Current meat/poultry products

Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) are the most widely studied of the toxic foodborne proteins. Although these toxins are produced by various strains of Staphylococcus, evidence has shown they are primarily produced by the Staphylococcus aureus strain. Currently there are nine enterotoxins (A, B, C, D, E, G, H, I, J) that have been identified in a wide variety of food products meat, poultry and egg products, milk and dairy products, as well as bakery products [35]. The infective dose of toxins is estimated to be 0.1 p-g/kg body mass [36]. Detection of the presence of SEs is typically done through isolation in the suspected food source [6]. 

The production of PBBs in the United States ceased in 1979 (lARC 1986). In the past, PBBs were released to the environment during the manufacture of these compounds and disposal of commercial and consumer products containing these compounds (Hesse and Powers 1978 Neufeld et al. 1977). One of the significant sources of environmental contamination occurred as a result of the accidental mixup of FireMaster BP-6 with cattle food in a number of farms in the lower peninsula in Michigan (see Section 3.2 for additional details concerning this incident). By June 1975, 412 farms had been quarantined. Disposal of contaminated feed, animal carcasses (poultry, dairy cattle, swine), and animal products (dairy, meat, eggs) contributed to environmental contamination (Dunckel 1975 Kay 1977). No information was located on the current levels of contamination at these locations. 

As shown in Table 34.8, the oil content of row crop oilseeds varies from about 19 percent for soybean to 43 percent for sunflowerseed, and 41 to 45 percent for rapeseed/canola. More feed coproducts always are produced than oils, with a ratio 4 1 in the case of soybean. Soybean meal is the major feed protein source for production of poultry, currently the leading domestic and global meat source, and in the rapidly developing aquaculture industries. 

The poultry industry has been considered one of the most important and efficient activities of Brazilian agriculture, leading Brazil to assume, since 2004, the position of world s largest exporter of chicken meat, ending in 2009 with the mark of 3.6 million tons shipped to over 150 countries. As for chicken production, Brazil currently ranks second with a production of 10 900 tons. Generating more than 4.5 million direct and indirect jobs and responding to 1.5% of GDP Gross Domestic Product (UBA, 2010). 

Currently, tomatoes, blueberries, strawberries, and mushrooms are being irradiated to allow them to be harvested when completely ripe and extend their shelf life (see Figure 16.3). The FDA has also approved the irradiation of pork, poultry, and beef in order to decrease potential infections and to extend shelf life. Currently, irradiated vegetable and meat products are available in retail markets in more than 40 countries. In the United States, irradiated foods such... 

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