Spudman

FDA commissioner announces extension of FSMA comment period

FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg announced the agency’s intention to extend the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) comment period by 120 days. Hamburg made the remarks during a Senate Appropriation Committee hearing. The comment period was originally set to end May 16. A group of more than 80 produce industry organizations sent a letter April 11 to Hamburg requesting an extension of the comment period on the preventive controls and produce safety rules of FSMA by…  » Read more

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PMA names vice president of food safety, technology

Jim Gorny has been hired to fill the new position of vice president of food safety and technology for the Produce Marketing Association. In his role, he will strengthen PMA’s initiatives to build member value in the areas of science and technology, including food safety research, biotechnology, agricultural innovations, process and packaging technology and environmental sustainability. In addition, Gorny will continue his long-standing role with the Center for Produce Safety at the University of California…  » Read more

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Produce industry groups seek FSMA comment period extension

A group of 89 international, national, state and regional fresh fruit and vegetable groups has requested an extension of the May 16 deadline on the comment period for the proposed Produce Safety and Preventive Controls rules under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The request was made in an April 11 letter sent to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg. The letter noted, “it would be impossible for any interested party to meaningfully comment on these two…  » Read more

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Industry groups will comment on trace report

The Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI), designed to help the produce industry maximize the effectiveness of current traceback procedures, is currently developing a response to the Institute of Food Technologists’ (IFT) 10 recommendations released by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the document entitled “Pilot Projects for Improving Product Tracing along the Food Supply System Final Report.” PTI, with the coordination of its four administering organizations (Canadian Produce Marketing Association, GS1 US, Produce Marketing Association…  » Read more

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FDA will step up inspection of cantaloupe packinghouses

FDA on Monday, Feb. 25 announced its intention to begin inspections of cantaloupe packinghouses during the 2013 growing season, with a special focus on preventing listeria outbreaks. “As we move forward over the next few years with implementation of the produce safety provisions of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), it is essential that the cantaloupe industry and the produce industry in general, observe best practices already recognized by FDA and the industry as…  » Read more

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Extension granted for FSMA comment deadline

FDA has approved a request made by United Fresh to extend the comment period for the information collection provisions of two proposed rules related to the Food Safety Modernization Act. The deadline, which was Feb. 15, was extended to May 16. The information collection provisions are requested and subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The extended deadline matches the May 16 deadline for submitting…  » Read more

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United requests extension of time for FSMA comments

United Fresh has submitted a request to the Office of Management and Budget to extend the comment period on certain provisions in the proposed produce and preventive controls rules. Several provisions relating to information collection currently face a comment deadline of Feb. 16, which United and the Grocery Manufacturers Association are requesting be extended to May 16. The extension is necessary to provide sufficient time for the industry to examine and respond to the complex…  » Read more

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FDA adds two more meetings on FSMA

The Food and Drug Administration will be holding more public meetings on the recently released Food Safety Modernization Act proposed rules for produce safety and preventive controls. Two meetings will be held in Chicago on March 11 from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and March 12 from 8:30 a.m.-noon. Two other meetings are set for Portland, Ore., March 27 from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and March 28 from 8:30 a.m.-noon. The Federal Register notice announcing these meetings and…  » Read more

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FDA sets up links for FSMA comments

FDA has established two links for comment on the proposed rules to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The rules were published in the Federal Register on Jan. 16. Comments can be submitted to FDA or at the regulations.gov portal by the due date of May 16. The first rule, called “Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption,” can be found on the Federal Register here: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-01-16/html/2013-00123.htm. The…  » Read more

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Series of FSMA webinars underway

Both the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) and United Fresh are conducing a series of webinars about the Food Safety Modernization Act implementation rules. The next two PMA webinars will be held Jan. 24 and are each called “Ask the FDA,” where officials from FDA will be available to speak and answer questions about the two rule implementation documents released Jan. 4. The first session, at 1 p.m. EST, will address the Produce Rule and the…  » Read more

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FDA releases rules to implement FSMA

The FDA has released its long-awaited implementation documents for the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The two rules will be placed in the Federal Register and will be available for public comment over 120 days. The first rule would require makers of food to be sold in the United States, whether produced at a foreign- or domestic-based facility, to develop a formal plan for preventing their food products from causing foodborne illness. The rule would…  » Read more

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FDA issues guidelines for facility registration

The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) provides that food facilities required to register with FDA must renew their registrations every other year, during the period beginning on Oct. 1 and ending on Dec. 31 of each even-numbered year. Due to the delay in implementing the biennial registration renewal for the 2012 cycle, and because registration renewal did not become available until Oct. 22, FDA intends to exercise enforcement discretion with respect to registration renewals…  » Read more

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U.S. and China renew food safety agreement

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Dec. 11 that it has renewed an agreement with the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine of China (AQSIQ) to enhance cooperation between the U.S. and China on food and feed safety. The two countries entered into the original agreement in 2007, and the announcement extends the agreement for an additional five years. The agreement includes enhancement of FDA’s ability to identify high-risk food products…  » Read more

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CDC probes spring mix E. coli outbreak

The Centers for Disease Control is collaborating with public health officials in several states and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157 (STEC O157 infections. Preliminary results from this ongoing investigation indicate that Wegmans brand Organic Spinach and Spring Mix blend produced by State Garden of Chelsea, Massachusetts, is one likely source of this outbreak. Public health investigators are using DNA “fingerprints” of E.…  » Read more

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Fresh Express announces limited romaine salad recall

Fresh Express is conducting a voluntary recall of a limited quantity of 18-oz. Fresh Express Hearts of Romaine Salad with a Use-by Date of Oct. 11 and Product Code of S270A24 due to a possible health risk from salmonella. The notification is being issued out of caution based on a random sample that yielded a positive result for salmonella as part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s random sample testing program. The recalled salads…  » Read more

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Unsanitary conditions outlined in Indiana cantaloupe outbreak

A report released by the FDA shows that inspectors reported a variety of sources of contamination when they inspected Chamberlain Farms Produce, Inc., of Owensville, Ind., in August. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists Chamberlain Farms as the source of cantaloupe infected with salmonella that sickened a total of 270 people in 26 states. Of those, 101 had to be hospitalized. Three died in Kentucky. Inspectors who visited the farm tested cantaloupe still…  » Read more

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Update: FDA not sure when food facility registration will open

A spokesperson for the FDA says the agency doesn't know yet when it will begin accepting food facility registrations as required by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Under FSMA, all domestic and foreign facilities manufacturing, processing, packing or holding food for human or animal consumption in the U.S. are mandated to register with FDA between now and Dec. 31. In the past, registration was voluntary. Registration was supposed to open Oct. 1, but it…  » Read more

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Set to open today, FDA’s mandatory registration for food facilities not ready yet

While today marks the start of the three-month window for food facilities to meet mandatory registration requirements with the FDA, the government has announced that the website isn’t ready. Under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), all domestic and foreign facilities manufacturing, processing, packing or holding food for human or animal consumption in the U.S. are mandated to register with FDA between now and Dec. 31. In the past, registration was voluntary. It’s not clear…  » Read more

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FDA awards contract for technology to speed identification of pathogens on produce

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has awarded Illumina, Inc. of San Diego, Calif., a five-year $17 million contract to develop technology that will provide faster identification of pathogens on produce. Illumina will provide its MiSeq sequencing systems and reagents for conducting whole genome analysis on produce and produce-related environmental salmonella and shigatoxigenic E. coli isolates. FDA currently employs several MiSeq systems  and is building its capacity to provide resources and training to enhance whole…  » Read more

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Spinach recall initiated by Kroger after bag tests positive for listeria

Kroger Co. is recalling Fresh Selections Tender Spinach in 10-oz. bags because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recall is limited to already-expired bags with a use-by date of Sept. 16 and UPC Code of 011110916495. The product was distributed in Kroger stores in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Knoxville and Nashville, Tenn., Greater Cincinnati, including Northern Kentucky, Dayton, Ohio, and Southeastern Indiana, Central and Northwest Ohio and N. West…  » Read more

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