FAO Updates Guidance for COVID-19 Within Food Businesses

AFDO Webinar Announcement

Trends in the US Food Industry: Implications for National Security

September is Food Safety Education Month
Food Safety Delivered: New Resources You Need 

The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has released new guidance documents for controlling beef and raw poultry pathogens.

The FSIS Inspection Program Personnel (IPP) announced the availability of the new guidance at weekly meetings with establishment management. The agency regulates 6,500 production facilities. Many produce beef and poultry products.

Half of the guidelines address the most severe problem facing federal meat inspection — Salmonella and Campylobacter bacteria that account for more than 70 percent of the foodborne illnesses tracked by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Read more in Food Safety News.

Posted 8/9/2021

On August 5, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a letter reminding industry that only certain fluorinated polyethylene containers are authorized for food contact use. The agency took this step to ensure that manufacturers that produce, distribute, or use these types of containers are aware of FDA’s regulation pertaining to the requirements for fluorinating polyethylene containers used with food (21 CFR 177.1615).

Fluorination allows for improved chemical barrier properties in containers. Recently, based on testing performed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the FDA has become aware that certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can form and migrate from some fluorinated high-density polyethylene (HDPE – a type of polyethylene) containers.  EPA’s testing was conducted on containers that are not regulated by the FDA (containers intended to hold mosquito-controlling pesticides not approved for direct use on food crops). The type of PFAS detected are called perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), several of which are associated with adverse health effects. Analytical studies indicate that PFCAs can result from fluorination processes that are not compliant with FDA’s regulations.

While the FDA has no evidence that these alternative fluorination processes are used to manufacture food containers, the agency is encouraging manufacturers and distributors to consult with the FDA regarding the regulatory status of any manufacturing processes used for fluorinated polyethylene containers intended for use with food.

The FDA is committed to ensuring that food containers are safe for consumers. We will work with manufacturers and distributors of fluorinated polyethene containers used with food to ensure that their products comply with FDA regulations.

Read more
 

Posted 8/9/2021

Ready, Set, Cook It Safe is BACK 

Cooperative Agreement Program Will Advance an Integrated Food Safety System

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the award of the Alliance to Support Integrated Food Safety System (IFSS) Activities cooperative agreement to the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO). This cooperative agreement will facilitate long-term improvements to the national food safety system by strengthening interagency collaboration, improving state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) regulatory and surveillance protection programs, and promoting the implementation of the Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards (MFRPS). The total funding for the cooperative agreement program will be up to $9 million over three years.
 
The cooperative agreement directly supports the FDA’s mandate to protect the nation’s manufactured human food and animal food under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Congress recognized that, with more than 3,000 SLTT food safety agencies, the FDA must work synergistically with other federal and SLTT partners, as part of a fully integrated food safety system, to protect the nation’s food supply.
 
This cooperative agreement will help the FDA to continue leveraging AFDO’s strengths to assist SLTT manufactured food programs in their efforts to reduce the occurrence of foodborne illness risk factors, implement and maintain conformance with the MFRPS, and fully leverage SLTT food programs’ strengths to advance the regulation of the manufactured food industry. 
 
As part of the three-year cooperative agreement program, AFDO will work collaboratively with the FDA to achieve the following objectives:

• Support the efforts of federal and SLTT government agencies to build an IFSS.
• Establish systems for sharing, promoting, and collaborating on best practices, guidance documents, sampling plans, procedures, partnership agreements, and other tools to foster mutual reliance between federal and SLTT regulatory programs and public health agencies.
• Assist the FDA in the identification, development, delivery, promotion, and attendance of food safety and defense training and career development programs to support conformance with the MFRPS and implementation of FSMA.
• Support the advancement of MFRPS and the Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Alliance (MFRPA).

 
According to AFDO Executive Director Steven Mandernach, “This cooperative agreement provides important resources to support programs and systems designed to help SLTT manufactured food programs as they work to enhance their regulatory programs and improve the consistency and quality of their work through conformance with the FDA’s Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards (MFRPS).  These foundational efforts are critical as we continue to work together to achieve a nationally integrated food safety system.”  
 
In addition, Erik Mettler, Assistant Commissioner for Partnerships and Policy within FDA’s Office of Regulatory Affairs offered the following comments on the announcement of the new award, “Protection of the nation’s food supply is a responsibility that is shared across all levels of the government. This cooperative agreement supports building a nationally integrated, risk-based, food safety system focused on protecting public health. The FDA looks forward to continuing our partnership with AFDO to advance the MFRPS and reduce foodborne illness in the U.S.”
 
The burden associated with foodborne illness is considerable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year, 48 million people get sick from a foodborne illness, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die. The FDA and AFDO are dedicated to the prevention and mitigation of foodborne illnesses, and the award of this cooperative agreement is another step towards achieving that goal.
 
For additional information, please visit Alliance to Support IFSS Activities webpage.

8/2/21

Application Portal Open Until August 31, 2021
Additional Funding Opportunity for CY 2021 Available

Seeking Food Safety Experts to Develop Online Courses

Registrar Corp is contracting with subject matter experts to help develop short courses (30 minutes – 60 minutes) on a variety of food safety topics.  If you believe that you are qualified to develop a food safety course, simply select your course topic(s) and provide your contact info using the link below. Registrar Corp will contact you upon receipt of your information to discuss your qualifications and compensation.

Posted 8.2.21

New Cooperative Agreement Program Continues Implementation of a National Produce Safety Program

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that awards have been issued to support forty-seven (47) grantees in a total of $30.9 million for the FDA’s Cooperative Agreement Program (CAP) for States and Territories to Implement a National Produce Safety Program (PAR-21-174); to be referred to as FDA’s Produce Safety CAP.

The purpose of this funding is to advance efforts for a national integrated food safety system (IFSS) by supporting state and territorial Produce Safety Programs to enhance produce safety and achieve high rates of compliance with the FDA’s Produce Safety Rule.  This new cooperative agreement continues the successful partnership that began in 2016 with state and territorial agencies to develop quality produce programs and achieve national consistency. 

“The FDA has continued its funding of state produce safety programs for a second 5-year period. This investment is very important. Food safety is the cornerstone of a healthy food supply,” said Bob Ehart, Senior Policy and Science Advisor with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA). “The efforts to assist produce farmers to prevent foodborne illnesses through education are also a sound contribution to the goal of safe food. Because of the original funding from the FDA, the state programs are well-positioned to partner with the FDA to carry out produce farm inspections. NASDA applauds the FDA’s continued investment in state produce safety programs.”

 FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response Frank Yiannis commented, “Five years ago, the FDA, in collaboration with our state and territory regulatory partners, took a novel approach to improve safety of produce in the United States. Working together, we’ve developed and enhanced produce regulatory program infrastructure, conducted education and outreach to the grower community, developed an inventory of farms, and launched inspections. With these new awards, the FDA is excited to build upon the work that has been accomplished in the initial cooperative agreement to advance produce safety.”

The Produce Safety Rule established, for the first time, science-based minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption. The rule is part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The final rule went into effect January 26, 2016. The Produce Safety Rule, along with other FSMA-mandated rules to regulate food production, importation, and transportation, will better protect consumers from foodborne illness.

For additional information, please visit State Produce Implementation Cooperative Agreement Program (CAP).

8/2/21

The 2021 AOAC Annual Meeting & Exposition

Marine Fisheries Scientist II/Seafood Officer II - Mississippi

This is proficiency level scientific work with responsibility for providing scientific expertise in the area of seafood processing plant inspection in order to meet U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations for seafood processing and shipping inter/intrastate commerce; issuing the associated operational certificates; and recommending the issuance of cease and desist orders for production and distribution. Successful interaction with members of the seafood industry, including seafood processing plant owners, special interest groups, and the general public, and, speaking before large and small groups is required. The incumbent develops the knowledge of and skill necessary in the interpretation of FDA requirements, National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) Model Ordinance, and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulations. The incumbent also possesses knowledge of microbiology and sanitation principles and develops knowledge of the laws, rules, and ordinances as they relate to the seafood processing plant inspection programs. The duties are performed using judgment and discretion and under the direct supervision of a higher-level scientist. Work is reviewed through regular meetings and conferences.

8/9/21

Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Virtual Training

• 27-Aug-2021 – 9:00am-6:00pm ET (1-Day)

• 11-Aug-2021 – 9:00am-6:00pm ET

EAS Consulting Group Training 

The Food Safety Doctor LLC 

• August 17-18, 2021
• September 21-24, 2021

• August 24-25, 2021
• September 15-16, 2021

• Online: August 11, 2021
• Online: September 8, 2021
• Online: November 9, 2021 (Evening Session)

Laws and Regulations Committee Update

A collection of current food, drug, device, and consumer product regulatory issues and news