.co.

Related Sources:

• Testing of SF food handlers not valid San Francisco Chronicle
• Food safety permits bogus The San Francisco Examiner
• Food Safety Certifications Revoked for Hundreds of SF Restaurants SFist

A new partnership between The Kroger Co. and the Center for Innovative Food Technology is encouraging concumers to contact Ohio State University Extension's Food Safety Hotline at 1-800-752-2751, available between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

From OhioFarmer.com:

"We've had callers wondering about recalled products -- cookie dough and pistachios -- and I expect more calls on a wide variety of topics as word gets around about the hotline... I think this kind of service is especially important for people who don't have easy access to the Internet -- they can just place a call and talk with a real person about their food safety concerns." Read More

From The Packer.com:

"A food safety industry group formed to improve response to food outbreaks has recommended guidelines to handle future outbreaks."

...and...

"Targeting federal, state and local agencies, the guidelines provide model practices to be used in food outbreaks, including detection, investigation, control and prevention, according to a news release." Read More

Here's a link to the official press release on PrNewswrire.com. 

Here's a link to the full report (PDF) at cifor.us.

AARP.org has published some personal safety tips on food consumption.  Here are some hightlights.  For the full list, read more.

• Wash your hands thoroughly before, during, and after handling food. Nearly half of all cases of food sickness could be prevented if people washed their hands more often when preparing and handling food, according to the American Dietetic Association (ADA) in Chicago.
• Wash cutting boards, utensils, dishes, and kitchen surfaces you use to prepare food with hot, soapy water. Rinse well.
• Always wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water, especially those you will eat raw. Use a vegetable brush. Throw away the outer leaves of lettuce or cabbage.
• Use a clean plate for cooked meats, chicken, and fish. Wash plates that held uncooked food before using them again.
• Keep sponges, dishcloths, and towels clean. If you're wiping up juices from uncooked meats, it's better to use paper towels. Throw them away when you're done.

From CQ Poltics:

"The House Agriculture Committee chairman threatened Thursday to slow the progress of a food safety bill until the concerns of farm groups are addressed." Read More

From WSJ:

"Legislation to overhaul the nation's food-safety system has spurred a backlash from livestock and grain farmers who don't want the Food and Drug Administration inspecting farms."

... and ...

"Live animals are not 'food' until the point of processing, which is why this bill needs to clarify that the FDA does not have regulatory authority on our farms, ranches and feedlots," said Sam Ives, a veterinarian who spoke for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association."

Read More (wsj.com subscription required).