Tag Archives: USDA

USDA Posts FAQ regarding BE Labeling and Promises Future Guidance

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has issued an FAQ for manufacturers concerning its bioengineered (BE) food labeling rule (formally known as the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (NBFDS)).  The final rule was issued in December 2018 and does not come into effect for several years, but questions are being raised by industry regarding … Continue Reading

USDA Amends National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances for Organic Handling or Production

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The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is responsible for maintaining the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (the “National List”) for organic handling and production as part of the National Organic Program (NOP) under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA; Public Law 101-624, Nov. 28, 1990).  The … 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

Proposed Legislation Would Lock-In USDA’s Oversight of Cell-Based Meat

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As we previously reported, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have issued a “Formal Agreement Between FDA and USDA Regarding Oversight of Human Food Produced Using Animal Cell Technology Derived from Cell Lines of USDA-amenable Species” (the press release can be … Continue Reading

USDA Pushes Back Against Washington Post Over New Swine Slaughter Inspection System

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On February 1, 2018, FSIS put forward a proposed rule to establish a voluntary, opt-in inspection system for market hog slaughter establishments, called the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System (NSIS). Under the proposed rule, hog slaughter plants may voluntarily join a new inspection system whereby establishment personnel would be responsible for sorting and removing unfit … 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

Arizona Legislators Join Cell-Cultured Meat Labeling Debate

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As previously reported on this blog, there has been considerable discussion around the regulation of cell-cultured meat both at the federal and state levels. Earlier this month, USDA and FDA published a formal agreement regarding federal agency oversight of human food produced using cell technology. Under the formal agreement, FDA will oversee cell collection and … Continue Reading

HHS and USDA Announce 2020 Dietary Guidelines Topics and Advisory Committee Meeting

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In February 2018, The Daily Intake Blog reported that the U.S. Department of Health and Humans Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) were soliciting “public comments on the proposed priority topics and supporting scientific questions that will guide the development of the upcoming 2020-2025” edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (the … Continue Reading

FDA Removes Import Alert for GE Salmon

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U.S. Food and Drug Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., announced on March 8, that the Agency was deactivating a 2016 import alert that prevented genetically engineered (GE) salmon from entering the U.S. By way of background, in 2015, FDA approved a New Animal Drug Application (NADA) related to AquAdvantage Salmon after determining that it met the … Continue Reading

USDA and FDA Provide Additional Details on Joint Regulation of Cell-Cultured Meat

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As we previously reported, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in a November 16, 2018 joint press release, announced an agreement on joint regulation of cell-cultured meat.  Though the framework was not released at the time, the press release indicated that … Continue Reading

This Week’s Cannabis Highlights

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As previously reported in this blog, the 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp – defined as Cannabis sativa L. with less than 0.3% THC on a dry weight basis – from the definition of “marihuana”.  The 2018 Farm Bill also assigned responsibility for regulating the manufacture of hemp to the states under plans approved by USDA … Continue Reading

Enforcement Activity by the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service Against Imported Siluriformes (Catfish) for “Failure to Present” Violations

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  As reported here, the domestic and import inspection program for Siluriformes fish and fish products (including catfish) was transferred from FDA to USDA in response to a congressional mandate.  After September 1, 2017, only foreign countries that had submitted documentation showing the equivalence of their Siluriformes fish inspection system with that of the U.S. … 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

FDA and USDA Are Back to Work, But Getting Back to “Normal” May Still Take Time

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  FDA and USDA employees furloughed during the 35-day partial government shutdown have returned to work this morning after the President signed legislation on Friday to temporarily reopen the government for 3 weeks.  While this is very good news, it will take some time before all activities are running smoothly again. FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb’s … Continue Reading

Canada’s New “Food Guide” Does Not Include Separate Dairy Category

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Canada has released its updated “Food Guide” for 2019.  Later this year, Health Canada will release Part II of the Guide, which will include descriptions of healthy eating habits with recommendations on amounts and types of foods in a balanced diet.  While the changes as a whole shift the focus of the guide to a … Continue Reading

USDA and FDA Continue to Call Back Workers Amid Partial Shutdown

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As previously reported on this blog, without either a fiscal year 2019 appropriation or a Continuing Resolution, a partial government shutdown, which began on December 22, 2018, has continued to impact both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This blog has also reported that as of January 15, FDA resumed inspections … 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

Nebraska Bill Defines Meat as Derived from Livestock or Poultry

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Introduced January 10, 2019, Nebraska Legislative Bill 14 would prohibit “misrepresenting a product as meat that is not derived from livestock or poultry.” The bill, which was referred to the Agriculture Committee on January 14, was introduced by Sen. Carol Blood. “I’m not bringing this bill to tell people what they can and can’t eat. All … Continue Reading

Lapse in Government Funding Continues to Affect FDA, USDA

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As previously covered on this blog, without either a fiscal year 2019 appropriation or a Continuing Resolution, a partial government shutdown, which began on December 22, 2018, has continued to impact both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. As of the time of this blog’s publication, the government has … Continue Reading

USDA Publishes Final Rule Amending the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances for Organic Handling or Production

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The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is responsible for maintaining the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (the “National List”) for organic handling and production as part of the National Organic Program (NOP) under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA; Public Law 101-624, Nov. 28, 1990).  The … Continue Reading

FDA, USDA Impacted by Lapse in Government Funding

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As of the time of this blog’s publication, without either a fiscal year 2019 appropriation or a Continuing Resolution, a partial government shutdown, which began on December 22, 2018, has continued to impact departments and agencies across the federal government. Both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are directly … Continue Reading

In Light of 2018 Farm Bill, FDA Issues Statement on Use of CBD in Food; Completes Evaluation of 3 Hemp-Related GRASNs

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The Agriculture Improvement Act (also known as “the 2018 Farm Bill”) was signed into law on December 20, 2018.  Among other things, the law changes certain federal authorities relating to the production and marketing of hemp, defined as cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.), and derivatives of cannabis (e.g., CBD) with extremely low (less than 0.3% on … Continue Reading

National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard Final Rule Released

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After much anticipation, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has released the final rule establishing the national mandatory bioengineered (BE) food disclosure standard. The rule is scheduled to be published on December 21, 2018 in the Federal Register. As previously reported on this blog, the proposed rule was published on May 4, 2018 and approximately 14,000 … Continue Reading
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