See also: Related OurFood News
Subsections
Food borne diseases and food poisoning have always threaten humanity. Old
writings report a high ranking food poisoning in India. According to these
reports Buddha Gautama died after eating spoiled meat during his stay as a
guest at the house of the metal-worker Cunda at Pava, a village near Magadha
capital Rajagraha [1]
The cause of a scandal is not the scandal in its itself, it is rather the
fact that no necessary conditions were consciously provided to avoid it.
Lack of knowledge and low level of ethics are the causes of food scandals.
Even nowadays food scandals cause high costs and loss of confidence of the
consumer such as scandals with organics, BSE threat and contaminants in food.
Due to heavy industrial processing some danger arise when precautionary
activity fails to protect the consumer. Caustic sodium hydroxide used to clean
and sanitize manufacturing equipment was left in Vanilla soymilk in White
Wave Silk Brand cartons being recalled in early 2004 is an example of heavy
losses due to technical failure.
Food processors are responsible to provide the conditions to avoid food
poisoning and to control its effectiveness.
Example of
wrong location of level sensor resulting in cleaning agent leftover
No leftover in
the storage tank
Transboundary plant pests and animal diseases such as BSE and avian flue are
of growing economic and scientific complexity and consequently warrants priority attention.
Government are responsible to provide conditions to avoid transboundary
pests and diseases [2]. [3] [4]
The main sources of food scandals are caused by pathogenic bacteria. Predictive
Microbiology is a new tool for food producers to predict safety and shelf life
of new products. The common database can become an important step to avoid food scandals.
The ComBase Database
The ComBase Database is a combined database for predictive microbiology and is
an outcome from the Common Database for Predictive Microbiology which was
launched in June 2003 creating a virtual environment for every food and
every bacteria and should contribute to a more rapid understanding of food
safety and quality. Its purpose is to make data and predictive tools on
microbial responses to food environments freely available via web-based software.
The ComBase Database is an international collaboration between:
- FSA: www.food.gov.uk
- IFR: www.ifr.ac.uk
- USDA-ARS-ERRC: www.ars.usda.gov
- Australian Food Safety Centre of Excellence: www.foodsafetycentre.com.au
Everyone can create an environment by entering data such as the temperature,
pH and salt content - all the parameters relevant to his food product during
processing, distribution, storage and sale.
The database consists of thousands of microbial growth and survival curves
that have been collated in research establishments and from publications. They
form the basis for numerous microbial models presented in ComBase Predictor.
[5]
- ComBase database The ComBase Browser searches a database of
kinetics of spoilage organisms and pathogens in broth and food. The data come
from the scientific literature or were produced by miscellaneous institutions.
- ComBase Predictor The ComBase Predictor gives predictions from
models based on selected data of the ComBase database as a function of
environmental factors such as temperature, pH and water activity in broth.
[6]
ComBase Predictor is a tool for industry, academia and regulatory agencies.
They can be used in developing new food technologies while maintaining food
safety; in teaching and research; in assessing the microbial risk in foods or
setting up new guidelines.
The Internet version of the ComBase Predictor, developed by IFR, was launched
in February 2006.
ComBase Predictor web-edition is a modified and improved
version of the Growth Predictor programme. It comprises a set of twenty three
growth models and six thermal death models for predicting the response of many
important foodborne pathogenic or spoilage microorganisms to environmental
factors, including temperature, pH and salt concentration. Some of the models
also include an additional fourth environmental factor, such as the
concentration of carbon dioxide or acetic acid.
The Pathogen Modelling Program (PMP)
[7]
ComBase has developed a new set of predictive models known as ComBase-PMP,
which will produce predictions based on all the data on the site. The
Pathogen Modelling Program (PMP) is available at
http://ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=6786.
The PMP is a package of models that can be used to predict the growth and
inactivation of foodborne bacteria, primarily pathogens, under various environmental conditions. [8]
- Seafood Spoilage Predictor Software, Danish Institute for Fisheries Research
www.dfu.min.dk/micro/ssp/
- Microbial Risk Assessment of meat product-an output of the SMAS project
smas.chemeng.ntua.gr/miram/
- European Union Risk Analysis Information Network
www.eu-rain.com
- Food risk analysis clearing house
www.foodriskclearinghouse.umd.edu
- Sym'Previus (an integrated database and predictive software, in French)
www.symprevius.net
- Physical Properties of Food Database
www.nelfood.com
[8]
- CEMMI - The ERRC Center of Excellence in Microbial Modeling &
Informatics (CEMMI) brings together researchers with diverse and complementary
talents to advance the science of microbial modeling.
- Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition - FDA CIFSAN - ensuring the
security of our country's food supply.
- Foodsafe Archives - USDA / FDA Foodborne Illness Education Information
Center.
- Food Safety Network - The agri-food risk management and communications web site.
- Food Safety Risk Analysis Clearinghouse - The aim of this site is to
assist those professionals involved with any of the many aspects of risk
analysis as it pertains to the safety of our food.
- Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition - JIFSAN - a
program of dynamic partnerships.
- MEDLINE - A large database of scientific, technical, medical, and other
scholarly content. Search through 20 million citations and 10 million
abstracts from over 30,000 journals.
- Medscape - Offers a large amount of information about medical
information and education tools.
- National Food Safety Database - An informative website providing food
safety information for consumers, educators and the food industry.
- ProMED - Global monitoring of emerging diseases.
- The Microbiology Network - The Microbiology Network serves as a
communication resource for the microbiologist. The objective of this service
is to encourage communication within the microbiology and biotechnology community.
There is a growing concern linked to spread of agents through vegetables
contaminated with enterovirus and bacterial pathogens as Shigella from
low-standard irrigation water, parasites on tropical fruits and berries, and
Vibrio cholera, other enteric bacteria and enteroviruses from sea-foods
harvested in polluted sea water.
Sea-food: Polluted water is of public concern. The government of bordering
states and international organizations are responsible to issue warnings and
to initiate measures to eliminate the causes of the pollution.
Vegetables: Intervention must be on the communal level, a general improvement
of hygiene and pollution control. [9]
Many of the scandals of food safety in Europe the last decades have been
linked to this intensive husbandry system seen in Northern Europe. As there
has also been incidents caused by chemical pollution of feed (Belgium) or
direct contamination of food (cooking oil in Spain), most of the diseases in
man have been caused by agents either transferred to man from animals to man
through animal products or agents form man spread through vegetables
contaminated by polluted irrigation water.
Due to the very low prevalence of many foodborne microbiological hazards in
Norwegian products, an increased import of some foods to Norway from countries
outside the Nordic area will represent a potential Public Health risk.
US CDC , analising concludes that certain aspects of food trade represent a
considerable public health hazard.
At the same time, the western consumer is today probably less exposed to some
environmental pollutants than some years ago.
A main pattern is that the main hazards are linked to animal products from the
subsidized, industrialized western agriculture and some seafood and vegetables
from poor/tropical countries.
As a last comment, it is worth reminding that the main food item traded is
various forms of grains, where trade represents a minor if any health hazard.
It is also worth remembering that the main trade routes of foods are linked to
grains from rich countries to poor countries, estimated to approximately 70
million metric tones each years and expected to increase dramatically as most
of the unexploited soils are found in countries like USA, Canada and Australia
and only middle-income countries like Argentina and Brazil may increase their
contribution. [10]
FAO issued a press briefing on 26 January 2001 that urged countries around the
world, not just those in Western Europe, to be concerned about the risk of
bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and its human form, the new variant
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (nvCJD).
In a statement issued in Rome, FAO called for action to protect the human
population, as well as the livestock, feed and meat industries. It suggested
that all countries which have imported cattle or meat and bone meal (MBM) from
Western Europe, especially the UK, during and since the 1980s, can be
considered at risk from the disease. It added that countries at risk should
implement effective surveillance for BSE in cattle and controls on the animal
feed and meat industries.
Along with the export and import of feed materials, trade in animal
by-products has also increased. BSE was first diagnosed in the UK in 1986. It
was not until 1989 that it was suggested that meat and bone meal was the
probable source of the BSE infection in the UK. At this time, meat and bone
meal was banned from ruminant feeds in the UK. However, export to Europe
continued until 1996. It was in 1994 that the feeding of meat and bone meal
was banned in the European Union and not until January 2001 that a ban on the
use of ruminant meat and bone meal and certain other animal proteins in
feedstuffs for all farm animals, to avoid risks of cross-contamination, was
introduced. At the same time, Europe effectively banned the export of meat and
bone meal to third countries for use in animal feed.
In the face of a wave of consumer doubt fuelled by new evidence of the spread
of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in the European Community, the WHO,
OIE and FAO have jointly agreed to conduct a further consultation on BSE,
Trade and Public Health in June 2001. This meeting will review current
evidence on the safety of bovine based foods, the risk that BSE may be
occurring in countries where no cases have yet been reported and make
recommendations on how to avoid an international epidemic of BSE and vCJD.
Examination of the trade data shows that meat meal was exported from the UK
and Europe to more than 100 countries during the critical period from 1986
onwards. Besides the export of meat meal to Europe from the UK until 1996,
there was export from other European countries which have subsequently been
found to have BSE in their native herds.
Increased output from cattle was achieved by combined breeding and feeding
programmes. Cattle were bred that had high milk production when fed high
protein feeds, so forage based feed was supplemented with a high protein feed
additive bought from feed manufacturers.
This supplemental protein came from both plant sources, such as soybeans, as
well as animal sources. Meat and bone meal (MBM) from rendered carcasses,
feathers, blood and fish were all used in small amounts during the last
century.
Animal protein sources had some advantages: It had better outcomes than soy,
and it was cheap. Animal by-products were plentiful, and recycling it back
into feed created a market for the waste.
Animal by-products are any part of an animal that is unfit for human
consumption: bones, skin, meat trimmings and offal. The raw material is sent
from slaughterhouses to rendering plants where it is then processed by
crushing and heating it in order to allow moisture to evaporate. The fat, also
called tallow, is separated from the protein, also called greaves. The greaves
are processed further to create MBM.
Within the EU over 10 million tonnes of animal by-products are produced
annually. It has been estimated that only 68% of a chicken, 62% of a pig,
54% of a bovine, and 52% of a sheep or goat is consumed directly.
FAO is uniquely placed to make recommendations on how to avoid an
international epidemic of BSE and vCJD, given its scientific and technical
expertise in animal nutrition, its computerized Animal Feed Resources
Information System, close collaboration with the Codex Alimentarius Commission
and experience in development programmes.
FAO has assisted other member countries to establish or to update animal feed
legislation and is in a position to provide technical support to improve
current feed analysis and feed tables and to create tables of nutrient
requirements. [11]
In China 700 tonnes of infant formula tainted with melamine made before August
6, 2008 are being recalled. They were tainted with melamine to simulate a high
protein content. Several babies already died and more than 400 babies have
kidney stones or kidney failure. Melamine was found in Sanlu-brand milk sold
in China and exported to Taiwan,Bangladesh, Burma, Burundi, Gabon and Yemen.
The New Zealand corporation FRONTERA, a global milk powder exporter, has 43%
of SANLU shares. Frontera knew of the tainted milk of its partner one month
ahead of the scandal, but no action within the corporation was taken to make
it public. [12]
Melamine is a toxic compound which is used in the production of plastics and
adhesives. It was been found in imported Chinese pet food. Cats and dogs died
or got sick after eating the contaminated pet food in 2007.
U.S. FDA says that some of this infant formula may have entered the US market
through speciality markets that serve the Chinese community. The FDA advises not
to feed infant formula manufactured in China to infants. The agency stresses that
safe milk-based infant formulas are Abbott Nutrition, Bristol-Myers Squibb unit
MeadJohnson Nutritionals, Nestle USA, PBM Nutritionals and Solus Products. [13]
The Danish based Arla Foods group recalled all milk products contaminated with
melamine from the Chinese market and closes the production site of its joint
venture partner Mengniu Dairy. Arla is the second western corporation, after
the New Zealander company Frontera which has been found linked to the
melamine milk scandal in China.
The desire to expand its production to low cost and high profit markets
increases the risk to get entangled with the production of poisoned baby food
being worldwide exported. Food safety should be considered as top priority and
profit should not become the main aim of corporations acting on international
level. Frontera and Arla have to learn this lesson if they want to stay in the
food business. [14]
Tsai et al 2009 describe a rapid analytical method to test for melamine in infant formula by sweeping-micellar electrokinetic chromatography (sweeping-MEKC). It uses capillary electrophoresis and solid phase extraction with on-line preconcentration technique. The method was compared with the field amplified sample stacking (FASS), suggesting that the sweeping-MEKC method may be used in fast screening of melamine in infant formulas.
[15]
Basnet and colleagues 20101 assessed the dangers of feeding infants
exclusively with unmodified goat's milk. This practice is
based on cultural beliefs as well on false informations in media. The risks
are severe electrolyte abnormalities, metabolic acidosis, megaloblastic
anemia, allergic reactions including life-threatening anaphylactic shock,
hemolytic uremic syndrome, and infections.
In addition to these evidences, the authors reported a case of sustained
intracranial infarctions in the setting of severe azotemia and hypernatremia on
an infant following a raw goat's milk diet. [16]
It was a pandemic which was spread through infection of centralized units for
production of day-old chicken and became pandemic by trade. The pandemic did
not spread in Sweden and Norway.
Stringent procedures for cleaning and inspecting eggs were implemented in the
1970s and have made salmonellosis caused by external fecal contamination of
egg shells extremely rare. However, unlike eggborne salmonellosis of past
decades, the current epidemic is due to intact and disinfected grade A eggs.
The reason for this is that Salmonella enteritidis silently infects the
ovaries of healthy appearing hens and contaminates the eggs before the shells are formed.
Government agencies and the egg industry have taken steps to reduce Salmonella
enteritidis outbreaks. These steps include the difficult task of identifying
and removing infected flocks from the egg supply and increasing quality
assurance and sanitation measures.
The Centers for Disease Control has advised state health departments,
hospitals, and nursing homes of specific measures to reduce Salmonella
enteritidis infection. Some states now require refrigeration of eggs from the
producer to the consumer. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is testing the
breeder flocks that produce egg-laying chickens to ensure that they are free
of Salmonella enteritidis.
Eggs from known infected commercial flocks will be pasteurized instead of
being sold as grade A shell eggs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has
issued guidelines for handling eggs in retail food establishments and will be
monitoring infection in laying hens.
Research by these agencies and the egg industry is addressing the many
unanswered questions about Salmonella enteritidis, the infections in hens, and
contaminated eggs. Informed consumers, food-service establishments, and public
and private organizations are working together to reduce, and eventually
eliminate, disease caused by this infectious organism. [17]
According to Fábio Tavares Zancan and colleagues Salmonella Enteritidis may
have reached the farms by vertical transmission. In the hatchery,
cross-contamination among contaminated and non-contaminated eggs may occur and
can be found in samples collected inside the hatchery and inside transport boxes.
In Brazil, the outbreaks provoked by Salmonella Enteritidis appeared after the
outbreaks in Europe, USA and Japan, probably because grand-parent flocks came
from the areas where salmonellosis outbreak started.
The results of the study of Zancan indicate that, despite the efforts to
control Salmonella in poultry farms, they may still become contaminated through
the vertical route by day-old birds that are purchased in countries where
outbreaks of salmonellosis were noticed. In March 2007, there has been an outbreak of cat and dog deaths and illness associated with pet food manufactured with vegetable proteins contaminated with melamine and melamine related compounds imported from China. In response to this outbreak, FDA has been conducting an aggressive and intensive investigation. Pet food manufacturers and others have recalled dog and cat food and other suspect products and ingredients. [18]
Products imported from China which, according to FDA, may be contaminated and are subjected to detention without physical examination, including: Wheat Gluten, Rice Gluten,Rice Protein,Corn Gluten, Corn By-Products, Soy Protein, Soy Gluten, Mung Bean Protein. [19]
There does not seem to be any reported human case of acute intoxication directly caused by melamine. There was no evidence of harm to humans associated with the processed pork product from hogs fed with melamine contaminated feed, and therefore no recall of meat products were issued. [20]
FDA and USDA have also traced contaminated feed to swine farms in several states. The same procedures are being followed in relation to both swine and poultry; animals are being quarantined by state order or voluntarily held by the owners and USDA is offering compensation for depopulation and disposal of both swine and poultry that have been fed contaminated products. [21]
Melamine resin is often used in food packaging and tableware, melamine at ppm level in food and beverage has been reported due to migration from melamine-formaldehyde resin products. Small amounts of melamine have also been reported in foodstuff as a metabolite product of cyromazine, an insecticide used on animals and crops. [22]
A study by USSR researchers in the 1980s suggested melamine cyanurate which is formed between melamine and cyanuric acid and is used as fire retardant could be more toxic than either melamine or cyanuric acid alone. Current research has focused on the combination of melamine and cyanuric acid in causing renal failure. [23]
The use of "melamine scrap", described as leftover from processing of coal into melamine for use in creating plastic and fertilizer, was described as widespread. Melamine is said to have been chosen in order to inflate crude protein content measures and to avoid tests for other common and illegal ingredients,such as urea. [23]
The original Xuzhou Anying wheat gluten was "human grade", as opposed to "feed grade", meaning that it could have been used to make food for humans such as bread or pasta. At least one contaminated batch was used to make food for humans, but the FDA quarantined it before any was sold.
[23]
South Africa, UK, Belgium, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain received suspicious rice protein concentrate from China.
Chinese infant formula tainted with melamine
[24]
In China 700
tonnes of infant formula tainted with melamine made before August 6, 2008 are being recalled. They were tainted with melamine to simulate a high protein
content. One baby already died and more than 400 babies have kidney stones or
kidney failure. Melamine was found formula, Sanlu-brand milk. Some charges were
sold to Taiwan for food processing.
Melamine is a toxic compound which is used in the production of plastics and
fertilisers. It was been found in imported Chinese pet food. Cats and dogs
died or got sick after eating the contaminated pet food in 2007.
U.S. FDA says that some of this infant formula may have entered the US market
through speciality markets that serve the Chinese community. The FDA advises
not to feed infant formula manufactured in China to infants. The agency stresses
that safe milk-based infant formulas are Abbott Nutrition, Bristol-Myers Squibb
unit MeadJohnson Nutritionals, Nestle USA, PBM Nutritionals and Solus Products. [25]
Eggs and probably meat from China are tainted with melamine from feed in
October 2008. After tainted milk also eggs of China's Dalian Hanwei Enterprise
Group were found with 4.7 parts per million of melamine. Under the Harmful
Substances in Food (Amendment) Regulation 2008 of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (HKSAR), the legal limit for melamine in food is 2.5 ppm.
Liquid as well as dehydrated egg yolk and egg white are exported in bulk
container for the production of mayonnaise, sauces, marshmallow fluff or
marshmallow creme, bakeries and confectioneries. [26]
Chinese food scandals such as using cancer causing Sudan Red to adjust the
colour of egg yolk, kidney failure causing melamine tainted dog and cat feed
and dairy products demonstrates that countries with low production costs
endanger quality and safety. Global enterprises should keep in mind that
profits from low production costs may entangle the enterprise in a food
scandal with destructive outcomes.
The first company outside of China entangled in this scandal is the Philippine
company Croley Foods MFG. Corp whose Blueberry Cream Sandwich whose crackers
were found to be tainted with melamine, probably traced back to the Chinese egg
products. [27]
FDA launched a far ranging investigation in both the United States and abroad.
This included inspecting Baxter's domestic facilities, examining Heparin
product in the United States and sending a team of experts to China to conduct
a comprehensive inspection of the Changzhou SPL facility that makes the active
ingredient for this drug.
While the FDA has yet to determine the root cause of these adverse events, we
have found a Heparin-like compound that is not Heparin present in some of the
Heparin Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) produced by Scientific Protein
Labs, which maintains a facility in Wisconsin in addition to the Changzhou plant.
This contaminant is present in significant quantities, accounting for 5 to 20
percent of the total mass of each sample tested. It reacts like Heparin in many
tests, which is why the traditional release tests did not detect it. [28]
To ensure that all is being done to provide a safe supply of this life-saving
drug, we are releasing information on two tests that manufacturers and
regulators can use to screen for this contaminant.
The two methods include proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H-1 NMR) and capillary
electrophoresis (CE). The tests are to be used for ALL Heparin Sodium API prior
to batch release. The API material is considered contaminated if there is a
doublet peak at 2.1 ppm in H-1 NMR and a shoulder peak in CE, as illustrated in
the two attachments. Heparin sodium API must contain only a single peak (singlet)
at 2.1 ppm in NMR and a single peak in CE. It is recommended that both screening
methods (H-1 NMR and CE) be used in addition to the regulatory and/or compendial
specification requirements.
According to Pharmalot, Pfizer has been looking at making active ingredients
in China for a few years. It made a deal with two companies, including
Shanghai Pharmaceutical Group, which recently made headlines because of
contaminated leukemia drugs that sickened 200 Chinese patients. Pfizer said it
never did buy ingredients from Shanghai because it didn't meet the company's
standards. [29]
Pfizer announce it's looking to outsource 30 per cent of its manufacturing to
Asia for cost-cutting. It will shut down plants in Brooklyn, NY, and Omaha, NE,
plus sell a plant in Germany. [30] [31]
All of the tainted heparin was made from raw heparin produced in China, some
of it in small, unregulated family workshops. Heparin is derived from pig
intestines. Germany imported 13 Tons and USA received 10 Tons from China.
Other 40 countries imported heparin from China in 2007.
Dialysis patients in Germany have become sick using a different brand of the
blood thinner heparin than was linked to 19 American deaths. According to FDA
Germany recalled heparin made by a German Rotexmedica that uses a different
supplier of raw heparin ingredients than Baxter does. Rotexmedica and Baxter
gets its supply from China, the world's leading source of heparin. The recent heparin scandal comes in front of other medical and food scandals. How will Baxter and Rotexmedica regain the confidence of their customers?
All companies which importing cheap raw ware or out-sourcing their activities
run a serious danger to get involved in scandals like faked heparin of tainted
foods. Quality has its price and is directly bounded with image of the
country where it was produced.
Both companies seriously damaged the image of their home countries. [32]
The seafood supplier Marine Harvest recalls an enormous quantity of salmon
products tainted with what is thought to be dieselan could come from a well
boat used for transportation. Consumer say the salmon has an unpleasant "white
spirit" taste.
The FSA says that based on the information received by the Agency, the
chemicals implicated in the problem are present at low levels which are very
unlikely to be a risk to health. The retailers implicated are Costco Wholesale
UK Ltd and Tesco.
Scotland is the world's third-biggest salmon producer behind Norway and Chile.
According to the Food Standards Agency the contamination is very unlikely a
risk to human health, but advises consumers not to eat the products. The
Agency says that it appears to be a quality rather than a safety matter. The
alert does not affect organic salmon.
[33]
Dr. Scott Reuben is accused of having published at least 21 faked articles
concerning pain drugs, which are suspected to slow postoperative healing. The journal Anesthesia &
Analgesia published some of Reuben's fraudulent papers concerning the drugs
COX2 inhibitors, Pfizer's Celebrex (celecoxib), the drug Lyrica and Merck's
Vioxx (rofecoxib), claiming to reduced post-surgical pain and dependence on
steroids and addictive drugs like morphine. Reuben played down animal studies
showing that the drugs might hinder bone healing after surgery and might
cause heart attack.
Reuben is also being accused of having forged the signature of Dr. Evan
Ekman, orthopedic surgeon at Southern Orthopaedic Sports Medicine in Columbia,
S.C on submission papers for the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. Reuben
gained his medical degree at the State University of New York.
The Baystate hospital did not sure that research done there is properly
conducted and reported. There was no control from Pfizer on the veracity of
studies concerning their products, and the Journals publishing faked studies
from Reuben put in doubt the reliability of scientific studies and scientific
journals.
The fraud of Reuben has some well known predecessors: [34]
The
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) suspended the
bioscience professor Kim Tae-kook for the fabrication of data in two papers,
published in Science in July 2005 and Nature Chemical Biology in July 2006,
according to the Korea Times.
A postgraduate student, who was a co-author of the paper, unveiled the faked
data after failing to replicate the experiments. He notified notified the school.
Kim's 2006 paper suggested ideas for increasing the human lifespan by
"reprogramming" cells.
It was one of Kim's students who first suspected the credibility of Kim's
research, the school said.
Professor Lee Gyun-min from KAIST said that false data were found in both
articles and there is strong evidence that these were deliberately done under
Kim's supervision. [35]
Tae Kook Kim and colleagues 2005 wrote that magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) coated
with a small molecule of interest are taken up by living cells and can be used to
detect target proteins and activation of signaling pathways. The new technology
that identifies molecular targets was called magnetism-based interaction capture
(MAGIC). The authors stressed that the use of MAGIC in genome-wide expression
screening identified multiple protein targets of a drug. [36]
Daxiang Cui and colleagues 2007 cite the Kim 2005 paper. According to Cui also
magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) were used. These nanoparticles were modified with
different generations of polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers and mixed with
antisense survivin oligodeoxynucleotide (asODN). The MNP then formed
asODN-dendrimer-MNP composites, which can enter into tumor cells within 15 min,
and cause down-regulation of the survivin gene and protein, and inhibited cell
growth in dose- and time-dependent means. The authors wrote that PAMAM
dendrimer-modified MNPs may be a good gene delivery system and have potential
applications in cancer therapy and molecular imaging diagnosis.
[37]
According to Tae Kook Kim and colleagues
2006 most somatic cells encounter an inevitable destiny senescence. The authors claimed
that the intrinsic 'senescence clock' can be reset in a reversible manner by
selective modulation of the ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) protein and ATM-
and Rad3-related (ATR) protein with a small molecule, CGK733. Employing the
magnetic nanoprobe technology MAGIC, described in 2005 the ATM protein was
targeted by CGK733 blocking their signaling pathways with great selectivity.
These results might reflect the specific targeting of the kinase activities of
ATM and ATR by CGK733 without affecting any other domains required for cell
proliferation. [38]
In January 2006 the Science journal had to retract two Korean papers written by
Hwang Woo-suk after his stem-cell cloning research was found to have faked data.
Both scientist, Kim and Hwang have now discredited Korean scientific work.
Hwang Woo-suk was a professor of theriogenology and biotechnology at Seoul
National University (dismissed on March 20,2006) who rose to fame after
claiming a series of remarkable breakthroughs in the field of stem cell
research. Until November 2005, he was considered one of the pioneering
experts in the field of stem cell research, best known for two articles
published in the journal Science in 2004 and 2005 where he fraudulently
reported to have succeeded in creating human embryonic stem cells by cloning.
Both papers were later editorially retracted after they were found to contain
a large amount of fabricated data. He has admitted to various lies and frauds.
On May 12, 2006, Hwang was indicted on embezzlement and bioethics law violations
linked to faked stem cell research. Korea Times reported on June 10, 2007 that
The university expelled him and the government rescinded its financial and legal
support. While being charged with fraud and embezzlement, he has kept a low
profile at the Suam Bioengineering Research Institute in Yongin, Gyeonggi
Province, where he is officially engaged in animal cloning. The government barred
Hwang from conducting human cloning research. [39] [40]
German professor Friedhelm Herrmann, leading cancer research specialist at the
universities of Mainz, Freiburg and Ulm and the Max-Delbrück institute for
molecular medicine in Berlin, faked about 80 papers. These papers were
published in respected US and European journals. Many of them were withdrawn
but their impact on medical research is unknown. Professor Ulf Rapp who
analysed the fraud said that the group around Herrmann developed an aversion
to using genuine data.
The guardian states that faking scientific research is not a criminal offence
under German law.
[41]
[42]
The former professor Reiner Rudolph Robert Protsch (von Zieten) was sentenced
to 1 year and 6 month imprisonment for several deep wrongs. The verdict says
the court ruled only over illegal appropriation of objects and falsification
of documents, it did not judge the scientific frauds committed by the former
professor of the University of Frankfurt, Germany. The court stressed that it
would leave it to the scientific community to judge on that.
The fraudulent publications of Protsch may mean an entire tranche of the
history of man's development will have to be rewritten.
[43]
The university of Frankfurt admitted that it should have discovered the
professor's fabrications far earlier. The administration of the University of
Frankfurt had ignored the professor's misconduct for 30 years despite existing
proof for his mistakes.
There is a sour smell of fraud left back on scientific papers and some of the
glamour and respect toward the title of academic professor has vanished. [44]
According to the rector of the University of Vienna Wolfgang Schtz the data
of a study published in 2005 and another from 2008 were manipulated by a
coworker. The fake was discovered by outside readers of the studies and not by
the publishing authors.
Elisabeth Kratochvil, being Diem here former name, compiled the faked data. Diem 2005 fibroblasts
According to Diem et al 2005, cultured human and rat cells presented DNA strand
breaks when exposed to intermittent and continuous radiofrequency electromagnetic
fields used in mobile phones, with different specific absorption rates and
different mobile-phone modulations. The author concluded that the DNA cannot be
based on thermal effects. Effects were stronger with intermitent exposure,
compared with continuous exposure to the radiation. [45]
The authors report that UMTS exposure may cause genetic alterations in human
cultured fibroblastsin some but not with lymphocytes. [46]
Alexander Lerchl from the University of Bremen found inter-individual
differences of the values compared with previously published data from the
same group of researchers. He stressed that he data given in the figures and
the tables reveal peculiar miscalculations and statistical oddities which give
rise to concern about the origin of the reported data. These doubt leaded
finally to unveil the fake of the two studies of the leading authors Hugo
Rüdiger and Franz Adkofer.
The faked studies of the university Vienna were the core of REFLEX, a 3 Million
Euro project of the European Commission held between 2000 and 2004. [47] [48]
The Report of the European Union's REFLEX Project (Risk Evaluation of Potential
Environmental Hazards from Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field Exposure Using
Sensitive in vitro Methods) was released in November, 2004. The Project studied
ELF and RF exposures to various cell types. Prof. Dr. Franz Adlkofer was project
coordinator. [49]
Michael Kundi comments data of thermal, nonthermal and microthermic effects of
mobile phone radiation. Kundi describes genetic damages caused by low radiation
of mobile phones.The author says that there are sufficient data from studies
available to support precautionary measures promulgated by the Austrian Ministry
for Health and Women. [50] [51]
Dr. Gerd Oberfeld, expert for mobile phone radiation and WLAN
radiation of the Austrian government presented a study which underlines
serious health concerns related to these radiations. Margit Kropik from
T-Mobile Austria presented critics on the methodology used in this study.
According to Heinz Münzer, director of the infrastructure of Mobilkom Austria,
the study is based on untrue informations related to facts on network used in
the region.
[52]
The number of complaints was higher for people using the digital (GSM) system
with pulse modulated fields, than for those using the analogue (NMT) system.
Our results correlate with the results observed by Sandstrom et al.
[53]
The authors found a relationship between headache, fatigue,
dizziness, tension and sleep disturbances in subjects exposed to mobile phones
emissions. It is advisable therefore; that the use of mobile phones is a risk
factor for health hazards and suggest that excessive use of mobile phones should
be avoided by health promotion activities, such as group discussion, public
presentations and through electronic and print media sources. The authors call
for preventive measures. [54]
The scientific press faces another discredit caused by six faked publications
in form of scientific journals. Only favourable results are published in these
journal published by Elsevier Journals. A series of professors act as authors
being sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry, such as Merck and others.
Ghostwriters is a service maintained by MECC's, medical
education and communication companies. Articles are written for medical
journals that appear under the names of acquainted scientists and professors,
which take only a glance on what they sign for. Articles may be controlled,
modified and changed by the sponsoring company. Data are used to support
directly or indirectly the marketing of products.
Guidelines on conflict of interest disclosure for scientific and
medical journals
[55]
The Center for Science in the Public Interest today urged editors of journals
of science and medicine to adopt a common standard for disclosing financial
conflicts of interest among their authors, editors, and peer reviewers.
The guidelines require authors to disclose any financial relationship of any size
from the previous three years. That would include [56]
All manuscripts for articles, original research
reports, editorials, comments, reviews, book reviews and letters that are submitted to the journal must be
accompanied by a conflict of interest disclosure statement, or a declaration by
the authors that they have no conflicts of interest to declare.
All articles that are published in the journal will be accompanied by a
conflict-of-interest disclosure statement, or a statement that the authors
have replied that they have no conflicts of interest to declare. Any financial relationship from the past three
years (dating from the month of submission) of any size should be disclosed.
These potential conflicts of interest include:
- Direct employment, either full or part-time;
- Grants and research funding;
- Consultancies;
- Travel grants, speaking fees, writing fees and other honoraria;
- Paid expert testimony for one side in an adversarial proceeding.
Journals should require that all senior editorial personnel avoid all
financial relationships that might constitute a conflict of interest.
Editorial managers should also avoid personal, political, or intellectual
entanglements, organizational or otherwise, that could be construed as
establishing a particular bias that might influence one's judgements.
The policy also outlines an enforcement mechanism for willful violations of
disclosure rules. Journals should make it their policy not to publish authors who
have previously failed to disclose their ties to industry. [57]
Supermarket chain Waitrose has recalled organic eggs after a flock of its chickens consumed lead shot from a nearby clay pigeon shoot
getting into the farm. [58]
A new scandal made public in 2008 concerned 11 000 tons of Italian Mozzarella and
processed cheese which was produced from rotten cheese. Maggots, metal parts,
mice excrements and other nauseating contaminants were found in Italian
produces. Cheese leftovers from 1980 used as raw material were found in
factories in northern Italy and one Italian factory situated in Bavaria
(Germany). This scandal came after dioxin had been found in Italian Mozzarella.
According to Khalid Al Hosni, laboratory tests found large amounts of bacteria and fungi in the drink, which falls short of the UAE accepted health standards. The fungi found in Vimto drink produce dangerous toxins that could lead to serious diseases. Mister AlHosny urged the public not to buy the drink if they found it in stores and to report shops selling it to the municipality.
The Vimto soft drink has been cleared from shop shelves at Ajman Emirate, other emirates and municipalities have been notified, said Humaid Al Muala, also an Ajman environment and public health expert.
Vimto a soft drink with 3% of juice [60]
Vimto is a soft drink originating from the United Kingdom. It contains the juice of grapes, raspberries and blackcurrants in a 3% concentration, flavoured with herbs and spices.
In the Arabian Peninsula, Vimto has enjoyed over 80 years of dominance as the beverage of choice for the iftar or sunset feast during the Islamic holy fasting month of Ramadan.
In Saudi Arabia Vimto is manufactured under license by the Aujan Industrial Company and enjoys a 90% market share in the cordial concentrated drinks market. Every year, the company launches aggressive marketing campaigns on Arab satellite TV channels that in recent years have become very popular, and achieved cult status with viral marketing videos exchanged on the Internet.
Aujan Industries is a fast growing soft drinks company, based in Dubai, with a portfolio of brands including Vimto, Rani, Barbican and Hani.However, having traditionally focused on the Gulf States, Aujan is expanding across the region with plants in Saudi Arabia, Dubai and a new plant coming on stream in Iran. [61]
Turkey is known for illegal home distilleries producing fake alcoholic
beverages with high methanol content, which are sold in markets and
restaurants.
The latest deadly case happened in late March 2009 when German students, on a
trip to Antalya, Turkey, bought two bottles of vodka and two bottles of cola,
for 25 euros in the hotel where they were staying. Three students dyed and
four were intoxicated. Methanol poisoning was confirmed as the cause of death.
Other known methanol poisoning in Turkey were reported in 2005 whit 22 deaths
in Istambul drinking tainted Raki.
Another case related to methanol caused the death of 5 persons in Bursa, near
Istambul.
Methanol was formerly obtained by the distillation of wood and called wood
alcohol. Methanol is intoxicating but not directly poisonous.
It is toxic by its breakdown (toxication) by the enzyme alcohol
dehydrogenase in the liver by forming formic acid and formaldehyde which cause
permanent blindness by destruction of the optic nerve.
[62]
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised ATF that 0.1 percent of methanol
by volume in wine was a safe level. Any wine containing methanol in excess of
this amount is deemed adulterated pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug and
Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. 34l(a)(2)(C) and 348. [63]
Rajbhandari et al., 2008 describe an outbreak of methanol poisoning
July-August 2008, leading to death of 10 people in Nepal. "Sofi", a locally
brewed alcoholic drink, was adulterated with methanol.
The lethal dose of pure methanol is estimated to be 1-2 mL/kg; however,
permanent blindness and death have been reported with as little as 0.1 mL/kg5.
The metabolic pathway of methanol: Methanol is converted to formaldehyde by
alcohol dehydrogenase then to formic acid by aldehyde dehydrogenase, which is
then degraded to carbon dioxide (CO2) and water, where folate is a cofactor.
In this reaction, formic acid causes metabolic acidosis and CNS damage.
The authors stress that the production of formic acid takes time which explains
the delay in the onset of the symptoms. They deplore that they have not been
able to educate the local people due to the ignorance of rural people and the
ineffective support from government, leaving uncontrolled adulterated products on
market posing a health risk of the population. [64]
Nagato et al. 2001
verified the authenticity of alcoholic beverages (whisky, vodka, ginger spirit,
etc.) from 1993 to August 1999. The authors found that 64.3% of the
analysed products were counterfeit, and 2 products presented levels of
methanol above the limit tolerated by the Brazilian legislation (200mg/100mL
absolute alcohol). The authors point out that there is a high percentage of
counterfeit alcoholic beverages on market. They stress the risk to human
health because of the presence of methanol, and call for a stringent control
of these products. [65]
Swiss tolerable values of metanol in various brandies are set, depending on
the beverage, at 2-15 g/L of pure alcohol, and 0.15-0.3 g/kg for wines. Much
higher levels had been obtained in cases of adulterated wines in Italy in 1985,
following deliberate addition of methanol. Consumption of such beverages
provoked several deaths or permanent blindness.
The minimal human lethal dose has been estimated within a range of 0.3-1.0 g/kg
BW. Chronic toxicity is not well characterized. [66]
Paine and Davan 2008 facing the fact that illicit drinks made from "industrial
methylated spirits" (5% (v/v) methanol:95% (v/v) ethanol) represent a
serious health hazard, determined the maximum concentration of methanol in an
alcoholic drink that an adult human could consume without risking toxicity due
to its methanol content. The authors found a tolerable daily dose of
methanol in an adult as 2 g and a toxic dose as 8 g. These results are in
accordance with the current EU general limit for naturally occurring methanol
of 10 g methanol/l ethanol (which equates to 0.4% (v/v) methanol at 40%
alcohol]) provides a greater margin of safety for ethnic, age and other factors.
[67]
Higher alcohols occur naturally in alcoholic beverages as by-products of
alcoholic fermentation, and are regarded as important flavour compounds,
however, high levels of the fusel oils may be toxic.
Lachenmeyer et al., 2008 found that the reasonable preliminary guideline level
for a maximum tolerable concentration would be 1000 g/hl of pure alcohol for the
sum of all higher alcohols, such as 1-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol,
isobutanol, isoamyl alcohol and 1-hexanol. The authors stress that this level is
higher than the concentrations usually found in both legal alcoholic beverages
and surrogate alcohols. Higher alcohols are therefore not the cause for the
adverse effects of surrogate alcohol. [68]
Sprung et al., 1988 postulates that ethanol is oxidised to acetaldehyde which
may condense with endogenous amines to form tetrahydroisoquinoline (TIQ) and -
tetrahydro-beta-carboline (THBC) alkaloids which ultimately might be responsible
for addiction. Chronic alcoholics prefer normal alcoholic beverages instead of an
ethanol solution. Sprung believes that this peference is due to the additional
content of methanol of these beverages which is metabolised to formaldehyde which
is more reactive to form TIQ and THBC than acetaldehyde. The authors concluded
that methanol may be more important than ethanol in addiction to alcoholic
beverages. [69]
[70]
Homemade alcoholic beverages from millet, maize or palm oil alcohol are sold
on the African streets. They may contain methanol because of the rudimentary
equipment used in the production.
Methanol poisoning continues to be a public health problem in Tunisia. Brahmi and
colleagues reported 16 cases of methanol intoxicatioin in Tunesia 2003/2004. [71]
[72]
The fatal dose of ethanolindexEthanol, hepatotoxicity is 300-400 mL of pure
ethanol (600-800 mL of 50% spirits), for the average adult if consumed in
less than one hour.
According to Lieber 1993 alcohol is hepatotoxic because of secondary
malnutrition and through metabolic disturbances associated with the oxidation
of ethanol, such as redox changes produced by the nicotinamide adenine
dinucleotide (NADH) generated via the liver alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)
pathway affecting the metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, and purines.
In addition to ADH, ethanol can be oxidized by liver microsomes, the cytochrome P450 (P4502E1)
contributing to increased acetaldehyde generation. P-450 induction also
explains depletion (and enhanced toxicity) of nutritional factors such as vitamin A.
Ethanol causes not only vitamin A depletion, but it also enhances its
hepatotoxicity. Supplementing vitamin A to alleviate the effects of deficiency
and night blindness , the authors stress that it is important to consider the
narrow therapeutic window of alcoholics to avoid adverse effects. [73]
Fusel alcohols, also sometimes
called fusel oils, are higher-order alcohols formed by fermentation and
present in cider, mead, beer, wine, and spirits to varying degrees. The most
important are 1-propanol, 2-propanol, butanol (various isomers), amyl alcohol, furfural.
Fusel alcohols are formed when fermentation occurs at higher temperatures, at
lower pH, and when yeast activity is limited by low nitrogen content. During
distillation, fusel alcohols are concentrated in the fraction at the end of the
distillation run.
Other alcoholic beverage adulterations, diethylene
glycol
is mostly used as an industrial
solvent and additive, and is not a normal constituent of alcoholic beverages. Its was used to sweeten Austrian and German wines. This food scandal was
discovered in 1986.
[74]
Asish Kumar Mandal 2009 reports that hazardous work, working conditions, and
environment in India threatens health of workers culminating in the Bhopal Gas
Tragedy, in 1984. This accident forced the Indian government to review their
legislative measures to improve the occupational health situation. A new
National Health Policy was announced in 2002, however, inadequate strategies,
policies, and the lack of a proper monitoring mechanism hinder results. The
authors presents suggestions how to improve the health conditions of the
workers.
Safety of industrial plants and heath issues must attain top priority in
occupational health policies, and tight controls of engineering of industrial
facilities are necessary, primarily in developing countries, where cost
reduction may lead to accidents comparable with the disaster of
Bhopal.
Genetic alteration resulting from exposure to methyl isocianate of
the Union Carbide plant
[75]
Bhargava and colleagues 2010 assessed the immunotoxic effects of methyl
isocyanate gas from the Bhopal pesticide plant. The authors found a
significant increase in the levels of all circulating inflammatory biomarkers
((IL-8, IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF, IL-10, IL-12p70 cytokines and C-reactive protein)
in the methyl isocianate exposed group, compared to a non-exposed group.
The authors suggest that the rise of the inflammatory biomarkers are a result a
toxin induced genetic and/or epigenetic alteration, and call for more studies to
confirm their results. [76]
Sarangi and colleagues 20101 report that the exposure of parents to toxic gases
in the Bhopal incident caused an very high increase of initial 5-year mortality
of their offspring. Male offspring of these parents were stunted in growth until
puberty, and post-puberty effect on head circumference was found in females
exposed to gases in utero.
[77]
More than 500 000 victims survived the tragedy of Bhopal, presenting chronic
illnesses such as pulmonary fibrosis, bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease, emphysema, recurrent chest infections, keratopathy and corneal
opacities. Mishra and colleagues 2009 reviewed the clinical findings and
trials of the disaster, pointing out that in-utero exposure to methyl
isocyanate in the first trimester of pregnancy caused a persistent immune system
hyper-responsiveness. The immunotoxic implications and genomic effect of Bhopal
gases have been studied in cultured mammalian cells. The authors recommend
long-term monitoring of the Bhopal area to analyse the accident to determine the possible elements of the Bhopal cloud and their long-termed effect on humans. [78]
The Bhopal disaster was an industrial disaster that took place at a Union
Carbide pesticide plant in the Indian city of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. On 3
December 1984, 40 Tons of methyl isocyanate gas were accidentally released
from the plant, exposing more than 500,000 people to the poisonous chemicals.
The first official immediate death toll was 2,259. The government of Madhya
Pradesh has confirmed a total of 3,787 deaths related to the gas
release.Others estimate 8,000-10,000 died within 72 hours and 25,000 have
since died from gas-related diseases. 40,000 more were permanently disabled,
maimed, or rendered subject to numerous grave illnesses; 521,000 exposed in all.
Some 390 tons of toxic chemicals abandoned at the UCIL plant continue to leak and
pollute the groundwater in the region and affect surroundings. In June 2010,
seven Indian ex-employees were convicted in Bhopal of causing death by negligence
and sentenced to two years imprisonment each.
Warren Anderson, the head of Union Carbide Corp, the company itself and two
subsidiary companies were also on trial, but have never appeared in court
proceedings.The court in Bhopal asked for the extradition of Anderson.
Union Carbide was found liable for the disaster, but has denied responsibility.
Dow says the legal case was resolved in 1989 claiming that Union Carbide paid $470 million as settlement. The responsibility relies now on the government of
Madhya Pradesh, which now owns the site. [79]
Water entered a sealed tank containing the highly reactive gas causing pressure
in the tank to rise too high. Union Carbide Corp said the accident was an act of
sabotage, but could never prove it. Lax safety standards or faulty plant design
are most likely to be the real cause. The Central Bureau of Investigation alleges
that proper safety procedures had not been followed . The hazardous design of
the plant and the additional hazards due to design modifications were known by
the leading experts of the company and Warren Anderson. Governments must exert strong
supervision of industrial activities of the chemical and petroleum industries.
Safety measures are played down to reduce production costs to improve the global
competitiveness. This advice is strongly directed to the US government and
emerging industrial countries like the Asian region.
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