Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. has been confirmed by the Senate as the new FDA Commissioner. In his confirmation hearing, Dr. Makary said he would address food as it impacts health, and also said that he would review the mass layoffs that swept the agency in February.
FDA has delayed the compliance date for its Food Traceability Final Rule, fulfilling Section 204(d) of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA 204), by 30 months, due to concerns about industry unpreparedness. Consumer advocacy groups have expressed disapproval.
Created for ease of reference and to help industry market products that are safe for consumers, FDA’s new Chemical Contaminants Transparency tool is an online, searchable database of consolidated contaminant levels (e.g., tolerances, action levels, and guidance levels).
FDA is launching “Operation Stork Speed,” comprising a series of actions like increased contaminant testing, to better ensure the safety and adequacy of the U.S. infant formula supply. Consumer Reports, which says Operation Stork Speed was announced one day after it shared contaminant testing results with the agency, has questioned whether FDA is adequately resourced to deliver on its new promises.
According to a pre-publication version of a study conducted by Cornell University and backed by FDA, aging raw milk cheese may not be effective at eliminating the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 virus. However, adequate heat treating or pH 5.0 conditions could be effective.
In a March 10 meeting with the CEOs of food industry giants, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr), known for his “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, demanded that their companies end the use of artificial food dyes in their products—before the government is forced to act.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) has directed FDA to explore ways to eliminate the “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) rule, which is considered by critics to be a “loophole” that enables ingredients to enter the food supply without oversight or a formal safety review.
The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) will hold a virtual workshop series in March to help food producers gain a clear understanding of FDA’s “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) determination process.
FDA Human Foods Program staffers recently told Consumer Reports how a current spending freeze at the agency is affecting their ability to do their jobs, and leaves them feeling “dangerously unprepared” for the next foodborne illness outbreak or food safety emergency.
Two key advisory committees, responsible for providing impartial scientific advice to federal public health agencies (USDA, FDA, CDC) relative to food safety, have been terminated: the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) and National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI).
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