In This Week’s Edition:
- USDA Releases Proposed Regulatory Framework to Reduce Salmonella Infections Linked to Poultry Products
- Federal Maritime Commission Proposed Rule on Demurrage and Detention Billing Requirements
- USDA Extends Flexibility on Infant Formula in WIC
- USDA Seeking Public Comment on Assistance to Agricultural Producers Who Have Experienced Discrimination
- United States Standards for Beans: Chickpea/Garbanzo Beans
- United States Standards for Wheat
- Federal Study on the Role of Seafood Consumption in Child Growth and Development
- School Foodservice Equipment Grants Announced
- Inert Ingredients in Pesticides for Organic Production; Extension of Comment Period
- National Organic Program; Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards; Extension of Comment Period
- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals FSIS Petition; Addendum
- USDA Announces Approval of D-SNAP for Florida Disaster Areas
- FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Status Update
- FSIS Updates Lists of Foreign Establishments Eligible to Export to U.S.
- FDA Import Alerts
- FDA Warning Letters
USDA Releases Proposed Regulatory Framework to Reduce Salmonella Infections Linked to Poultry Products
USDA’s FSIS released a proposed regulatory framework for a new strategy to control Salmonella contamination in poultry products and reduce foodborne illnesses attributed to these products. The agency is hosting a virtual public meeting on Nov. 3, 2022, to seek input from stakeholders on the proposed framework.
Federal Maritime Commission Proposed Rule on Demurrage and Detention Billing Requirements
The Federal Maritime Commision has issued a proposed rule that requires common carriers and marine terminal operators to include specific minimum information on demurrage and detention invoices and outlines certain billing practices relevant to appropriate timeframes for issuing invoices, disputing charges with the billing party, and resolving such disputes. The proposed rule addresses considerations identified in the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022. The proposed rule would adopt minimum information that common carriers must include in a demurrage or detention invoice; add to this list additional information that must be included in or with a demurrage or detention invoice; further define prohibited practices by clarifying which parties may be appropriately billed for demurrage or detention charges; and establish billing practices that billing parties must follow when invoicing for demurrage or detention charges.
USDA Extends Flexibility on Infant Formula in WIC
USDA is extending a key funding flexibility in the WIC program that has allowed state agencies and their infant formula manufacturers to work together to provide more options for WIC families in need of formula. Under this flexibility – which is now extended through the end of December – USDA is covering the added cost of non-contract formula to make it financially feasible for states to allow WIC participants to purchase alternate sizes, forms, or brands of infant formula.
USDA Seeking Public Comment on Assistance to Agricultural Producers Who Have Experienced Discrimination
USDA is seeking public comment on how it should implement Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a provision that aims to provide assistance to the nation’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA’s farm lending programs. IRA Section 22007 directs USDA to provide financial assistance to producers who have experienced discrimination in USDA’s farm lending programs and has appropriated $2.2 billion for this purpose.
United States Standards for Beans: Chickpea/Garbanzo Beans
USDA’s AMS is proposing revision to the U.S. Standards for Beans, pertaining to the grade determining factors Moisture and Contrasting Chickpeas in the class Chickpea/Garbanzo Beans, under the United States Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended, Stakeholders in the bean processing/handling industry requested AMS to amend the grading requirements for Moisture and Contrasting Chickpeas in Chickpea/Garbanzo Beans in the U.S. Bean Standards. To ensure that the bean standards remain relevant, AMS invites interested parties to comment on whether revising the Chickpea/Garbanzo standard will facilitate the marketing of Chickpea/Garbanzo Beans.
United States Standards for Wheat
USDA’s AMS is making no changes regarding the U.S. Standards for Wheat under the U.S. Grain Standards Act, as amended.
Federal Study on the Role of Seafood Consumption in Child Growth and Development
FDA announced the launch of an independent study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on the Role of Seafood Consumption in Child Growth and Development. The FDA is partnering with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, USDA, and EPA on this study, which supports the goals of the FDA’s Closer to Zero Action Plan for reducing the exposure of babies and young children to mercury, arsenic, lead, and cadmium from foods.
School Foodservice Equipment Grants Announced
The Biden-Harris Administration provided $50 million in grants for schools to invest in new food service equipment that will allow them to continue serving nutritious meals. Today’s funding adds to the $30 million in equipment grants that the administration gave schools earlier this year. This announcement comes as USDA stands with partners and advocates in the child nutrition community to celebrate National School Lunch Week, a time to recognize the critical nutrition that school meals provide to tens of millions of children every school day.
Inert Ingredients in Pesticides for Organic Production; Extension of Comment Period
AMS is providing additional time for the public to submit comments and information about how to update the USDA organic regulations on inert ingredients in pesticides used in organic production. AMS seeks comments on alternatives to its existing regulations that would align with the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s regulatory framework for inert ingredients.
National Organic Program; Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards; Extension of Comment Period
AMS published proposed amendments to the USDA organic regulations, with a 60-day comment period ending on October 11, 2022. The proposed rule would amend organic livestock and poultry production requirements. In response to multiple requests, AMS is announcing an extension of the public comment period by an additional 30 calendar days.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals FSIS Petition; Addendum
The petition requests that FSIS initiate rulemaking to no longer allow for FSIS review and approval of animal raising claims on FSIS-regulated products and to rescind the guidelines for the approval of such labels. An addendum has been added to the petition to acknowledge animal cruelty charges being filed against a chicken producer that had humanely raised claims on labels previously approved by FSIS.
USDA Announces Approval of D-SNAP for Florida Disaster Areas
USDA announced that low-income Florida residents recovering from Hurricane Ian could be eligible for assistance from the USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP).
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said households that may not normally be eligible under regular Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program rules may qualify for D-SNAP if they meet certain criteria, including the disaster income limits, and if they have qualifying disaster-related expenses. The Florida Department of Children and Families estimates that over 740,000 households may be eligible for D-SNAP assistance.
FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Status Update
This week’s updates are:
- For the Salmonella Litchfield outbreak in a not yet identified product (reference #1105), the case count has increased from 28 cases to 29 cases.
- For the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak (reference #1081) in a not yet identified product, CDC announced the outbreak is over on 10/4/2022. FDA’s investigation is ongoing.
- For the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak in Brie and Camembert cheese (reference #1106), an Outbreak Advisory was issued on 9/30/2022.
- For the Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak (reference #1095), one additional case was added, and the product linked to illnesses has been changed to cantaloupe. The vehicle of the outbreak was confirmed after the outbreak ended. Given the product(s) were no longer on the market, there was no ongoing risk to public health and no need to avoid eating cantaloupe. Additional information on this outbreak will be forthcoming.
- For the outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis in a not yet identified product (reference #1080) the case count has increased from 81 to 84 and the outbreak has ended.
- For the outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis in a not yet identified product (reference #1084) the outbreak has ended.
- For Listeria monocytogenes adverse event in a not identified product (reference #1040), the outbreak has ended.
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, foods due to heavy metal contamination, fresh produce in unsanitary conditions, and more.
FDA Warning Letters
B&G Trading LLC dba VaportechUSA |
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded |
Juicemafia, Inc. d/b/a Ecig-Works |
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded |
Vital Vapers LLC |
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded |
DF Global, Inc. |
Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) |
Eksa Mills S.A. de C.V. |
CGMP/Finished Pharmaceuticals/Adulterated |
C. Liberatore LLC |
Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) |
Vero USA Corporation |
Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) |
Lite-Up Anywhere Ltd. |
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded |
Legacy Pharmaceutical Packaging LLC |
CGMP/Finished Pharmaceuticals/Adulterated |