Food Industry Regulatory Update April 9, 2021

In this Week’s Edition:

FDA Releases Action Plan Addressing Toxins in Baby Food
FSIS Updates Sampling Policy for Labeling Claim Verification
FDA Takes Steps to Improve Leafy Green Food Safety
FSIS National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods Meeting Announced
FSIS Notice on Import Reinspection of Cooked Meat from South America
APHIS Signs off on Final GMO Environmental Impact Statement
FSIS FOIA Request Report
FSIS to Modernize its Microbiological Testing System for Campylobacter
FDA Updates Certified Interstate Shellfish Shipper List
AMS Proposes to Increase Assessment for California Olive Marketing Order
FDA Interstate Milk Shippers List Update
FSIS Updates List of Foreign Establishments Eligible to Export to U.S.
FDA Import Alerts
FDA Warning Letters

FDA Releases Action Plan Addressing Toxins in Baby Food

The plan, Closer to Zero, sets forth FDA’s approach to reducing exposure to toxic elements in foods commonly eaten by babies and young children to the lowest possible levels. Although the FDA’s testing shows that children are not at an immediate health risk from exposure to toxic elements at the levels found in foods, the agency is starting the plan’s work immediately, with both short- and long-term goals for achieving continued improvements in reducing levels of toxic elements in these foods over time. More information here.

FSIS Updates Sampling Policy for Label Claim Verification

Notice 15-21 updates instructions to inspection program personnel (IPP) on verification sampling at establishments that produce products in consumer-ready packaging that bear certain labeling claims and/or a nutrition facts panel per eligibility criteria.

FDA Takes Steps to Improve Leafy Green Food Safety

FDA is taking two important steps to advance the safety of leafy greens. The first is the release of a report on the investigation into the Fall 2020 outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses linked to the consumption of leafy greens. The report describes findings from the investigation, as well as trends key to understanding leafy greens outbreaks linked to the California Central Coast growing region (encompassing the Salinas Valley and Santa Maria growing areas) that have occurred every fall since 2017. In addition, FDA is also releasing an updated version of the Leafy Green Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) Action Plan, reaffirming the need for collaborative action to improve the safety of leafy greens, and building on the work accomplished in 2020. More information here.

FSIS National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods Meeting Announced

The meeting will occur virtually on April 22, 2021. The Committee will discuss and vote on adopting the following two reports: Microbiological testing by industry of ready-to-eat foods under FDA’s jurisdiction for pathogens (or appropriate indicator organisms): Verification of prevention controls and The Use of Water in Animal Production, Slaughter and Processing. More details and registration here.

FSIS Notice on Import Reinspection of Cooked Meat from South America

The notice provides instructions for inspection program personnel (IPP) at official import inspection establishments to follow when conducting import reinspection activities related to the use of fresh meat inspection certificates for fully cooked beef skeletal muscle meat from South America.

APHIS Signs off on Final GMO Environmental Impact Statement

Details here.

FSIS to Modernize its Microbiological Testing System for Campylobacter

As part of its continuing effort to modernize the diagnostic capabilities of the FSIS food testing laboratories, FSIS will update the rapid screening technology used to detect Campylobacter species in FSIS regulated products. The FSIS laboratory system evaluated commercially available rapid screening technologies for use in the high-throughput FSIS laboratory environment and has decided to utilize the 3M™ Molecular Detection System (MDS) to perform rapid initial screens of regulatory samples for Campylobacter species. FSIS anticipates gaining laboratory workflow efficiencies that will lead to quicker results reporting. FSIS laboratories are currently in the transition phase and will share additional information over the next two months as the FSIS laboratory system moves towards full implementation.