Country of Origin Labeling Returns to Fray in FSIS Petition
The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association has petitioned FSIS to require that Made in USA or Product of USA claims on beef products be limited to products from animals that are born, raised and slaughtered in the U.S.
FDA Changes Vending Labeling Requirements
FDA has issued a final rule changing the requirement that the calorie declaration on items in glass-front vending machines be at least 50% the size of the largest text on the label to at least 150% of the required size of the net contents statement.
FSIS Proposes Changes to Salmonella Performance Standards for Raw Ground Beef and Trim
To meet the proposed standards, establishments that produce more than 50,000 pounds of ground beef and/or beef manufacturing trimmings per day would need to have no more than two Salmonella positives out of 48 FSIS samples in a period of 52 weeks. If the proposal is finalized, the agency would post on its website individual establishments as either “meeting” or “not meeting” the performance standards. In addition, FSIS is proposing to increase Salmonella sampling in beef establishments producing more than 50,000 pounds of raw ground beef and/or beef manufacturing trimmings per day from four per month to once per week, with the goal of collecting and analyzing at least 48 samples in the 52-week moving window. Because each sample is currently analyzed for the applicable Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and for Salmonella, the change would also increase E. coli sampling in these establishments.
FDA Adds Substance to Dietary Supplement Ingredient Advisory List
5-Alpha-Hydroxy-Laxogenin has been added to the Dietary Supplement Ingredient Advisory List. The FDA Dietary Supplement Ingredient Advisory List is intended to quickly alert the public when the FDA identifies ingredients that do not appear to be lawfully included in products marketed as dietary supplements. Retailers, manufacturers, and other businesses may wish to avoid selling, making, or distributing dietary supplements that include any of the ingredients on the list.
FSIS Posts Update Quarterly Sampling Results
The results are available here.
FSIS Changes Raw Pork Sampling Program
The Raw Pork Products Exploratory Sampling Program (RPPESP) is ending and will be replaced by the Raw Pork Products Sampling Program. Under the new sampling program, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will expand sampling to be more inclusive of those official establishments that produce eligible pork products. The sampling instructions to IPP at establishments that produce raw pork products remain unchanged.
FSIS Changes Cecal Sampling Instructions Under the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System
The changes in the revision consist of updating the results reporting vehicle (to implement calendar year 2020) and the replacement of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) characterization with Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS).
FDA Considers New Modified Risk Tobacco Products
“Very Low Nicotine Content” combustible cigarettes: 22nd Century Group
FDA Provides Update on Pig Ear Pet Treat Outbreak
According to the CDC the Salmonella outbreak appears to be over.
FSIS Notice on Verification Requirements for Canadian Ruminants Imported for Slaughter
The notice reminds inspection program personnel (IPP) of the instructions in FSIS Directive 9530.1, Importation of Live Canadian Cattle, Sheep, and Goats Into the United States (U.S.) and supplements the directive with clarification that any slaughter facility receiving live ruminants from Canada for slaughter must implement procedures to ensure that each animal is eligible for slaughter, including exotic species (e.g., bison) slaughtered under voluntary inspection. Further, the notice clarifies that IPP are to verify that each slaughter facility receiving live ruminants from Canada for slaughter has a written program in place to verify each individual animal ID against the Canadian export health certificate.
USDA, EPA and FDA announce partnership with the Food Waste Reduction Alliance
Through this Memo of Understanding, USDA, EPA and the FDA will formalize industry education and outreach efforts with the Grocery Manufacturers Association, the Food Marketing Institute, and the National Restaurant Association, the three founding partners of the Food Waste Reduction Alliance (FWRA). The Alliance pursues three goals: reducing the amount of food waste generated; increasing the amount of safe, nutritious food donated to those in need; and diverting food waste from landfills.
FSIS Updates Lists of Establishments from Nicaragua Eligible to Export to U.S.
Latest FDA Warning Letters
The latest FDA warning letters are:
Posted
Date |
Company Name |
Issuing Office |
Subject |
10/29/2019 |
TopVapors.com |
Center for Tobacco Products |
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded |
10/29/2019 |
Black Axis Juice Company LLC |
Center for Tobacco Products |
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded |
10/29/2019 |
PETNET Solutions Inc. |
Division of Pharmaceutical Quality Operations I |
CGMP/Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Drugs/Adulterated |
10/29/2019 |
E-Cigarette-Mart.com |
Center for Tobacco Products |
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded |
10/24/2019 |
Eonsmoke, LLC |
Center for Tobacco Products |
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded |
Please contact Erik Lieberman at elieberman@usfoodimports.com or (202) 765-1800 if you have questions or would like additional information. |