After withdrawing its previously proposed regulatory framework for Salmonella in raw poultry in April, USDA-FSIS is indefinitely delaying verification activities for Salmonella in not-ready-to-eat, breaded and stuffed chicken products, and is reconsidering its strategy to reduce Salmonella in poultry with an exploratory public meeting in January.
This episode of Food Safety Five discusses research on Listeria biofilms, including sanitizer efficacy and evolutionary insights, and on a persisting Escherichia coli strain in leafy greens. It also covers regulatory developments in the UK, Canada, and the UAE, as well as a potential U.S. ultra-processed foods (UPFs) definition.
A new analysis of U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) data conducted by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) quantified the impact of federal workforce cuts on experts and inspectors within USDA-FSIS and USDA-APHIS.
Despite increased regulatory efforts, Salmonella outbreaks linked to chicken remain a significant public health threat in the U.S., reaffirms a new study by CDC and USDA-FSIS researchers. The majority of outbreaks involved chicken parts and five serotypes of concern.
During an October 29 Senate confirmation hearing, Dr. Mindy Brashears, the presidential nominee for USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety, has provided insight into what her priorities will be if she is confirmed for the position—with Salmonella topping her list, followed by Listeria.
Food industry representatives and consumer advocacy groups have shared their comments, which are varied in opinion, submitted in response to FDA and USDA’s joint request for information to support a federal definition for ultra-processed foods (UPFs).
This episode of Food Safety Five discusses allergen news in the EU, where experts recommend “hidden” food allergens for mandatory labeling, and in the U.S., where USDA-FSIS is adding gluten to its allergen verification activities.
Although gluten is not one of the Big 9 major food allergens, USDA inspectors will now verify that establishments producing meat, poultry, and egg products are accurately controlling and labeling gluten similar to the Big 9 major food allergens.
In response to a petition submitted by the Meat Institute (formerly NAMI), USDA-FSIS has deleted an “unnecessary and confusing” reference to Moisture Protein Ratio from the “Jerky” entry in the FSIS Food Standards and Labeling Policy Book.
Following years of line speed waiver extensions and worker safety trials under modernized swine/poultry slaughter inspection pilot programs, the American Protein Processing Act would lift line speed limits in pork and poultry processing facilities that meet food safety criteria set by USDA.
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