Food Industry Regulatory Update October 22, 2021

In This Week’s Edition:

IFSAC Releases 2019 Annual Report on the Sources of Foodborne Illness
FDA Issues FY 2019 Pesticide Report
FSIS Cancellation of the Lymph Node Testing in Cattle
FDA Releases Guidance on Preparation of Food Contact Substance Notifications
Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Oranienburg: Whole, Fresh Onions
U.S. and Mexican Agriculture Secretaries Issue Joint Statement
National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods Meeting Announced
USDA Launches New Effort to Reduce Salmonella Illnesses Linked to Poultry
FSIS Updates Notice on Exotic Animals Eligible for Voluntary Inspection
EPA and USDA Announce Winners of the Next Gen Fertilizer Innovations Challenge
USDA Appoints New Members to Food Safety Advisory Committee
Food Safety Culture Webinar by the FDA and Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness
Four Executives and Company Charged with Price Fixing in Ongoing Investigation into Broiler Chicken Industry
U.S. Blocking Imports of Tomatoes from Mexican farm over Forced Labor Allegations
FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Status Update
FSIS Updates Lists of Foreign Establishments Eligible to Export to U.S.
FDA Import Alerts
FDA Warning Letters

IFSAC Releases 2019 Annual Report on the Sources of Foodborne Illness

In an ongoing effort to understand sources of foodborne illness in the United States, the IFSAC collects and analyzes foodborne illness outbreak data for four pathogens – Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157, Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter – and specific foods and food categories that are responsible for foodborne illnesses in the United States. The data are analyzed by calendar year and released in an annual report. Read the 2019 Annual Report here.

FDA Issues FY 2019 Pesticide Report

The FDA tested for 812 pesticides and industrial chemicals across 4,692 total samples and the majority of samples had pesticide residues below the limits (known as “tolerances”) set by the EPA. These results are consistent with the trend of low levels of pesticide residue violations over the past 8 years. Read the full report here.

FSIS Cancellation of the Lymph Node Testing in Cattle

FSIS has canceled sampling and testing of mesenteric lymph nodes from cattle (Dairy Cows, Beef Cows, Steers, and Heifers). Details here.

FDA Releases Guidance on Preparation of Food Contact Substance Notifications

FDA has released guidance on the preparation of food contact substance notifications. The guidance on both administrative and toxicology recommendations is available here.

Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Oranienburg: Whole, Fresh Onions

The FDA, along with CDC and state and local partners, is investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Oranienburg infections linked to whole, fresh onions. FDA’s traceback investigation is ongoing but has identified ProSource Produce, LLC of Hailey, Idaho, and Keeler Family Farms of Deming, New Mexico, as suppliers of potentially contaminated whole, fresh onions imported from the State of Chihuahua, Mexico.

U.S. and Mexican Agriculture Secretaries Issue Joint Statement

Read the full statement on the importance of the two nations trade from the Mexican Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development Victor Villalobos and United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack here.

National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods Meeting Announced

USDA announced a public meeting to discuss Enhancing Salmonella Control in Poultry Products and Cyclospora cayetanensis Contamination. Read the announcement here. The meeting starts at 9:00 am on November 19, 2021.

USDA Launches New Effort to Reduce Salmonella Illnesses Linked to Poultry

FSIS announced that it is mobilizing a stronger, and more comprehensive effort to reduce Salmonella illnesses associated with poultry products. Read the full release here.

FSIS Updates Notice on Exotic Animals Eligible for Voluntary Inspection

The notice announces updated definition for certain “exotic animals” as well as the addition of yak to the list of species eligible for voluntary inspection under 9 CFR part 352. The notice also instructs Inspectors-in-Charge (IICs) to verify the accuracy of information in the Public Health Information System (PHIS) for all establishments receiving voluntary inspection under these regulations. The rule did not result in any other changes for inspection program personnel (IPP).

EPA and USDA Announce Winners of the Next Gen Fertilizer Innovations Challenge

The EPA announced the winners of the Next Gen Fertilizer Innovations Challenge, the second of a two-part, joint EPA-USDA Partnership and Competition on Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers (EEFs) to Advance Agricultural Sustainability in the United States. The goal of the competition is to improve the efficiency of fertilizers to increase crop yields while reducing the impacts of fertilizers on the environment. Read about the winners here.

USDA Appoints New Members to Food Safety Advisory Committee

USDA announced the appointment of 13 new members and 17 returning members to the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods. Dr. Mahipal Kunduru of Topco is one of the new members. Read the full list of appointments here.

Food Safety Culture Webinar by the FDA and Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness

On November 4 at 9:30 am CST FDA and the Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illnesswill be holding a webinar on Food Safety Culture. Register here.

Four Executives and Company Charged with Price Fixing in Ongoing Investigation into Broiler Chicken Industry

A federal grand jury in Denver, Colorado, returned an indictment yesterday charging Koch Foods, headquartered in Park Ridge, Illinois, for participating in a nationwide conspiracy to fix prices and rig bids for broiler chicken products. Separately, a federal grand jury in Denver returned an indictment charging four executives for their roles in the same conspiracy. Read more here.

U.S. Blocking Imports of Tomatoes from Mexican farm over Forced Labor Allegations

U.S. CBP said it will bar imports of fresh tomatoes produced by Mexican tomato grower Horticula Tom following accusations it said it had received about the use of forced labor. Read more here.