Tag Archives: FOOD SAFETY

FDA Issues Draft Guidance on Reducing Microbial Hazards in Seed for Sprouting

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a draft guidance, titled, “Reducing Microbial Food Safety Hazards in the Production of Seed for Sprouting.” This draft guidance document provides food safety recommendations for those that grow, condition, pack, hold or distribute seed for sprouting. FDA reported that between January 1996 and August 2018, contaminated … Continue Reading

Deadlines Set for FDA to Establish Reporting Requirements for “High-Risk” Foods

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The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), enacted on January 4, 2011, set deadlines for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to (1) designate high-risk foods for which additional recordkeeping requirements are appropriate and necessary to protect the public health; and (2) publish a notice of proposed rulemaking to establish recordkeeping requirements for facilities that … Continue Reading

FDA Deputy Commissioner Yiannis’ Remarks on World Food Safety Day

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June 7 marked the first ever celebration of the United Nations’ World Food Safety Day.  The theme for 2019 is that food safety is everyone’s business.   The United Nations has designated two of its agencies, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), to lead efforts in promoting food safety around … Continue Reading

FDA Publishes Draft Guidance to Assist in Developing Alternate Curricula to Satisfy Produce Safety Rule Requirements

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FDA published a draft guidance to help farmers and educators develop or select alternate curricula to meet the training requirements of the Produce Safety Rule mandated by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). As our readers may know, the Produce Safety Rule establishes science-based minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of … Continue Reading

Upcoming Presentation on FDA’s 2018 Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Investigations Will Explore Recent Scientific Advances and Continuing Regulatory Challenges

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  Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. People can become infected with Cyclospora by consuming contaminated food or water. Past cyclosporiasis outbreaks in the U.S. have been mainly linked to consuming imported fresh produce like cilantro. C. cayetanensis, however, may be an emerging pathogen with an increasing incidence of occurrence and infection. … Continue Reading

Product Recalls Decline Across All Industries in Q1 2019

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As previously reported by Food Industry Executive based on a report and press release from Stericycle Expert Solutions, recalls within the consumer products, automotive, pharmaceutical, medical device, and food and beverage industries were all down in the first quarter of 2019.  This is the first time since 2012 that recalls were down across all industries … Continue Reading

Sharpless: ‘No Pause’ Following Gottlieb’s Departure

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As previously reported on this blog, Ned Sharpless succeeded Scott Gottlieb as Acting FDA Commissioner in April 2019.  Prior to Sharpless’ tenure, it was unclear whether the agency would continue Gottlieb’s efforts in the area of food and tobacco, including reevaluating certain standards of identity, modernizing the oversight of imported food and product recalls, and … Continue Reading

FDA Announces “New Era of Smarter Food Safety”

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On April 30, 2019, Acting FDA Commissioner Ned Sharpless, M.D., and Deputy Commissioner Frank Yiannas announced a “New Era of Smarter Food Safety,” an effort intended to combine the implementation of FSMA with the use of new and emerging technologies. This new approach will start with the development of a “Blueprint for a New Era … Continue Reading

CSPI Calls for National Registry of Gene-Edited Agricultural Crops

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Criticizing the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for lack of oversight over foods produced with gene editing technology (e.g., Zinc Finger Nucleases, TALENS, or CRISPR/Cas 9), the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is calling for a federal registry of all gene-edited agricultural crops. CSPI is not … Continue Reading

FDA Encourages Participation in Voluntary Plant Biotechnology Consultation Program and Revises Guidance on Voluntary Labeling of Foods Derived Plant Biotechnology

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Given the increased prevalence of plant biotechnology to develop innovative foods, FDA is reminding industry of its voluntary consultation program to ensure the safety of and public confidence in plant biotechnology-derived foods.  FDA describes “plant biotechnology” as “certain methods scientists can use to introduce new traits or characteristics to a plant.” FDA has assisted in … Continue Reading

FDA Releases Second Installment of Intentional Adulteration Draft Guidance

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FDA released the second installment of a draft guidance designed to support compliance with the Intentional Adulteration (IA) rRule under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The first installment was published in June 2018, and a third installment is to follow. The second installment outlines two flexible methods for how facilities can conduct vulnerability assessments … Continue Reading

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb Resigns

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On Tuesday, March 5, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb announced he would resign at the end of the month. Gottlieb, a physician and former deputy commissioner in the George W. Bush administration, was confirmed as FDA Commissioner in May 2017. The resignation was not sought by the White House, as confirmed by a senior White House … Continue Reading

EFSA Report Indicates Antimicrobial Resistance in EU Is Increasing

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The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDPC) have issued a joint summary report on antimicrobial resistance in the EU based on data from its 28 Member States. The 278-page report summarizes findings that antimicrobial resistance is increasing in bacteria that cause disease when transmitted from animals … Continue Reading

FDA Publishes Findings from Investigation of Romaine Lettuce E. coli Outbreak

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As previously reported on this blog, in November 2018 FDA, in conjunction with the CDC, state officials, and Canadian food and public health officials, investigated an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections in multiple US states and Canadian provinces. The investigation determined the cause of the outbreak was the consumption of contaminated romaine lettuce. Indeed, … Continue Reading

FDA Takes Action on Dietary Supplements Claiming to Treat Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Serious Conditions

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FDA has issued warning letters and online advisories to a number of dietary supplement companies whose products claim to prevent, treat, or cure Alzheimer’s disease and other serious conditions.  The disease claims cause the supplements to be considered unapproved new drugs that violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The products in question include … Continue Reading

Raw Turkey Pet Food Linked to Human Illness in Minnesota

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The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has issued a recall notice for three lots of raw turkey pet food manufactured by Woody’s Pet Food Deli after linking a human case of Salmonella Reading infection to the product. The infected person served the recalled food to a pet, which also tested positive for Salmonella but a … Continue Reading

NGO Publishes Report on Food Safety

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The United State Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) published “How Safe is Our Food? Recent trends and case studies, and what they mean for our health”, a review and commentary of the food safety system in the United States.  PIRG reviewed trends in food safety, with an emphasis on recalls, as well as case studies … Continue Reading

FDA Resumes Inspections of High-Risk Food Facilities

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As previously reported on this blog, the partial federal government shutdown stalled FDA’s ability to conduct routine inspections of domestic food facilities.  However, as of January 15, FDA resumed inspections of food facilities that produce high risk foods, such as cheeses, other dairy products, seafood, produce, and infant formula, which had been stopped as a result of … Continue Reading

New Canadian Food Safety Law Takes Effect in One Week

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The Safe Food for Canadians Regulations will become effective one week from today, on January 15, 2019. As previously reported on this blog, Canada proposed these regulations in January 2017 to implement the Safe Foods for Canadians Act (SFCA), which was adopted on June 7, 2012. The final Safe Food for Canadians Regulations were published … Continue Reading

EFSA Releases Evaluation of Cyanide Risk from Foods

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The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) has opened a public consultation into a draft opinion on the health risks of cyanogenic glycosides in foods other than raw apricot kernels. Cyanogenic glycosides contain chemically bound cyanide and are present in foods such as apricot kernels, almonds, linseed, or … Continue Reading

Multistate E. Coli Outbreak Linked to Romaine Lettuce Grown in California

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As we reported on this blog last week, FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with state and local agencies, were investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses that was likely linked to romaine lettuce. On November 20, the CDC advised consumers not to eat any romaine lettuce, and … Continue Reading

FDA and CDC Investigate Multistate E. coli Outbreak Linked to Romaine

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The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with state and local agencies, are investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses that are likely linked to romaine lettuce. On November 20, the CDC advised consumers not to eat any romaine lettuce, and retailers and restaurants not to serve or … Continue Reading
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