In This Week’s Edition:
- FDA Third Party Liability
- USDA, USTR Name New Agricultural Trade Advisors
- USDA Grows Private Sector Tech Innovation in Food and Agriculture
- Addition of Ecuador and Peru to the List of Regions Affected With Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
- Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for the Importation of Fresh Table Beet Root From the U.K. to the U.S.
- Swine Vesicular Disease Status of the Regions of Tuscany and Umbria, Italy
- Child Nutrition Program Integrity
- FSIS Posts Report on Clostridium perfringens Market Basket Study Results
- FDA Names First Deputy Commissioner for Proposed, Unified Human Foods Program
- USDA Dairy Donation Program
- FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Status Update
- FSIS Updates Lists of Foreign Establishments Eligible to Export to U.S.
- FDA Import Alerts
- FDA Warning Letters
FDA Third Party Liability
FDA has issued another round of warning letters to Amazon and Walmart over sales made by third-party sellers on their marketplaces. The warning letters relate to the sale of illegal supplements.
USDA, USTR Name New Agricultural Trade Advisors
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced the appointment of 130 new private-sector representatives to serve on seven agricultural trade advisory committees that represent the diversity of U.S. agriculture. The new group of advisors will join the 70 existing committee members whose terms have not expired.
USDA Grows Private Sector Tech Innovation in Food and Agriculture
USDA announced an investment of over $12.5 million as part of the USDA Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. The Phase I awards will support 76 small businesses conducting research that addresses scientific challenges and opportunities in agriculture.
Addition of Ecuador and Peru to the List of Regions Affected With Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
USDA is advising the public that they have added the Republic of Ecuador and the Republic of Peru to the list of regions that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service considers to be affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). These actions follow USDA’s imposition of HPAI-related restrictions on avian commodities originating from or transiting the Republic of Ecuador and the Republic of Peru, as a result of the confirmation of HPAI in these countries.
APHIS Proposes to Allow Importation of Fresh Table Beet Root From the U.K.
USDA is advising the public that they have prepared a pest risk analysis that evaluates the risks associated with importation of fresh table beet root (Beta vulgaris L.) for consumption from the United Kingdom into the continental United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Based on the analysis, USDA has determined that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds via the importation of fresh table beet root from the United Kingdom.
APHIS Proposes to Recognize Tuscany, Umbria Free of Swine Vesicular Disease
USDA is advising the public that they are proposing to recognize the regions of Tuscany and Umbria, Italy as being free of swine vesicular disease. This proposed recognition is based on a risk evaluation USDA has prepared in connection with this action, which they are making available for review and comment.
FNS Issues Final Child Nutrition Rule
The action implements statutory requirements and policy changes to strengthen administrative oversight and operational performance of the Child Nutrition Programs.
FSIS Posts Report on Clostridium perfringens Market Basket Study Results
FSIS posted the Clostridium Perfringens Market Basket Study on the FSIS website. In May of 2021, FSIS commissioned the study through the Food Emergency Response Network laboratories, to assess the levels of Clostridium perfringens in certain federally inspected ready-to-eat meat and poultry products sold at retail locations. The purpose of the study was to determine the potential risk to consumers from large mass non-intact products such as injected turkey breast or roast beef.
FDA Names First Deputy Commissioner for Proposed, Unified Human Foods Program
FDA is announcing the selection of James “Jim” Jones to serve as the first Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods. The new executive position will lead the charge in setting and advancing priorities for a proposed unified Human Foods Program. Program areas would include food safety, chemical safety and innovative food products, including those from new agricultural technologies, that will bolster the resilience of the U.S. food supply in the face of climate change and globalization, as well as nutrition to help reduce diet-related diseases and improve health equity.
USDA Dairy Donation Program
This rule finalizes establishment of the Dairy Donation Program as required by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. Under the program, eligible dairy organizations that account to a Federal milk marketing order and incur a qualified expense related to certain dairy product donations may apply for and receive reimbursements for those donations. The program facilitates dairy product donations and minimizes food waste. The program works in tandem with the Milk Donation Reimbursement Program, and thus this rule also makes corresponding changes to those regulations.
FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Status Update
This week’s updates are:
- For the outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes (ref #1172), the Outbreak Advisory was updated to include state sampling results confirming that the recalled Soft Serve On The Go ice cream cups caused this outbreak. See the advisory for additional details.
- For the outbreak of Salmonella Paratyphi B var. L(+) tartrate+ (ref #1157), the outbreak has ended and FDA’s investigation has closed. CDC, FDA, and state and local partners conducted epidemiologic and traceback investigations and identified Pico de Gallo as the source of the outbreak. FDA collected and analyzed product and environmental samples as part of the investigation, but all samples were reported as negative for Salmonella. Due to the lack of additional supporting evidence, investigators were unable to determine a specific ingredient within the Pico de Gallo or contributing factors as the source of the contamination. Additionally, once investigators had enough information to confirm Pico de Gallo as the source of this outbreak, the products were past their shelf life and no longer available for sale. This outbreak is over and there is no risk to consumers.
- For the outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis (ref #1159), the case count has increased from 69 to 72 cases.
FSIS Updates Lists of Foreign Establishments Eligible to Export to U.S.
FDA Import Alerts
The latest FDA import alerts include food products due to the presence of salmonella, food products that are or contain unsafe additives, and more.
FDA Warning Letters
Eco Food Distribution, LLC |
Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) |
FVD Produce, LLC |
Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) |
Moises Gardea |
Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) |
Sol-ti Inc. |
Juice HACCP/CGMP for Foods/Adulterated/Insanitary Conditions |
Lone Pine Farm |
PHS Act/Shell Egg Regulation/Adulterated |
Walmart, Inc |
Unapproved New Drugs/Misbranded |
Amazon.com, Inc |
Unapproved New Drugs/Misbranded |
Seafood Brothers Inc., DBA G & L Seafood Inc. |
Seafood HACCP/CGMP for Foods/Adulterated/Insanitary Conditions |