Brazil’s GMO logo has been mandatory since 2003 but three-quarters of Brazilians do not recognize it, according to a recent study. Should it be removed - as a draft law currently proposes - or redesigned?
Most nixtamalized corn products in Mexico are below limits for the carcinogenic aflatoxin, AFB1, but the prevalence of corn in the daily diet means the contaminant is still cause for concern, say researchers.
The vast majority (92%) of fruit and vegetables sold in Brazil are within national safe levels for pesticide contamination, according to a four-year government survey.
Alimentus Consultoria is an open-access archive of Brazilian food legislation that can help manufacturers navigate the country’s complex and often over-lapping regulatory landscape, says one expert.
Voluntary food safety certification in Latin America was once for export only– but it is increasingly in demand for domestic markets, according to BRCGS. “We keep the bar of certification high but achievable,” says its Americas director.
Dozens of Peruvian products, primarily from the agricultural and fishery sectors, have failed US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) health requirements and been banned from US markets.
The Costa Rican Ministry of Health has invested ₡2,600 million (US$4.55m) in food safety microbiological laboratory with next-generation equipment to prevent foodborne illnesses.
On the back of winning a global food safety award, Chilean ingredient supplier Alfa Group is embarking on "a very aggressive commercial mission" in Latin America, it says.
Tortillas may be an important source of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) exposure in Guatemala, a finding that has "major implications for public health", say researchers.
Bioactive peptides found in a common microalga inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and E. Coli bacteria by more than 90%, Colombian researchers have found.
Brazilian start-up Plasticor's patent-pending, biodegradable plastic changes color when food begins to perish, reducing food waste without compromising food safety, it says.
Milk or not milk? In the US, the debate continues regarding beverages made out of plants. In Japan, a cultured meat start-up raises US$2.5m, while members of the French parliament are calling for stricter food safety controls. Here are last week’s top...