FDA Releases Draft Risk Profile on Pathogens and Filth in Spices, Seeks Industry Comments
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has completed a draft risk profile on pathogens and filth in spices. A risk profile is a science-based document that describes the current state of knowledge related to a specific food safety issue, describes mitigation and control mechanisms currently available and identifies critical knowledge gaps. The risk profile was initiated in response to recent outbreaks of human illness caused by the consumption of Salmonella-contaminated spices in the United States.
Editor's note: An Oct. 30 article in the New York Times reported that "about 12 percent of spices brought to the United States are contaminated with insect parts, whole insects, rodent hairs and other things" and "nearly 7 percent of spice imports examined by federal inspectors were contaminated with salmonella" were among the findings in the FDA's risk profile.