Latest News From Food safety

The Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture, citing the agencies' dual roles with enforcing the Food Safety Modernization Act, have pledged to work together on food oversight.

Columbia, Md.-based software development firm NextLOGiK has released new food safety management software.

SunFed, Nogales, Ariz., has hired Laura Reyes as director of food safety.

National editor Tom Karst and staff writer Ashley Nickle talk outbreaks, hours-of-service issues and NAFTA.

U.S. health agencies have declared the E. coli outbreak is over, but unlike Canada, which linked a similar outbreak to romaine, no specific source other than “leafy greens” has been identified in the U.S.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued new guidance documents to help importers and food suppliers meet food safety regulations.

The Produce Safety Alliance has been a part of hundreds of grower training workshops on the produce safety rule, and there are many more training courses ahead.

Created to help fund food safety research and education with a Canadian focus, the Canadian Food Safety Fund is open for business.

The Jan. 19 government shutdown is all but over.

The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating a multi-state salmonella cluster that has been linked to sprouts from Jimmy John’s restaurants.

As part of implementing FSMA policies, Bee Sweet Citrus, Fowler, Calif., has installed a new wash line and bin washing system for its navel oranges and has boosted its Environmental Monitoring Program.

The FDA is proposing guidelines on informing the public sooner and in more detail, including naming stores where recalled products have been shipped.

Registration is open for this year’s Southwest Ag Summit, set for Feb. 20-23 in Yuma, Ariz., and featuring a golf tournament this year.

Despite early January media reports of an E. coli outbreak in Canada and the U.S. possibly linked to romaine lettuce, food safety news was not all bad.

Staff writer Ashley Nickle recaps the top stories of the week of Jan. 8, from high trucking rates to the E. coli outbreaks to how weather across the country has been affecting crops.

Even blockchain technology might not have prevented the latest food safety drama.

The lack of pest control was the No. 1 problem with food facilities inspected by the Food and Drug Administration in fiscal 2017.

The recent E. coli outbreaks have caused consternation in the produce industry.

Canadian health officials say an E. coli outbreak is over and consumers can eat romaine lettuce, but U.S. agencies maintain not enough is known about a similar outbreak in this country to arrive at the same decision.

Weber Scientific’s new sanitation tool produces a test result an order of magnitude or higher than competitive products.

The list of retailers and foodservice operators eliminating romaine lettuce from shelves and menus continues to grow.

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb Jan. 9 tweeted “the source of these cases likely is no longer on the market,” in reference to an E. coli outbreak.

The Food and Drug Administration will not enforce select food safety regulations during what it calls an “enforcement discretion period.”

Media coverage of the E. coli outbreak that health officials are investigating as possibly linked to romaine lettuce is increasing, along with calls to avoid romaine, even though no recall has been issued.

Seeing benefits for both the agency and for importers, officials at the Food and Drug Administration expect to soon begin accepting applications for the Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP).

A person in California has died in the E. coli outbreak that the CDC is investigating as linked to a similar outbreak tied to romaine lettuce in Canada, bringing the death toll to two.

What is being called an agricultural water summit is set for Feb. 27-28.

An unfamiliar concept for many at the start of 2017, blockchain now has sufficient interest from the produce industry that the Produce Marketing Association has formed a task force to follow its development.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says preliminary test results from an E. coli outbreak in the U.S. point to a common source of infection with an outbreak in Canada that’s been linked to romaine lettuce.

As 2017 comes to a close, I’ve found myself reflecting on trends in the produce and foodservice sectors.

The Food and Drug Administration plans to roll out new guidelines designed to get recall information to consumers faster, with a focus on working with retailers and suppliers, including processor and growers.

One of the reasons the produce industry generally supported the election of President Trump was his business experience and positions, including reducing the regulatory burdens.

The Center for Produce Safety has added a video section to its website.

Canadian retailer Sobeys, which has about 1,500 stores under numerous banners, has pulled all romaine products from shelves after health officials linked one death and dozens of illnesses from E. coli to the lettuce.

Midwest retailer Meijer has voluntarily recalled several Meijer brand packaged products containing sliced apples that are potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Food Logistics magazine included Livonia, Mich.-based CHEP on its Top 100 list of technology suppliers again this year.

Sparta, Mich.-based Jack Brown Produce Inc. is recalling gala, fuji, Honeycrisp and golden delicious apples.

Canadian health officials are now investigating 30 cases of E. coli infection as part of an outbreak linked to romaine lettuce.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has linked an E. coli outbreak to romaine lettuce.

The Food and Drug Administration has disbanded the Food Advisory Committee, which provides advice to the agency on food safety, nutrition and other issues.

CanadaGAP has announced appointments to the group’s Stakeholder Advisory Committee for 2018.

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a document explaining its enforcement actions if a foreign food company or a foreign government refuses to allow a FDA inspection.

Several retailers have stopped selling fresh-cut watermelon and fresh-cut cantaloupe in response to an outbreak warning issued by the Washington State Department of Health.

Doug Culbertson is CMI Orchards’ new food safety manager.

Western Growers and AgSafe are taking a lead role in training California growers on the Food Safety Modernization Act’s Produce Safety Rule, through a series of classes next year.

Not wasting a chance to seek relief and clarity in federal rules, produce industry groups are preparing to respond to an executive order from President Trump seeking ways to reduce the burden of regulations.

An outbreak of salmonellosis in the Northwest has been linked to fresh-cut watermelon and cantaloupe.

New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra to pay Danone for recall

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Pharr (Texas) International Bridge cargo facility recently interdicted heroin and marijuana in loads of fresh produce.

Casa Sanchez Foods is expanding a recall of Real Gaucamole to include the company’s spicy guacamole.