Sharon Spielman

Proposed rule to increase onion assessment rate

May 4, 2020

The USDA has issued a proposed rule which would increase the assessment rate from $0.10 per 50-pound bag or equivalent of Walla Walla sweet onions handled to $0.15 per 50-pound bag or equivalent of Walla Walla sweet onions handled for the 2020 and subsequent fiscal periods.

Dry Processing

X-ray inspection equipment maximized detection at J&J Snack Foods

Sharon Spielman

April 28, 2020

Because some packages have foil lids, J&J Snack Foods knew this could be a problem for metal detectors. So, the company selected an X-ray system in order to maximize its detection capabilities.

COVID-19

COVID-19 pandemic causes plant shutdowns

U.S. processing plants cease production; Canadian Olymel has re-opened (story updated April 20, 2020)

Sharon Spielman

April 27, 2020

As the coronavirus continues to spread, more food processing facilities have had to close their doors.

COVID-19 Coverage

FDA issues social distancing guidance for food processing plants to fight spread of COVID-19

What processors should do when following the CDC recommendation is not possible

Sharon Spielman

April 8, 2020

The FDA has been adding frequently asked questions along with answers to its Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition COVID-19 Updates section of its website as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds.

How processors are handling demand surges caused by COVID-19

Companies respond to meet unprecedented demand during the coronavirus pandemic

Sharon Spielman

April 7, 2020

An unprecedented surge in demand has processors working to meet needs while protecting workers and their supply chains.

FDA postpones most foreign inspections through April

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak

Sharon Spielman

March 17, 2020

According to a press release issued by the FDA, the agency is postponing most foreign inspections through April, effective immediately, in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Inspections outside the U.S. deemed mission-critical will still be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Regulatory Watch

FDA issues final guidance for nutrition labeling regulations

Sharon Spielman

February 18, 2020

The FDA has issued final guidance to help manufacturers of packaged foods comply with the updated Nutrition Facts labeling regulations, which addresses serving sizes of foods, including single-serving foods and other foods that can reasonably be consumed at one eating occasion and require dual-column labeling.

Regulatory Watch

IFSAC releases 2017 report on foodborne illness sources

Sharon Spielman

December 23, 2019

In an ongoing effort to understand sources of foodborne illness in the U.S., the Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration (IFSAC) collects and analyzes outbreak data to produce an annual report with estimates of foods responsible for foodborne illnesses caused by pathogens.

Regulatory Watch