FDA Schedules Public Meetings on the Proposed Changes to Produce Safety Rule

The public meetings will be held according to the schedule below.  The times for each meeting have been adjusted to provide persons in different regions of the country an opportunity to comment.

February 14, 2022
11:45 am - 7:45 pm EST
Register for the February 14 Meeting 

February 25, 2022
8:45 am - 4:45 pm EST
Register for the February 25 Meeting  

Registration is required to attend the virtual meetings. Registered participants will receive details on how and when to view the public meetings online. Questions about the meetings can be directed to Juanita Yates, FDA, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition: e-mail Juanita.Yates@fda.hhs.gov.

Cannabis Tours Brings the Industry to Life

AFDO and its partner, FOCUS, developed a virtual deep look into the cannabis industry -- a side many have not seen before. Virtual video tours covered four facets of the industry that is in different stages of regulation across the country. More than two hours of video narrated by those who work in cultivation, quality testing, manufacturing and extraction, and dispensing brought viewers into the day-to-day operations of the industry. The tour videos are now available on the AFDO resources.

Check them out here.

Posted 1/10/22

Interesting Read (and Listen)...

Opnion: The Patchwork U.S. Public Health System

They contend that the U.S. public health system is an uneven patchwork. In the shadow of a pandemic, understanding this haphazard architecture is a step toward clearing up the disparity between the U.S. paradox of enormous health expenditures and poor outcomes for population health.

As part of the publication, there is also an Interview with Dr. Sharfstein on the haphazard organization of U.S. public health at the local, state, and federal levels. Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. He is interviewed by Stephen Morrissey, the Executive Managing Editor of the Journal.

Read the article here or visit the website for both here.

Posted 1/10/22

AFDO Community Mourns Loss

The food safety community lost a friend and passionate professional with the death of Manda Jo Clevenger on Sunday, January 2, 2022. Clevenger, 42, joined the State of Indiana in the Department of Environmental Management, Department of Health in 2011 and was Director of Food Protection at the time of her sudden passing.

Clevenger was a 2001 graduate from the University of Southern Indiana with a degree in Computer Information Systems and French. In 2006, she received her law degree from Valparaiso University.

When sharing the news, Indiana State Health Commissioner Kris Box shared the following reflection on Clevenger’s impact on the face of food safety in Indiana.

“Manda was a bright light whose passion for helping Hoosiers shone through in every role and assignment she took on,” Box said. “She joined IDOH as an attorney, where she worked closely with the Food Protection Division. This made her a natural fit for the role of division director when the opportunity arose.”

Box went on to say, “Manda never shied from advocating for the practices and policies that she felt were best for food safety in Indiana. She was extremely proud of her team and their work and worked many late nights to ensure the division was doing everything it could to keep food safe for Hoosiers.”

Shirley Payne, Assistant Commissioner for the Indiana Public Health Protection Commission, called Clevenger’s loss “surreal at the moment for the agency and especially for our Food Protection Division.  One thing that is undeniable is the passion that Manda had for food safety in Indiana.  That passion will not be lost.  We will navigate, build, and move forward as a team knowing that we can count on all of you (in the food safety community) as well.”

Clevenger is survived by her husband, Matthew Petty of Whitestown, Indiana.

This Thursday
Partnership Offers Pandemic Insights and Roadmap for Future  

   

The Georgia Association for Food Protection in partnership with their parent organization, IAFP is hosting “Food Industry’s Response to COVID-19: Lessons Learned and Future Plans.” This webinar includes a panel of subject matter experts discussing their experiences and future strategies on dealing with the continuing and evolving pandemic challenges. The roundtable speaker lineup includes:

• Betsy Booren, Senior Vice President, Regulatory and Technical Affairs, Consumer Brand Association
• Kaci Foote, Audit Specialist, Food Safety Net Services Certification & Audit
• Steven Lyon, Principal Scientist / Food Safety Manager, Chick-fil-A, Inc.
• Sean Leighton, Global Vice President of Food Safety, Quality, and Regulatory Affairs, Cargill
• Katie Murchison, GAFP President - Moderator

More information and registration can be accessed here.   

Posted 1/10/22

UK to Investigate Tattoo Ink Health Risks After EU Ban

On Tuesday, January 4, 2022, the EU introduced a ban on a range of substances used in pigments on the grounds they are hazardous. The ban has caused a crisis in the tattoo industry across the European bloc, with trade associations warning it will “criminalize” artists and threaten the entire sector, which is already reeling from closures through the pandemic lockdowns. Read more about the ban here. 

The law does not apply to the UK as it came into effect after Brexit was sealed in January 2020 but it poses one of the first tests for the UK’s approach to regulation of laws affecting consumers since it achieved independence from the bloc.  The UK will have to determine how it will protect the public and respond to the EU ban.

The law limits the use of certain chemicals the EU says are hazardous, with some linked to cancer, reproductive difficulties and skin irritation, and which are contained in mixtures for tattoo inks and permanent makeup.

Read about the UK response to the ban here.

Posted 1/10/22

AFDO Front and Center in Latest Partnership for Food Protection Publication

 

New Dates Announced
Root Cause Analysis for Retail Food Safety Session Offered in 2022

• Determine the underlying reasons for how and why an outbreak/violation(s) occurred
• Provide tools for more effective problem solving
• Data collection tools and analyzation
• Interventions or corrective actions to prevent recurrence

New Benefit of AFDO Membership
Retail HACCP Validation and Verification Course Announced

       

Save the Date
First Inspector Bootcamp Schedule Announced

AFDO is hosting the first of its kind “Inspector Bootcamp,” slated to be held virtually on Mondays, Mar. 28, April 4 & 11. This training is planned for both retail and manufactured food inspectors (new and seasoned), to provide boots-on-the-ground data, presentations on both soft and technical skills, and facilitated breakout discussions. The goal is for all participants to share experiences, hear from other inspectors/jurisdictions, learn from each other and network, while gaining additional tools and knowledge to help be better prepared in the field. During this training, inspectors will:

• Apply more risk-based approaches to conduct quality inspections
• Learn how to leverage evidence to support the writing of accurate, valid reports
• Understand how to identify special processes and review food safety plans
• Improve operator interviewing skills to drive productive conversations and listen more effectively
• Identify the difference between aggression versus violence, and how to de-escalate potential conflicts to create a calmer environment in the field

The training will be offered with both morning and afternoon sessions, roughly 4 hours per session. There will be 12 hours of training total over the course of the 3 dates. The cost to attend the training will be $75 per person, capping at $1,000 for unlimited participants from a single agency. More specific agenda details will be shared, and registration will open in early 2022. Special thanks to the 13 workgroup members helping AFDO plan this training, and for all the inspectors who helped shape the training topics by providing survey input back in November. For any questions, please contact Jessica Badour at jbadour@afdo.org.

Posted 12/13/21

Who Do You Know?
AFDO Encourages Students Through 
Scholarships

Do you know a college student who is considering a career in food or medical products safety?

The Association of Food and Drug officials offers three $2,500 undergraduate scholarships each spring. To be eligible, students should be a junior with a 3.0 grade average during the first two years of undergraduate study with demonstrated leadership capabilities and a desire to serve in a career of research, regulatory work, quality control, or teaching in an area related to some aspect of foods, drugs, or consumer product safety. 
 

To apply or to encourage someone to apply, in addition to completing an application, an official and complete college transcript must be submitted along with letters of recommendation from two faculty members. Scholarship applications must be submitted by March 31, 2022 to be considered for the current year’s award. 

Application info may be found at: www.afdo.org/grants/afdo-scholarship

Posted 12/13/21

Public Health Inspector I/II/III position - Vermont

The Vermont Department of Health is recruiting for Public Health Inspector I/II/III positions. Please see links to the descriptions and job posting below

Post 1/10/22

Manufactured Food Specialist  - Virginia 

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is seeking a Manufactured Food Specialist within the agency’s Food Safety Program. This position ensures that food products and dietary supplements in Virginia are safe by providing guidance and technical advice to consumers and the food industry. The successful candidate will assist the Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards (MFRPS) Coordinator with conformance and maintenance of all MFRP Standards. Duties include assisting the MFRPS Coordinator to ensure that all of the outcomes and deliverables specified in the MFRPS FDA Cooperative Agreement are adhered to and met; working with home based food manufacturing operations and small food producers to address issues in labeling, processing, and general food safety; gathering information necessary to conduct the facility inspections; and evaluating the condition of food manufacturing facilities relative to food safety. Additional duties include conducting audits of inspection reports and of sample collection forms; preparing various reports and documents; maintaining an assortment of files and records; and coordinating outreach efforts in order to protect public health and educate industry partners. This is a restricted position that has been developed as part of a Cooperative Agreement with the Food and Drug Administration and will last until July 30, 2023; however, the cooperative agreement has the potential for continuation.

Post 1/10/22

Food Safety Regional Manager  - Virginia 

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is seeking a qualified individual to serve as Food Safety Regional Manager in the Office of Dairy and Foods, Division of Animal & Food Industry Services. Duties include: providing first line supervision to ten inspectors in the Food Safety Program; reviewing and classifying  inspections, investigations and sample analysis reports from field inspectors; preparing regulatory and informational letters concerning law violations; conducting hearings and  recommending  additional regulatory action; responding to inquiries from the general public, the regulated industry and other regulatory agencies concerning all aspects of Virginia’s Food Safety Program; participating in work planning sessions with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration; and serving as part of the Program’s management team. Position requires that the incumbent be able to effectively respond to emergency situations and other assigned duties during both traditional and non-traditional work hours.

Post 1/10/22

Paster Training, Inc. 

• Preventive Controls for Human Food (PCHF), Full and Part 2
• Intentional Adulteration Vulnerability Assessment (IAVA)
• Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP), Full and Part 2
• Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs)

• Certified Protection Food Manager (CPFM)
• Food Handler/Food Employee
• HACCP Manager
• HACCP Employee
• Food Defense
• SPANISH TRAINING AVAILABLE!!!!!

EAS Consulting Group Training 

The Food Safety Doctor LLC 

ONLINE Preventive Controls for Human Foods (PCQI) Courses

January 18-20, 2022

February 8-10, 2022

March 1-3, 2022

Click here to access the schedule of PCQI courses

ONLINE Foreign Supplier Verification Courses (FSVP-QI) Courses

January 25-26, 2022

February 16-17, 2022

March 15-16, 2022

Click here to access the schedule of FSVP-QI courses

Intentional Adulteration Vulnerability Qualified Individuals (IAVA-QI) Course

January 27, 2022

February 22, 2022

March 23, 2022

Click here to access the schedule of IAVA-QI courses

Laws and Regulations Committee Update

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