Latest News From Food safety

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — While the topics at the Center for Produce Safety’s 2018 Research Symposium covered a lot of research areas, leafy greens — and romaine in particular — weren’t far from attendee’s minds.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The backgrounds of scientists and their areas of focus at the Center for Produce Safety’s ninth annual symposium were certainly diverse, but one message came through: shared knowledge is critical.

The U.S. and Mexico have been making progress toward their goal of reducing the risk of illnesses linked to produce, according to a Food and Drug Administration report.

The Food and Drug Administration has released draft guidance to industry on how companies can comply with regulations to protect food from intentional adulteration.

The U.S. and Mexico have been making progress toward their goal of reducing the risk of illnesses linked to produce, according to a Food and Drug Administration report.

Del Monte Fresh Produce has recalled vegetable trays at retail stores in six states, a week after health officials first alerted consumers the products might be contaminated with cyclospora parasites.

The United Fresh Produce Association has hired Emily Griep as manager of food safety.

A recall of fresh-cut cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon products by Caito Foods, Indianapolis, has spread to 23 states and hundreds of retail locations.

Tom Karst and Ashley Nickle tackle the big topics of the week, including why grape prices are so high, what the latest farm bill progress has been, and what the most recent update is on a pre-cut melon recall.

Los Angeles-based World Variety Produce has recalled its 7-ounce Spicy Edamame because the included sauce packet contains the undeclared allergen Oyster Extract.

Canadian produce industry leaders expressed support for the final regulations for the Safe for Canadians Act, published June 13. 

Kwik Trip convenience stores have removed Del Monte vegetable trays after Wisconsin and Minnesota health officials said 14 consumers contracted cyclospora infections.

Caito Foods, Indianapolis, is recalling fresh-cut honeydew, cantaloupe and watermelon products shipped to retailers in nine states after health authorities linked them to a salmonella outbreak that sickened 60 people.

MONTEREY, Calif. — Enhanced record-keeping regulations for fresh produce may be a compelling option for the Food and Drug Administration after the E. coli/romaine lettuce outbreak this year, one former official says.

National editor Tom Karst and staff writer Ashley Nickle sort through the latest regulatory developments in transportation and in food safety and also discuss the decision by Wendy's to source only greenhouse tomatoes. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration say they want to make it easier for growers to comply with the Produce Safety rule.

What do the thousands of folks in the produce industry share?

National editor Tom Karst and staff writer Ashley Nickle discuss new tariffs on fruit and the developments in the romaine outbreak.

Three words of advice for the new task force on leafy greens and food safety — show and tell.

Four more deaths have been reported in connection with the E. coli outbreak linked to Arizona romaine.

The Produce Traceability Initiative is a worthwhile investment, especially in the event of outbreaks, according to key industry stakeholders.

Growers, marketers, buyers, researchers and others will be taking a comprehensive look at production practices as part of the new Leafy Greens Food Safety Task Force.

The FDA continues to search for common elements between the supply chains involved in the recent E. coli outbreak linked to romaine.

Of course, it’s not just consumer groups that are frustrated with the lack of traceback success with the Yuma-E. coli-romaine lettuce connection.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants the support of specialty crop growers as it seeks to boost the status of its food safety certification standard.

The Voluntary Qualified Importer Program is not yet ready for prime time, but the Food and Drug Administration wants importers to be prepared when it is ready to use.

Growers, shippers, packers, buyers, government entities and consumers will be represented on the new Leafy Greens Food Safety Task Force.

We all love “fails” on the internet, as long it is not us. Bloopers, slips, falls — it is all too funny.

Tom Karst and Ashley Nickle discuss the latest comments on H-2A from the Trump administration and the urging of consumer and food safety groups for more traceability requirements in the wake of the romaine outbreak.

A small entity compliance guide is available from the Food and Drug Administration to help food facilities meet their registration requirements.

In the wake of an E. coli outbreak tied to romaine, numerous consumer groups are calling for the FDA to mandate more stringent traceability measures for companies that handle leafy greens and other “high-risk” food.

National editor Tom Karst and staff writer Ashley Nickle discuss the latest developments in NAFTA negotiations and the traceback troubles of the FDA as it investigates the outbreak tied to Arizona romaine.

The FDA is still working to find answers to the fundamental questions about the outbreak tied to Arizona romaine, more than one month after the initial alert was issued by the CDC.

Investigators continue to search for the source of an E. coli outbreak that has sickened 172 people in 32 states, but a straightforward solution has not been forthcoming.

A new online tool can help importers determine if their suppliers have a clean food safety record.

The CDC is no longer recommending that consumers avoid romaine lettuce from the Yuma growing region.

Six people in Canada have been sickened by E. coli, and the illnesses are genetically similar to cases in the 29-state E.coli outbreak in the U.S. linked to romaine from the Yuma growing region.

A multistate outbreak connected to romaine from Arizona continues to have consequences for romaine from California.

Twenty-eight more illnesses have been attributed to the E. coli outbreak linked to romaine from Yuma, bringing the total to 149 cases.

Health officials in Minnesota have linked 10 illnesses in the state to the nationwide E. coli outbreak connected with romaine from the Yuma, Ariz., growing region.

A new web page will allow the public, industry and other stakeholders to track the Food and Drug Administration’s food-related research priorities, activities, reporting and tracking.

It has been three weeks since the CDC released its first alert about romaine from Arizona, linking the product to a multistate E. coli outbreak, and the FDA is still looking for the source.

National editor Tom Karst and staff writer Ashley Nickle discuss the big stories of the week, including inspection delays in China and the latest in the E. coli outbreak tied to Arizona romaine.

The Food and Drug Administration continues to search for the source of romaine at the heart of a deadly E. coli outbreak.

Health officials have linked a death in California to an E. coli outbreak from romaine lettuce grown in Arizona, and the numbers of sick people continues to increase.

Health officials have linked a death in California to an E. coli outbreak from romaine lettuce grown in Arizona, and the numbers of sick people continues to increase.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has updated a recall of microgreens products from Greenbelt Greenhouse with new “best before” dates that suggest consumers might still have the products in their refrigerators.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has updated a recall of microgreens products from Greenbelt Greenhouse with new “best before” dates that suggest consumers might still have the products in their refrigerators.

The fresh produce industry needs to take back traceback.

The CDC has added 14 more cases to the E. coli outbreak linked to Arizona romaine, bringing the total to 98 and making this outbreak the largest since contaminated spinach sickened more than 200 people in 2006.