In This Week’s Edition:
- July Fourth is for Fireworks, not Foodborne Illness
- Memorandum on Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing and Associated Labor Abuses
- FSIS Article Published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology
- Biden Administration Takes Additional Steps to Strengthen Child Nutrition Programs
- FSIS Cecal Sampling Under the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System Surveillance Program Revision
- Petition Submitted by Kevin’s Natural Foods
- Vilsack Announces Bioproduct Pilot Program Funded by Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
- Request for Nominations for Individuals and Consumer Organizations for Advisory Committees
- Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Passage of Keep Kids Fed Act
- FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Status Update
- FSIS Updates Lists of Foreign Establishments Eligible to Export to U.S.
- FDA Import Alerts
- FDA Warning Letters
July Fourth is for Fireworks, not Foodborne Illness
USDA reminds everyone that whether you’re eating at home or outdoors at a park this Fourth of July, sanitation is key to combat foodborne illness. Be sure to wash your hands and sanitize your cooking area before preparing food. Safe food handling practices also help to avoid cross-contamination. Summertime brings additional unique challenges to food safety because of the warmer temperatures. Be sure to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold this Fourth of July, and don’t forget your food thermometer. Here are there tips for this July 4th:
- Clean and Sanitize
- Avoid Cross-Contamination
- Keep Hot Foods Hot and Cold Foods Cold
- Use a Food Thermometer
Memorandum on Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing and Associated Labor Abuses
Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and related harmful fishing practices are among the greatest threats to ocean health and are significant causes of global overfishing, contributing to the collapse or decline of fisheries that are critical to the economic growth, food systems, and ecosystems of numerous countries around the world. It is the policy of the Administration to address the problem of IUU fishing, including by distant water fishing vessels, and associated labor abuses, including the use of forced labor in the seafood supply chain.
FSIS Article Published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology
FSIS published an article titled ”Assessing the Effectiveness of Revised Performance Standards for Salmonella Contamination of Chicken Parts” in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Food Microbiology. The article examines changes in Salmonella occurrence within the chicken parts industry since FSIS first proposed new performance standards in 2015.
Biden Administration Takes Additional Steps to Strengthen Child Nutrition Programs
The Biden Administration announced that the USDA will provide nearly $1 billion in additional funding to schools to support the purchase of American-grown foods for their meal programs. The department also applauds the President’s recent signing of the Keep Kids Fed Act, which equips schools, summer meal sites, and child care food programs with extra resources so they can continue serving children through school year 2022-2023.
FSIS Cecal Sampling Under the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System Surveillance Program Revision
This directive provides instruction changes and updates to Public Health Veterinarians who collect the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System cecal samples at selected slaughter establishments. The updates include additional slaughter classes – veal, sheep, lamb, and goat, and replacement of Salmonella molecular serology with Whole Genome Sequencing-based serotype interpretations.
Petition Submitted by Kevin’s Natural Foods
A petition has been submitted by Kevin’s Natural Foods the petition requests that FSIS amend its policy with respect to products that are similar to but that do not meet the Beef Stroganoff standard in the FSIS Food Standards and Labeling Policy Book.
Vilsack Announces Bioproduct Pilot Program Funded by Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the USDA is accepting applications for a new pilot program created under President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support the development of biobased products that have lower carbon footprints and increase the use of renewable agricultural materials, creating new revenue streams for farmers. This $10 million investment is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing work to rebuild our infrastructure and create good-paying jobs and economic opportunity in our rural communities.
Request for Nominations for Individuals and Consumer Organizations for Advisory Committees
FDA is requesting that any consumer organizations interested in participating in the selection of voting and/or nonvoting consumer representatives to serve on its advisory committees or panels notify FDA in writing. FDA is also requesting nominations for voting and/or nonvoting consumer representatives to serve on advisory
Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Passage of Keep Kids Fed Act
Read the full statement from USDA secretary Tom Vilsack on the passage of Keep Kids Fed Act.
FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Status Update
This week’s updates are:
- A new adverse event series associated with a frozen food product has been added to the table (ref#1076). A recall has been issued and the FDA has initiated traceback, inspections, and sample collection.
- The case count for the outbreak of Salmonella Braenderup (ref #1075) in a not yet identified product has increased from 40 to 42.
- The case count for the outbreak of Salmonella Paratyphi B var. L(+) tartrate+ (ref #1072) in a not yet identified product has increased from 13 to 14.
- The outbreak status for the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak (ref #1068) has ended. The investigation status remains active.
- The case count for the outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes (ref #1057) in a not yet identified product has increased from 21 to 22.
FSIS Updates Lists of Foreign Establishments Eligible to Export to U.S.
FDA Import Alerts
The latest FDA import alerts include mycotoxins, pesticides, salmonella, heavy metal contamination, and more.
FDA Warning Letters
Elk River Vapor Shop |
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded |
VAPORIZIT LLC |
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded |
Mirfeel Korea Co., Ltd. |
CGMP/Finished Pharmaceuticals/Adulterated/Misbranded |
Industrias Cklass S. de R.L. de C.V. |
Finished Pharmaceuticals/Unapproved New Drug/Misbranded/Adulterated |
Golden Lab LLC |
Unapproved New Drugs/Misbranded |
Nicamex Seafood |
Seafood HACCP/CGMP for Foods/Adulterated/Insanitary Conditions |
SDJJ Distributors |
Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) |
Conservas Ortiz S.A. |
Seafood HACCP/CGMP for Foods/Adulterated/Insanitary Conditions |
Monarch PCM, LLC |
CGMP/Finished Pharmaceuticals/Adulterated |
Winfull Corporation |
Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) |
Fresh Imports International LLC |
Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) |
Re-Gen Active Lab, Inc. |
Deviations/CFR/Regulations for Human Cells, Tissues & Cellular Products (HCT/Ps) |
Fagron Group B.V. |
CGMP/Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API)/Adulterated |
Daxa Foods, Inc. dba India Grocers |
Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) |
Cloudride Vapor |
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded |
Vapor Galleria |
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded |
DLG Naturals, Inc. |
Unapproved New Drugs/Misbranded |