Tag Archives: FOOD SAFETY

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

CDC Issues Update on Multistate Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Raw Turkey

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An outbreak of Salmonella Reading linked to raw turkey that began in November 2017 continues to sicken Americans in 35 states.  Raw turkey pieces, ground turkey, whole turkey, and turkey pet food have been linked to illnesses in humans. A total of 164 people have been infected, 47% of whom have been hospitalized.  There has … Continue Reading

New Report Reveals Sources of Foodborne Illnesses

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On November 9, 2018, the Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaborations (IFSAC) released a report on foodborne illnesses caused by four pathogens. The data in the report, titled, “Foodborne illness source attribution estimates for 2016 for Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157, Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter using multi-year outbreak surveillance data, United States,” came from 1,255 foodborne disease … Continue Reading

FDA Releases Initial Findings on Food Safety in Restaurants

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than half of foodborne illness outbreaks that occur each year are associated with food from restaurants. CDC has identified five major risk factors related to food safety practices within the retail food industry that contribute to foodborne illness: (1) poor personal hygiene; (2) improper … Continue Reading

United Airlines Faces Multiple Food Safety Whistleblower Lawsuits

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United Airlines is facing three whistleblower lawsuits filed by employees who reported food safety concerns at its Newark catering facility.  The suits have been filed by United’s former senior manager of food safety, Marcia Lee; the General Manager of the Newark catering facility, Eliot Mosby; and Newark Food Safety Manager, Gustavo Moya—who allege that, after … Continue Reading

Ostroff Retires as FDA Deputy Commissioner for Foods and Vet Medicine; FDA to Undergo Food Safety Reorganization

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As reported by multiple outlets, Stephen Ostroff, FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Food and Veterinary Medicine, will retire January 5. Ostroff assumed the role of Deputy Commissioner in 2016, previously serving as the acting FDA Commissioner on two occasions. Walmart’s Vice President for Food Safety and Health, Frank Yiannas, is set to replace Ostroff. Yiannas will … Continue Reading

USDA Secretary Signals USDA Role Over Animal Cell Culture Technology Regulation Ahead of Joint USDA-FDA Meeting

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As previously reported on this blog, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that they will hold a joint meeting on October 23-24, 2018, to discuss the use of cell culture technology to develop products derived from livestock and poultry. The meeting will focus on potential hazards, regulatory … Continue Reading

USDA Updates Poultry Line Speed Standards

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On August 21, 2014, USDA-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 for young chicken and turkey slaughter establishments, called the New Poultry Inspection System (NPIS). Under the final rule, the maximum line speed for young … Continue Reading

FDA Issues Policy and Related Draft Guidance on Publicizing List of Retailers in Certain Food Recall Situations

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FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb announced on September 26, 2018 a new FDA policy on disclosing retail information for products subject to food recalls—particularly in Class I recall situations, where consumption of the food has a reasonable probability of causing serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals.  Historically, the agency has not released … Continue Reading

FDA Commissioner Discusses FDA’s Efforts to Prevent Foodborne Cyclospora Outbreaks

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FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb has issued a press release in the aftermath of this summer’s Cyclospora (C. cayetanensis) outbreaks in fresh produce, highlighting the Agency’s efforts to prevent outbreaks of this foodborne illlness.  Cyclospora is an intestinal parasite that is spread through contamination of food with human waste. FDA has been surveying the food supply … Continue Reading

USDA and FDA Announce Joint Meeting on Animal Cell Culture Technology

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Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that they will hold a joint meeting on October 23-24, 2018, to discuss the use of cell culture technology to develop products derived from livestock and poultry. As we previously reported on this blog, FDA held a public meeting on … Continue Reading

FDA Releases Q&A for Preventive Controls for Animal Foods

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In light of the approaching September 17, 2018 compliance date for small animal food businesses (i.e., those with less than 500 full-time equivalent employees) to comply with Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls (HARPC) rules, FDA has released a Q&A document concerning what to expect in the near term regarding FDA enforcement and inspections. The … Continue Reading

FDA Explains What to Expect As Compliance Date Nears for PC Animal Food Rule

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On August 14, 2018, FDA released a constituent update regarding the upcoming compliance dates for the Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Food for Animals final rule under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). By September 17, 2018, both large and small animal food facilities must comply with preventive controls … Continue Reading

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
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