Food Industry Regulatory Update October 15, 2021

In This Week’s Edition:

FDA Issues Guidance for Voluntarily Reducing Sodium in Processed and Packaged Foods
FDA Encourages Food and Agriculture Workers to Get Vaccinated Against Flu and COVID-19
Walnuts Grown in California; Continuance Referendum
FSIS Revises Directive on Import Reinspection of Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products
FSIS Revises Directive on Procedures for Domestic Condition Of Canned Product Container Examination
FDA Closer to Zero Action Plan: Impacts of Toxic Element Exposure and Nutrition
FSIS Revises Exemption on Religious Exemption for the Slaughter and Processing of Poultry
Godiva Agrees to $20 Million Settlement on “Belgium” Labeling
FSIS Revisions on Food Safety System Verification
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 Issues Final Guidance for Voluntarily Reducing Sodium in Processed and Packaged Foods

The voluntary sodium content goals in the guidance are intended to:

Support increased food choice for consumers seeking a diverse diet that is consistent with recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines by encouraging food reformulation and new product development for Americans;

Support the Dietary Guidelines, and NASEM CDRR recommendations of limiting sodium intake to 2,300 mg/day by encouraging sodium reduction over the short term to achieve an average intake of 3,000 mg/day;
Provide uniform metrics (mg of sodium per 100 g of food) for voluntary sodium reduction for industry stakeholders;
Focus on the total amount of sodium in a given food as opposed to individual sodium-containing ingredients; and
Support and extend industry’s voluntary efforts to reduce sodium across the range of commercially processed, packaged, and prepared foods.

FSIS Revises Directives on Food Safety Verification

Read the FSIS revisions on sanitation procedures and food safety system verification here.

FDA Encourages Food and Agriculture Workers to Get Vaccinated Against Flu and COVID-19

The FDA encourages food and agricultural workers to protect themselves by getting an annual flu vaccination and a COVID-19 vaccination. Read more here.

Walnuts Grown in California; Continuance Referendum

A referendum will be conducted among eligible California walnut growers to determine whether they favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of walnuts grown in California. Read more here.

FSIS Revises Directive on Import Reinspection of Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products

Read the FSIS revision here.

FSIS Revises Directive on Procedures for Domestic Condition Of Canned Product Container Examination

Read the FSIS revision here.

FDA Closer to Zero Action Plan: Impacts of Toxic Element Exposure and Nutrition

The FDA announced the following virtual public meeting entitled “Closer to Zero Action Plan: Impacts of Toxic Element Exposure and Nutrition at Different Crucial Developmental Stages.” The purpose of the public meeting is to discuss the scope of the Closer to Zero action plan as it relates to the impacts of toxic element exposure and nutrition at different crucial developmental stages, including discussion of the key nutrients in food for growth and development, foods commonly consumed by babies and young children, and exposure risks of toxic elements. The meeting will be held on November 18, 2021, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

FSIS Revises Directive on Religious Exemption for the Slaughter and Processing of Poultry

Read the FSIS revision here.

Godiva Belgium Chocolate Eaters Could Get a Piece of New $20M Class Action Settlement

Godiva settles and agrees to pay $20M to those who ate their Belgium 1926 chocolate, which misled consumers to thinking the chocolate was produced in Belgium. Read more here.

FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Status Update

This week’s updates are:

An Outbreak Advisory including a recall has been issued for the outbreak of Salmonella Thompson linked to seafood.
On-site inspection, sample collection, and analysis have been initiated for the outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes.
On-site inspection has been initiated for the outbreak of Salmonella Oranienburg.

CORE Investigation Table