The FDA has just approved the a mixture of viruses, bacteriophages, to be used to kill bacteria commonly found in foods, marking the first time that a virus has been approved as a food additive. The mixture contains strains of six different bacteriophages designed to fight Listeria monocytogenes, the bacteria that cause listeriosis, a disease which sickens about 2,500 people per year and kills 500. Listeriosis primarily affects pregnant women, women who have just given birth and infants, in addition to other people who have weakened immune systems for one reason or another. The bacteria is found mostly in packaged, processed meat products, so the additive will be used on cold cuts, various sausages and other "ready to eat" meat products.
The FDA imposed its strictest standards to scrutiny to this additive, developed by a company called Intralytix, and is confident that the bacteriophages are safe. The Department of Agriculture will regulate and supervise the use of the additive. A spokesman for the Office of Food Additive Safety at the FDA says that " consumers will not be aware which meat and poultry products have been treated with the spray."
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