FDA has announced two updates for Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) rules: the finalization of a draft guidance for sprout operations under the Produce Safety Rule and additional information about Food Traceability Final Rule (also known as FSMA 204) inspections and FDA’s Product Tracing System. 

To address the trend of food manufacturers intentionally adding sesame to food products that did not originally contain the allergen in an attempt to circumvent allergen cross-contact requirements, FDA has updated its draft guidance for industry on hazards analysis and preventive controls with a new chapter on avoiding allergen cross-contact and proper labeling.

This episode of Food Safety Matters features a discussion about the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Food Code in light of its 30^th anniversary. We are joined by two retail food safety regulators from FDA and two environmental health specialists with experience in Food Code adoption and implementation.

September 25, 2023 marks the first day of work for James (Jim) Jones, M.S., the first ever Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). His first order of business was to release a memo to FDA staff. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently published its response to the most recent suggestions given to the agency by the Conference for Food Protection (CFP). Recommendations given to FDA by CFP cover the Food Code and its Annexes, the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards, and other actions.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided an update on its work to prevent Cronobacter sakazakii illnesses associated with consumption of powdered infant formula.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA’s) recently announced new steps that it is taking to modernize its approach to evaluating and supporting the development of innovative animal and veterinary products, including cell-cultured and other novel ingredients for feed.

On September 13, at the third annual executive meeting of the Food Safety Partnership (FSP) between the U.S. and Mexico, federal regulatory agencies from both countries reported continued progress in strengthening food safety.

The Expanded Food Safety Investigation Act (EFSIA) was recently reintroduced to U.S. Congress. If passed, the bill would allow U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigators to enter concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and conduct microbial sampling to trace foodborne illness outbreaks.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently published translations of factsheets on the Food Traceability Final Rule for retail food establishments and restaurants in Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese.