Tag Archives: FOOD SAFETY

Trump Administration Proposes to Consolidate Food Safety Authority into One Agency

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In a June 21, 2017 document titled “Delivering Government Solutions in the 21st Century:  Reform Plan and Reorganization Recommendations,” the Trump Administration proposes to replace the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) with a single agency called the Federal Food Safety Agency.  If the recommendations were to be … Continue Reading

FDA Issues First Draft Guidance Document on Intentional Adulteration

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As promised in March 2018, FDA has issued the first of three guidance documents concerning its Final Rules on Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).  These rules are intended to guard against the deliberate adulteration of food by employees. The 94-page guidance provides an overview of … Continue Reading

FDA and USDA Announce Collaborative Effort to Align Produce Safety Requirements

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On June 5, 2018, FDA and USDA announced a new collaborative effort to streamline produce safety requirements for farmers by aligning the USDA Harmonized Good Agricultural Practices Audit Program (USDA H-GAP) with the requirements of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act’s (FSMA’s) Produce Safety Rule. This effort follows the signing of a formal agreement in … Continue Reading

Continuing Fallout from E. Coli Outbreak in Romaine

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According to the Wall Street Journal (paywall), the impact of the recent E. coli outbreak in romaine lettuce continues to ripple through the market, causing a 44.5% drop in retail sales of romaine as compared to the previous year and a 27.6% drop in sales of lettuce overall. Retailers, restaurants, and growers are already facing … Continue Reading

Non-Profits Sue FDA to Prohibit Use of Seven Flavors

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Eight non-profit organizations (Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, Center for Environmental Health, Center for Food Safety, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Working Group, Natural Resources Defense Council, and WE ACT for Environmental Justice) are suing FDA to seek a prohibition on the use of various flavors in food.  The lawsuit … Continue Reading

FDA Releases Intentional Adulteration Training Course

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In partnership with the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA), FDA has developed a free 30-minute “Food Defense Awareness for the Intentional Adulteration (IA) Rule” online training course to assist industry in complying with Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements under the Final Rules for Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration. The training … Continue Reading

CDC Expands Warning of Multistate Outbreak of E. coli Linked to Romaine

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region could be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.  Thus far, 53 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported from 16 states. Thirty-one people have been hospitalized, including 5 people who have developed a type … Continue Reading

California Considers Regulating Food Packaging under Green Chemistry Initiative

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As part of its Green Chemistry Initiative and the Safer Consumer Products (SCP) implementing regulations, California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has released its Draft Three Year Priority Product Work Plan (2018-2020).  The Plan indicates that it will “address exposures from harmful chemicals that migrate from consumer products into food.” DTSC identifies as “Candidate Chemicals” … Continue Reading

FDA Announces Proposed EU Shellfish Equivalence Determination

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The United States and the European Union (EU) have not traded live shellfish for nearly eight years. Since 2010, U.S. shellfish imports have not been allowed to enter the EU, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not permitted the import of live, fresh or fresh-frozen molluscan shellfish from the EU since the … Continue Reading

WHO Names South African Listeria Outbreak World’s Largest

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According to the UN World Health Organization (WHO), South Africa is currently in the middle of the largest listeria outbreak ever seen.  As of this week, the outbreak has sickened almost 1,000, with at least 180 fatalities, and has received extensive press coverage globally (see e.g., here and here).  The cause of the outbreak has been … Continue Reading

New Study: UV-bacteriophage Combination Found to Improve Salmonella Control in Ground Beef

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In a comparison study of microbial interventions, researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno found that a combination of ultraviolet (UV) light and bacteriophages was most effective in reducing Salmonella populations in ground beef. The researchers analyzed the comparative effectiveness of organic acids, bacteriophages and UV light, individually and combined. Highlights of the study’s findings include: Certain organic … Continue Reading

FDA Releases 2017 Edition of the Food Code

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As previously reported on this blog, FDA publishes a Food Code every four years that serves as a model for retail and food service regulations nationwide. The Food Code provisions are designed to be consistent with federal food laws and regulations and may be enacted into statute, promulgated as a regulation, or adopted as an ordinance by … Continue Reading

USDA Rejects NCC’s Petition to Lift Poultry Line Speed

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On August 21, 2014, FSIS published a final rule called the “Modernization of Poultry Slaughter Inspection” (79 FR 49566, Aug. 21, 2014) which amended the Agency’s poultry regulations to establish an inspection system called the New Poultry Inspection System (NPIS) for young chicken and turkey slaughter establishments. Under the final rule, the maximum line speed for young … Continue Reading

USDA Secretary Outlines Farm Bill Priorities for 2018

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USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue has released a set of legislative principles for Congress to consider as the new 2018 Farm Bill is developed. Issues covered include: farm production, trade, nutrition, food safety and development. Key principles with specific regard to food safety efforts include: Protect public health and prevent foodborne illness by committing the necessary … Continue Reading

CDC expands use of Whole Genome Sequencing in Foodborne Illness

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Whole genome sequencing (WGS) provides insight into the genetic fingerprint of a pathogen by sequencing the chemical building blocks that make up its DNA and is increasingly being employed in food safety efforts. Since 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has regularly turned to WGS to better understand foodborne pathogens, including identifying the … Continue Reading

USDA-FSIS Announces Food Safety Research Priorities

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USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) regulates the production of meat, poultry, and egg products. As part of its FY 2017-2021 Strategic Plan to promote food safety and public health, FSIS has developed a listing of its top food safety research areas of interest. Key research priorities include: Investigate and/or develop emerging screening technologies … Continue Reading

IFSAC Publishes Paper on How to Categorize Foods Linked to Foodborne Disease Outbreaks

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Created in 2011, the Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration (IFSAC) is a partnership of three federal agencies—the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (FSIS). IFSAC aims to enhance the coordination of federal food safety analytic … Continue Reading

OIG Critiques USDA-FSIS Foreign Food Safety Protocols

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The Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, and the Egg Products Inspection Act require foreign countries that export meat, poultry, and egg products to the U.S. to establish and maintain systems equivalent to the U.S. inspection system. The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is responsible for ensuring these products meet all … Continue Reading

USDA Announces Comment Period on NCC Petition to Lift Poultry Line Speeds

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USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) regulates the production of meat, poultry, and egg products. In 2014, FSIS published a final rule called the “Modernization of Poultry Slaughter Inspection” (79 FR 49566, Aug. 21, 2014) which amended the poultry regulations to establish an additional inspection system, called the New Poultry Inspection System (NPIS), for young chicken and … Continue Reading

IFSAC to Host Webinar on Foodborne Illness Source Attribution Estimates

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Created in 2011, the Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration (IFSAC) is a partnership of three federal agencies—the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (FSIS). IFSAC aims to enhance the coordination of federal food safety analytic … Continue Reading

FDA Pushes for Sharing Whole Genome Sequencing to Promote Food Safety

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Whole genome sequencing (WGS) provides insight into the genetic fingerprint of a pathogen by sequencing the chemical building blocks that make up its DNA and is increasingly being employed in food safety efforts.  Since 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has regularly turned to WGS to better understand foodborne pathogens, including identifying the … Continue Reading
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