Of all the key features of FDA's Traceability Final Rule, the Traceability Lot Code (TLC) stands out for its criticality and understated complexity. This crucial code serves as a breadcrumb trail, highlighting every step a product takes through the supply chain. To meet the TLC requirements, industry actors will need to make significant modifications to current lot coding practices. 

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we talk with Donald A. Prater, D.V.M., the Acting Director of the Office of Food Policy and Response (OFPR) at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Associate Commissioner for Imported Food Safety at OFPR. Dr. Prater discusses the work he has overseen regarding import food safety, particularly for fresh produce and seafood; food safety culture; and smarter tools and technologies for data-gathering and data-sharing.

In November 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released its Final Food Traceability Rule—a new rule that will have wide-reaching impact on food companies. This issue features Part 2 of the results of our survey of food processors' thoughts on this new rule and their plans for compliance.

Amid the pandemic in 2020, federal and state recall coordinators and their leadership teams took a closer look at the existing regulatory recall response efforts in the state of Georgia, and where collaboration exists between the two agencies. After creating a pilot template project in 2021, the recall shadowing concept was expanded to a larger network. Feedback from 12 additional agencies in 2022 strengthened the project to enhance partner integration efforts, with the ultimate goal to better protect public health during recall events.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has revised the guidance, titled, Labeling of Certain Beers Subject to the Labeling Jurisdiction of FDA, as well as two other guidances, to add “sesame” to the list of major food allergens for labeling purposes.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided an update on its partnership with Mexico’s National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety, and Quality (SENASICA) and the Mexican Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risk (COFEPRIS). 

In a letter distributed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FDA’s CFSAN) to FDA staff, CFSAN Director Susan T. Mayne, Ph.D. announced that she will be stepping down from her position on May 31, 2023.

On March 8, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released an Immediate National Strategy to Increase the Resiliency of the U.S. Infant Formula Market. On the same day, the agency’s response to the recent infant formula safety and supply crisis was called into question during a hearing with the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services Hearing.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has completed its second premarket consultation for a food made from cultured animal cells intended for human consumption. FDA evaluated the information submitted by GOOD Meat Inc. and has no further questions at this time about the company’s safety conclusion. 

On March 17, 2023, two bipartisan pieces of legislation were introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives with the goal of requiring the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate cannabidiol (CBD) products in foods and dietary supplements.