" I heard it through the AgLine"

June 8, 2011

 

 

·        Inside Germany’s hunt for deadly E. coli

·        Irradiation: Tool to fight E. coli in produce

·        Billions needed to boost food production

·        USDA allots $50M for pest management  

·        Hybrid farm equipment a boon to growers

 

 

Inside Germany’s hunt for deadly E. coli

 

(Reuters via Yahoo! News) HAMBURG, Germany (Reuters) – Even if Germany finds the source of the E. coli outbreak that has infected thousands of people since early May, it may be too late for Erika.

 

The 66-year-old chain smokes in the grounds of a Hamburg hospital as she waits to learn if an apparently healthy salad has given her a rare and deadly disease.

 

"I had prepared a salad with cucumbers and tomatoes," recalls Erika, whose husband died late last year and who asked not to be identified by her full name because the symptoms she has developed are embarrassing. "I peeled the cucumbers but I did not wash them first."

 

She fell ill on May 19 with bloody diarrhea. A few days later she heard about the outbreak on the radio and went to see a specialist. By then she was suffering from stomach cramps too.

 

Erika was sent to the university clinic for tests which showed she is one of 2,300 people infected by the outbreak of E.coli. Soon she will learn if she is one of more than 660 to develop haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) where the bacteria attacks the kidneys and nervous system, gives its victims fits and often forces them onto dialysis.

 

The deadliest outbreak of its type on record has so far killed 23 people -- 22 in Germany and one in Sweden. Striking suddenly in the middle of a hot and sunny May, the crisis has doctors struggling to explain the outbreak and public health authorities in one of Europe's most famously organised countries stumped as to how to manage it and how to stop it happening again. As the outbreak enters its second month, plenty of questions remain, not least of which is this: If the Germans can't manage an outbreak, who can?

 

"They can't rule out HUS yet," Erika says, drawing deeply on yet another cigarette. "It makes you think."

 

BLAME THE SPROUTS

 

The first case in Germany's E.coli outbreak was reported on May 1. Soon an average of nine cases a day were being reported, rising to 122 cases on May 23 alone.

 

At first, German officials blamed cucumbers -- specifically, Spanish cucumbers. Within days, though, investigators had ruled out the vegetable and started looking closer to home for the cause. Chancellor Angela Merkel was forced to explain Germany's actions to an irate Spanish prime minister and Spanish farmers later said they might sue for damages.

 

Germany's main center for disease control, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), deployed 10 teams to outbreak hotspots such as restaurants and canteens and to ask patients exactly what they ate for each course. To double check the data, customers of these establishments who did not fall ill have been interviewed too. Officials have also sifted through the contents of rubbish bins and fridges and sent some of their contents for analysis.

 

Specialists working around the clock at RKI headquarters in Berlin cross-check the data looking for what the institute's president, Reinhard Burger, called a "common denominator". So far that's pointed the finger of blame at raw vegetables.

 

After a few days the search took scientists to the Kartoffelkeller (Potato Cellar) restaurant in Luebeck, north east of Hamburg. The former medieval hospital offers traditional fare based on meat and potatoes. On May 13 it had served dinner to a large group of female tax officials. Then 17 people who had eaten there had fallen sick -- and one of the tax officers had died.

 

Owner Joachim Berger said health inspectors turned the place upside down without finding anything and when Reuters visited at lunchtime on June 4, the Kartoffelkeller was open for business and full. None of his staff had become ill, Berger said. "Everything has been re-disinfected and inspected, but it's clear nobody here is sick, and we all eat the food ourselves."

 

But public health officials believed they were on the right track. On June 5, Lower Saxony state agriculture minister Gert Lindemann said a "really hot lead" pointed to sprout varieties (alfalfa, mung bean, radish and arugula) from a supplier that sold the Kartoffelkeller its vegetables. Johanna Tramma at the Fruchthof, a family firm in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, said her sprouts had come from a farm in Lower Saxony which also supplied Hamburg's wholesale market.

 

Perhaps the E.coli detectives should have focused in on sprouts more quickly. An outbreak in Japan in 1996, which killed 11 people, was traced back to a similar source, and a U.S. outbreak in 1997 came from alfalfa sprouts.

 

Officials rushed to the Gaertnerhof farm in the town of Bienenbuettel in Lower Saxony, but the order to shut it down came almost too late. It was sealed off at 5:10 p.m. on Sunday -- 20 minutes after a truckload of sprouts left for Hamburg for sale. It was recalled and returned to the farm while health officials told people to avoid bean sprouts as well as the other raw salad vegetables already on the danger list.

 

The farm's owner Klaus Verbeck told a local paper -- before retreating behind a fence patrolled by security guards -- that the Gaertnerhof had been growing organic sprouts for 25 years and was given a clean bill of health for E.coli as recently as the second half of May. Neighbor Sibylle Lange, 45, described the owners as "very serious, hardworking people who were very early producers of organic products".

 

In many ways the bean sprout theory sounds reassuringly likely. Scientists say the steamy temperatures at which sprouts are cultivated are an ideal incubation ground for any microbe.

 

But even the sprouts may not be the culprits. Evidence so far is circumstantial and the first tests on suspect sprouts from Lower Saxony have been inconclusive, said the regional agriculture ministry.

 

The exact source may never be pinned down.

 

"We can't rule out that the source of the outbreak cannot be retraced anymore. That's not unusual in these circumstances," said Burger at the RKI, adding that the original source of the infection may no longer exist.

 

"It's something different every day," complained Uwe Ruge, accompanying an E.coli patient at the Regio clinic in Pinneberg, a Hamburg suburb. "First it was the Spanish cucumbers. Now it's this, then it's that and suddenly it's bean sprouts. I have no clue what it'll be tomorrow. I can't just avoid all food."

 

TOXINS AND ANTIBIOTICS

 

Of the 660 or so people to have developed HUS, more than 100 have been diagnosed at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in the northern port city of Hamburg. Confirmed HUS cases are treated in an intensive care unit kept closed to the media. At the entry to the unit and to the separate blood-testing unit for outpatients are antiseptic handwash dispensers and signs telling visitors to use them.

 

The patient profile is confusing: more women than men have developed the worst symptoms, and the women tend to be young -- in the 25-35 age bracket. Most of them also tend to be slim. That may be because young women tend to eat more raw vegetables and salad as a "healthy" option, health experts say.

 

The German E.coli strain was first sequenced by a laboratory at the Beijing Genomics Institute, the world's largest DNA sequencing center. On June 3 it identified the E.coli as a new and "highly infectious and toxic" strain.

 

There is no a clear indication yet if the rate of infection has peaked. "We hope that it fades and in the past few days, when we look at the numbers, we see it's getting better," Joerg Debatin, the medical director and CEO at Hamburg-Eppendorf, told Reuters. "But we honestly said the same thing a week ago."

 

E.coli turns into HUS when bacterial or "Shiga" toxins enter the bloodstream, according to kidney specialist Professor Rolf Stahl, head of nephrology at the Hamburg university clinic. That can lead to potential kidney and neurological damage and even trigger epilepsy.

 

Like other E.coli patients, Erika was given medicine to repair her intestinal flora and told to disinfect her household and drink plenty of liquids. But she was not given antibiotics as doctors say this strain of the bug can be resistant and there is growing concern among scientists about the spread of resistance to antibiotics among many common bacteria.

 

NOT SO HEALTHY

 

Even when it is contained, the outbreak will have done lasting damage to at least some conceptions about 'healthy' organic food in a part of the world where enthusiasm for natural produce is high.

 

"Genfood? Nein, Danke!" reads a bumper sticker with a smiley tomato logo on a truck at the Gaertnerhof farm in Bienenbuettel. Adapting the smiley sun-logo of the German anti-nuclear lobby to oppose genetically modified food -- "Genfood" -- proponents of natural foods have seen the organic market in Germany grow to 5.8 billion euros by 2009 (the latest figures available from the national organic trade body). Just under a fifth of that comes from German farms.

 

Yet some studies suggest organic food is risky, especially when eaten raw, because farmers shun chemicals and rely on fertilizers such as manure or slurry. The Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli behind this outbreak are known to lurk in cattle guts.

 

The fact that health food and organic produce has been the focus of suspicion from the outset underlines the vulnerability of the food chain to accidents of biology, even in the one of the world's wealthiest nations. Germany already had a food scare earlier this year over dioxins in eggs and poultry.

 

Among the anxious patients wearing post blood-test bandaids waiting for their results at the Hamburg clinic, Erika said she had planned to go on holiday in Majorca this month with her bowling gang, to help her get over the death of her husband. She has canceled the trip for fear of making her friends sick.

 

"All I can do is wait," she said tearfully. "The germs are inside me."

 

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Irradiation: Tool to fight E. coli in produce

 

(AP via Yahoo! News) WASHINGTON – Zapping salad fixings with just a bit of radiation can kill dangerous E. coli and other bacteria — and food safety experts say Europe's massive outbreak shows wary consumers should give the long-approved step a chance.

 

The U.S. government has OK'd irradiation for a variety of foods — meat, spices, certain imported fruits, the seeds used to grow sprouts. Even iceberg lettuce or spinach can be irradiated without the leaves going limp. And no, it doesn't make the food radioactive.

 

But sterilized leafy greens aren't on the market, and overall sales of irradiated foods remain low. A disappointed Grocery Manufacturers Association says one reason is that sellers worry about consumer mistrust.

 

"We need to do whatever we can to give us a wider margin of safety," says Dr. Michael Osterholm, a University of Minnesota infectious disease specialist who frequently advises the government. "Food irradiation for a number of produce items would give us not just a marginal increase, but give us probably the Grand Canyon increase of safety."

 

The source of the E. coli strain in Europe hasn't been pinpointed. Health authorities have warned consumers there not to eat any type of sprout, the newest suspect, but also say to avoid tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce until the mystery is solved.

 

The U.S. has faced its own spate of tainted produce in recent years, with E. coli, salmonella, listeria and other bugs linked to lettuce, spinach, hot peppers, sprouts, cantaloupes and more.

 

The outbreaks have renewed interest in higher-tech fixes like irradiation, used in certain foods in the U.S. and parts of Europe. Irradiation zaps food with electron beams, like the kind long used to run TVs, or with gamma rays or X-rays. It's the same way numerous medical products are sterilized.

 

The Food and Drug Administration approved irradiation for raw spinach and lettuce three years ago, saying it safely killed germs and lengthened shelf life without harming texture, taste or nutrients. But it didn't catch on, and the grocery producers group, which wants more salad ingredients OK'd for irradiation, blames both consumer wariness and a technical issue. Some of the bags the greens are sold in need approval to be zapped, too.

 

Irradiated meat has been around for years, particularly ground beef that is a favorite hiding spot for E. coli. About 15 million to 18 million pounds of U.S. ground beef are irradiated every year, says Ron Eustice of the Minnesota Beef Council. That's a tiny fraction of the nation's hamburger, and it must be labeled so consumers can choose — although some retailers advertise irradiated hamburger as a safety selling point. Thorough cooking kills E. coli and other germs, but people don't always get their meat hot enough.

 

Still, Americans get more irradiated foods than they realize. About a third of commercial spices — the kind added to processed foods — are irradiated, says Eustice, who's also a consultant to the Food Irradiation Processing Alliance.

 

About 30 million pounds of imported produce, mostly fruits such as guavas and mangos, get a low-dose zap, not enough to kill germs but to kill any foreign insects along for the ride.

 

As for those seeds used to grow recall-prone raw sprouts, Eustice says irradiation hasn't caught on for them either, despite government research backing it. Some growers instead try washing seeds in a mild bleach solution.

 

The newest irradiated product is pet treats, about 40 million pounds and counting, Eustice says. It's to combat the problem of salmonella-tainted dog chews.

 

Irradiation isn't an excuse for dirty produce, Osterholm says. It's far better to prevent contamination on the farm or in the processing plant than to try to get rid of it later. But it's impossible to prevent all animal-borne bacteria in open fields.

 

There's no reason to fear irradiation but "there's no silver bullet here," cautions food-safety expert Caroline Smith DeWaal of the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Irradiation doesn't kill viruses that also sometimes taint food, and it adds to the food's price. She says consumers' biggest desire: Make cleaner food in the first place.

 

Nor is irradiation the only high-tech option. Scientists also are trying high-pressure treatment to literally squeeze away germs. It's been used for fresh guacamole and raw oysters. Earlier this year, beef giant Cargill Inc. announced it was using the technology for a longer-lasting hamburger patty.

 

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Billions needed to boost food production

 

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) – High-tech seeds and innovations in chemicals and farming will not be enough to solve looming food shortages for the world, according to a report issued Tuesday by a committee formed by food and chemicals conglomerate DuPont.

 

Billions of dollars in private investment, government incentives and charitable work must be funneled into collaborative projects if global food production is to match growing demand, the report urged.

 

Both biotech and organic farming will play a role, said the report by the DuPont Advisory Committee on Agricultural Innovation & Productivity for the 21st Century.

 

"People are starting to recognize that food demand is outstripping supply," said DuPont executive vice president Jim Borel, who oversees DuPont's agriculture and nutrition business.

 

"If the world doesn't figure out how to effectively deal with this challenge, then the results are ugly," he said. "It is becoming clear... that society has to figure out ways to work together differently than we ever have."

 

World economic and agricultural leaders have projected the world's population will surpass 9 billion by 2050, and 10 billion by the turn of the century. And they have forecast that global food production must jump 70 percent or more to meet demand.

 

Indeed, global grain stocks are currently at historically low levels, sparking high prices for corn, wheat, soy and other crops.

 

Such dire warnings have prompted a rush by investors and public and private groups to buy up agricultural land, and have agriculture seed and chemical companies like DuPont and its competitors rushing to roll out higher-yielding seeds and more potent fertilizers and herbicides.

 

The report stated that lagging public policy support for increased food production, outdated and ineffective infrastructure, and a lack of cohesive efforts by public and private players were among the many hurdles to increasing food production.

 

Africa and south and southeast Asia were pegged as key areas in need of cohesive development efforts.

 

"There is nothing easy about what we have to do," said former Sen. Tom Daschle, who chaired the committee. "This is one of the greatest challenges facing the human race."

 

He said billions of dollars will have to be spent to achieve nutritious and adequate food supplies for the world's population.

 

"It is going to take tremendous financing if this is going to happen. If we don't do this collectively and in a collaborative way, then we are going to fail," Daschle said.

 

The recommendations issued by the five-member committee included a call for increased long-term corporate investments in emerging markets to create jobs and raise incomes and to improve education and youth development; government incentives for those private-sector investments; and stronger intellectual property rights and land rights provisions.

 

The committee also said that governments need to adopt harmonized regulations for plant biotechnology, such as the genetically altered corn seed developed by DuPont and rival seed companies.

 

Investments are also needed for roads and bridges, as well as storage and processing facilities, according to the report.

 

And the report cited subsidies and trade distortions as problems that have distorted the international food and agricultural system.

 

In addition to Daschle, the other committee members are Charlotte Hebebrand, chief executive of the International Food & Agricultural Trade Policy Council; J.B. Penn, chief economist for Deere & Co.; Pedro Sanchez, co-chair of the Hunger Task Force of the Millennium Project, an advisory body to the United Nations; and Jo Luck, president of nonprofit Heifer International and co-winner of the 2010 World Food Prize.

 

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USDA allots $50M for pest management

 

(USDA) WASHINGTON – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is allocating $50 million, provided by Section 10201 of the 2008 Farm Bill, for projects that prevent the introduction or spread of plant pests and diseases that threaten U.S. agriculture and the environment.

 

"USDA is continuing its partnership with states, industry and other interested groups under the 2008 Farm Bill to prevent the entry of invasive plant pests and diseases, quickly detect those that may slip in and enhance our emergency response capabilities," said Vilsack. "I am pleased with the wide range and record number of project suggestions. They will provide strong protection to America's agricultural and environmental resources, and many will help nursery and specialty crop growers to flourish as the economy continues to recover."

 

Funding is offered to many states and U.S. territories to implement projects at universities, federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, private companies and tribal organizations. These projects will advance the Farm Bill goals of early pest detection and the identification and mitigation of agricultural threats.

 

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) made a concerted effort to engage external stakeholders, such as the National Plant Board, Specialty Crops Farm Bill Alliance and USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service and U.S. Forest Service, in designing the evaluation criteria for the suggestions. More than half of the suggestion reviewers came from outside of APHIS.

 

The FY 2011 funding plan and list of projects are posted at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/section10201.

 

The selection of the suggestions was not a competitive grant process. Suggestions were evaluated on their alignment with Section 10201 goals, the expected impact of the project, and the technical approach. In addition, the reviewers considered how the suggestions would complement ongoing USDA programs and other Section 10201 projects.

 

 

The selected projects were organized around six Section 10201 goal areas: enhancing plant pest/disease analysis and survey; targeting domestic inspection activities at vulnerable points in the safeguarding continuum; enhancing and strengthening pest identification and technology; safeguarding nursery production; enhancing mitigation capabilities; and conducting outreach and education about these issues. Examples of specific projects include a nationwide survey of honey bee pests and diseases, the monitoring of high-risk international and domestic pathways for invasive species, applied research to combat citrus pests, the exploration of the feasibility of an audit-based certification system to prevent the movement of infested nursery stock, and a national public awareness campaign on invasive pests and targeted eradication efforts for plum pox virus.

 

Over the last two years, Section 10201 projects have played a significant role in many USDA successes in protecting American agriculture and educating the public about the threat of invasive species. These successes include, among many others, the eradication of plum pox virus in Pennsylvania and a recent Mediterranean fruit fly outbreak in Florida, surveys for European grapevine moth in California, the 2010 national survey of honey bee pests and diseases and the production of a documentary ("Lurking in the Trees") to increase public awareness of the Asian longhorned beetle—a serious pest of hardwood trees—that has been broadcast widely on public television.

 

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Hybrid farm equipment a boon to growers

 

(zdnet.com) – Heavy duty non-road mobile machines used in construction, mining and agriculture are operated for long periods of time resulting in high fuel consumption and emissions. So why not use similar technology that has proven successful in hybrid cars to improve efficiency? That’s exactly what researchers at Aalto University in Finland have done. They’ve created hybrid machines with both combustion and electric engines that cut the amount of fuel consumed by half.

 

The new technology captures energy, which up to now has been lost by the machinery when working, and uses it instead of fuel. Unlike hybrid cars, which only capture energy from wheels during coasting and breaking, the electric power transmission system integrated into the machines creates most of the extra energy during work tasks.

 

The researchers plan to analyze the work cycles of different types of machinery to determine work tasks allow energy to be captured, such as deceleration and lowering a load.

 

The hybrid work machines enable short-term energy storage, making it possible to store energy for use during a peak in power demand. Other benefits include better control, operator comfort, efficiency and lower operating costs.

 

With electric power transmission, the machines may even be connected to normal wall sockets, and according to Professor Jussi Suomela, who is in charge of the project at Aalto University’s HybLab research network, they could eventually be outfitted with fuel cells.

 

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