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Entries tagged with: Food Safety
United Day 2: Food safety front and center
Everywhere you turned during the second and final day of the United Fresh 2013 trade show and convention in San Diego, people were talking about food safety. But no one spoke of what can happen during a recall more movingly than Nelia Alamo, director of sales and marketing for Gills Onions. Her memories of a food recall incident were fresh — her company’s recall incident took place nearly a year ago, or shortly after United… » Read moreFDA 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 moreThermoWorks rolls out HACCP mobile app
ThermoWorks has introduced HACCP Mobile, the only app that pairs with a Bluetooth thermometer probe and turns any iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch into a paperless, one-touch, professional hazardous analysis and critical control point recording solution. The app displays, records, stores and emails temperature data received via Bluetooth connection from the ThermoWorks BlueTherm type K thermocouple probe. Used in conjunction with free accessory desktop software, temperature readings can be viewed remotely on any iDevice -… » Read morePMA 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 moreProduce 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 moreReport summarizes latest food industry research
A new report released by Produce Marketing Association (PMA) and Western Growers aims to help produce industry members understand the latest food safety research and how to apply key findings to their day-to-day operations. The report summarizes and interprets research presented at the third annual Center for Produce Safety (CPS) Research Symposium held June 27, 2012, at the University of California, Davis, Calif. Covered in the report are results from 18 CPS-funded projects in four… » Read moreBirko, Crunch Pak partner for food safety
Birko, a provider of antimicrobial process aids and sanitation chemistry to the produce industry, has partnered with Crunch Pak to provide food safety solutions for fresh produce manufacture. Crunch Pak, Cashmere, Wash., provides organic and conventional sliced apples to supermarkets nationwide and in Canada. Birko recently installed its improved entryway foamers at Crunch Pak's Washington and Pennsylvania plants. Entryway foamers help keep E. coli, salmonella, listeria and other pathogens from migrating at processing plants. Placed… » Read moreNew industry guidance for cantaloupe available
A new resource, “The National Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for Cantaloupes and Netted Melons,” is now available to help companies that grow, harvest, sort, pack, process or ship cantaloupes in developing production practices that address risk and minimize microbial hazards. It is applicable for companies of all sizes and the use of all production practices, from primary production to the packing and transport of fresh cantaloupes. The guidance is the result of a yearlong… » Read moreFDA 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 moreExtension 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
FDA releases long-awaited food safety rules
FDA has released its long-awaited implementation documents for the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The two rules were placed in the Federal Register Jan. 4, and will be available for public comment for 120 days from that date. 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.… » Read more
FDA releases long-awaited food safety rules
FDA has released its long-awaited implementation documents for the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The two rules were placed in the Federal Register Jan. 4, and will be available for public comment for 120 days from that date. 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.… » Read moreFDA 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 moreFMI hires new food safety director
The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) announced Josh Katz as its new director of food safety programs. Katz will be instrumental in the development and implementation of food safety initiatives, critical to the retail community. He will report to Hilary Thesmar, FMI’s vice president of food safety programs. "Josh brings to FMI more than 13 years of robust academic and professional experience, including in-depth knowledge of designing food safety and quality systems,” said Hilary Thesmar, vice… » Read moreSeries 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 moreFDA 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 moreReady Pac plant earns SQF certification
Ready Pac Foods announced that its Swedesboro, N.J. fresh foods processing facility received SQF (Safe Quality Food) Level 3 certification, the highest certification possible. This achievement means that all of Ready Pac’s processing facilities have satisfied the certification’s rigorous food safety and quality requirements. “Ready Pac implemented the stringent SQF certification program system-wide to develop standardized and harmonized quality systems that align with our customers’ food safety and quality needs,” said Tristan Simpson, director of… » Read moreFDA 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 moreU.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 moreCDC 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 morePathogen test program will cease operations
After months of uncertainty over the future of the program, the Agricultural Marketing Service’s Microbiological Data Program, which tests produce for disease-causing pathogens like E. coli O157:H7, salmonella, and listeria, has officially gone into shutdown mode, a U.S. Department of Agriculture official confirmed last week to Food Safety News. Department officials told states that participate in the $4.5 million program to stop pulling produce samples on Friday Nov. 9 to “ensure an orderly shutdown of… » Read moreWegmans recalls spinach mix
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is recalling approximately 31,000 lbs. of Wegmans Organic Spinach and Spring Mix sold in 5 oz. (UPC 77890 16437) and 11 oz. (UPC 77890 16411) clam shell packages in the produce department of its stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts between October 14 and November 1 due to possible E.coli O157 H:7. The product is supplied to Wegmans by State Garden, Inc. based in Chelsea, Massachusetts.… » Read moreBolthouse Farms recalls carrot chips
Bolthouse Farms is voluntarily recalling a limited quantity of Bolthouse Farms 16-ounce Carrot Chips following a routine sampling event, conducted on October 22, by a North Carolina health official. The company was notified on October 31 that the inspection detected the possibility of salmonella in the single16-ounce bag that was tested. Bolthouse Farms has not received any reports of consumer illness or other consumer complaints related to this product. No other Bolthouse Farms products are… » Read moreDole Fresh Vegetables announces precautionary recall of limited number of salads
Dole Fresh Vegetables has voluntarily recalled a limited number of cases of Dole American Blend salad in 12-ounce bags, coded A275208A or B, with a use-by date of Oct. 17 and UPC 7143000933, due to a possible health risk from Listeria monocytogenes. Dole Fresh Vegetables is coordinating closely with regulatory officials. No illnesses have been reported in association with the recall. The product code and use-by date are in the upper right-hand corner of the… » Read more
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
California Leafy Greens updates food safety practices
The California Leafy Green Products Handler Marketing Agreement has posted updates to its food safety practices, also known as leafy green standards, metrics or good agricultural practices. After reviewing recommendations from the LGMA Technical Committee, the LGMA Advsory Board met and accepted 21 of the proposed changes to the LGMA food safety practices. Find out more by clicking here.
PMA, Western Growers team up for food safety
The Produce Marketing Association (PMA) and Western Growers are now creating a collaboration to focus the two organizations’ resources on fresh produce food safety. As part of a new partnership agreement, the two organizations have embarked on a joint mission of "protecting public health and the industry, by ensuring food safety standards are effectively and consistently applied throughout the supply chain," according to a press release. A joint task force composed of members of both… » Read more
CPS announces produce research awards
The Center for Produce Safety (CPS) at the University of California Davis has awarded 10 new grants for research aimed at food safety practices for fresh produce. The objective is to provide the produce industry with practical, useable research data that can be used at all levels of the supply chain for fruit, vegetable and tree nut production, harvest and post-harvest handling. The CPS Technical Committee in charge of making the awards reviewed 50 proposals.… » Read moreUnited Fresh: A Fresh-Cut for the Future
With the produce industry recovering from a spate of food safety issues this summer, United’s Fresh-Cut Processor Board has set an agenda that focuses on providing leadership on food safety challenges, as well as increasing produce consumption, sustainability and other industry initiatives. Chaired by Jan Berk, San Miguel Produce, and Vice Chairman Tony Freytag, Crunch Pak Sliced Apples, the Board’s 2012- 2013 agenda aims to address the unique needs of the fresh-cut processor market segment.… » Read more
Food Safety: Cold chain key to safety, quality
Dr. John Ryan followed shipments of produce to Honolulu in November. And he found that temperatures can take a roller coaster ride. Through Intelleflex temperature monitoring tags and RFID (radio frequency identification) readers, data was collected and read at each waypoint for analysis by shippers, customers and handlers on boxes and pallets of fruits and vegetables. GPS tracking allowed data and location to be transmitted via satellite. Produce tracking began at northern San Diego produce… » Read moreFresh Ideas: Guilt by association takes toll
These are not easy times for cantaloupe growers. Each time there’s an outbreak of illness associated with cantaloupe, the entire industry suffers. When the most recent involving cantaloupe grown at Chamberlain Farm in Indiana that sickened more than 200 in 22 states made news, growers in Rocky Ford, Colo., were just getting into their season. Still reeling from last year’s deadly listeria outbreak from cantaloupe harvested at Jensen Farms 90 miles away in Holly, Colo.,… » Read more
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
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
Traceability: Connecting the Dots
As outbreaks of bacterial contamination in produce keep popping up, public confidence is being tested — and so is the effectiveness of traceability, the system designed to quickly recall tainted food from the supply chain. In recent outbreaks involving recalls of cantaloupes, onions and lettuce, suppliers with traceability in place were able to quickly and precisely identify questionable product and remove it. For suppliers without traceability, the process was lengthy and costly, resulting in the… » Read more
Salad recall: Publix issues recall on hearts of romaine
Publix Supermarkets is issuing a voluntary recall for 10-oz. plastic bags of Publix Hearts of Romaine (Chopped Hearts of Romaine) due to the fact that they may be adulterated with Lysteria monocytogenes. Ready Pac is the private supplier of the private label product for the company. The UPC found on the back right hand corner of the package is 41415 03886. Publix recieved notification of the contamination from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after… » Read more
Salad recall: Fresh Express recalls some bags of romaine
Fresh Express Incorporated is voluntarily recalling a limited quantity of expired 18-oz. Hearts of Romaine salad with the use-by Date of Sept. 26, 2012 and Product Code H256808 as a precaution due to a possible health risk. The precautionary recall notification for the now-expired salad was issued after a sample of a single package of 18-oz. Hearts of Romaine salad yielded a positive result for Listeria monocytogenes as part of the U.S. Food and Drug… » Read more
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
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
Farmers’ markets need to sell safe food, too
Buying locally grown produce at the farmers’ market is a great way to ensure your family is getting the freshest food possible, but it doesn’t guarantee that the produce is safer. Just like any food, locally grown food must be handled safely on the farm and in the markets to make sure it is safe when it lands on the diner table. That’s the message that University of Georgia (UGA) Extension Food Safety Specialist Judy… » Read more
NSF International offers food processing certificates
The Training and Education division of Ann Arbor, Mich.-based NSF International has earned American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accreditation for its food safety certificate programs for food processing quality professionals. NSF International is an independent global organization that writes standards, tests and certifies products for the food, water and consumer goods industries, The certification provides food companies added assurance that their quality managers are receiving the most current and highest quality training available from a… » Read moreNew Product Roundup: What’s new from the fresh-cut industry
Check out what's new in products and solutions from around the fresh-cut produce industry. Here's the latest from Ready Pac, Triangle Packaging Machinery, Key Technology, 3M Food Safety, Turatti, Schober, CombiScale, Douglas Washing & Sanitizing Systems, ScoringAg, Eagle Packaging, FTNON, Crunch Pak, Zebra, Baumer and ThermoWorks. Ready Pac offers Disney-themed meals Ready Pac has introduced new Disney-themed Mini Meals and Salads designed specifically for children ages 6-12. Salads come in pizza, taco, Caesar and… » Read more
Minnesota fresh-cut company recalls some products that include DFI melons
Cut Fruit Express, Inc. of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota is voluntarily recalling some packaged fruit products containing cantaloupes, distributed through Sept. 5, since they contain cantaloupe which have been recalled by supplier DFI Marketing Inc., due to potential contamination with salmonella. No illnesses have been reported specific to the Cut Fruit Express Products that are the subject of this voluntary, precautionary recall. The voluntary recall extends only to products with certain use-by dates and sold… » Read more
28,000 cases of cantaloupe recalled after positive sample for salmonella
DFI Marketing Inc. of Fresno, Calif., is voluntarily recalling cantaloupe because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella was found on a single sample of cantaloupe during routine testing conducted at a wholesale produce distribution center (terminal market) as part of a USDA testing program. Through the company’s recall and trace back systems, it has been determined the suspected cantaloupes include approximately 28,000 cartons of bulk-packed product. The cantaloupes wee packed in… » Read more
Spartan Stores conduct voluntary recall after routine tests show positive for listeria
Spartan Stores is initiating a precautionary recall of certain deli products, many containing fresh-cut produce, due to concerns of possible Listeria Monocytogenes contact. This recall is the result of a routine surface swabbing conducted by the FDA which resulted in positive samples of Listeria monocytogenes. No products have been identified as coming into contact with the Listeria monocytogenes organism. The deli products were distributed to Family Fare, D&W Fresh Markets, Glen's, VG's and a limited… » Read more
California growers focus on getting their cantaloupe safety message out
California melons will begin bearing a “Buy California Grown” sticker in an effort to distinguish the state’s crop from others. Steve Patricio, president of Westside Produce and the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board and a grower himself, said that contamination outbreaks like the recent one surrounding melons grown at Chamberlain Farms in Indiana and a recall of melons from Burch Farms in North Carolina after samples tested positive for listeria – not to mention last year’s… » Read more
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