A USDA report published earlier this month estimated that foodborne pathogens impose a $15.5 billion burden on the U.S. public annually. The report notes that there are 9.4 million foodborne-pathogen caused illnesses in the U.S. annually, despite the fact that government and the food industry “expend considerable resources in trying to prevent the foodborne illnesses.” … Continue reading
On April 13, 2015, U.S. District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett sentenced Peter and Austin (Jack) DeCosters to three months in jail, one year probation, and a $100,000 fine for their role in causing a salmonella outbreak in 2010. The sentencing had been left to the court’s discretion as a result of a plea agreement … Continue reading
US District Court for the District of Columbia has dismissed a law suit challenging USDA’s New Poultry Inspection System (NPIS). Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson held that the plaintiffs, the consumer rights group Food & Water Watch Inc (FWW) and two of its members, did not establish the requisite element of irreparable harm resulting from the … Continue reading
The Obama administration’s 2016 budget, released in early February, would increase FDA’s food safety budget by $109.5 million. This is perhaps unsurprising, given that all of the major Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) rules are set to be finalized by the end of FY 2016. The FDA website lists the following efforts that the requested … Continue reading
Recent legislation proposed by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand would require USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to recall meat and poultry found to be contaminated with pathogens. The Meat and Poultry Recall Notification Act would require that FSIS recall unsafe meat, poultry, and some egg products that are currently under its jurisdiction. Currently, FSIS can … Continue reading
China has banned all imports of US poultry and eggs following the detection of avian influenza in the Pacific Northwest late last year, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). China’s actions follow the discoveries of a strain of H5N8 influenza in wild birds and in a backyard flock of guinea fowl and chickens … Continue reading
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Services issued a proposed rule on January 15, 2015 to change the meal pattern requirements for day care homes receiving federal dollars under the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The proposed dietary guidelines are based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans made by the … Continue reading
Restaurants across California may no longer need to find creative ways to put foie gras on their menus, as a California federal court has ruled that federal law preempts California’s ban on the sale of the delicacy and enjoined the California Attorney General from enforcing the law. The ban In 2004, California enacted SB 1520, which banned the use of gavage (force-feeding) … Continue reading
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), US Department of Agriculture Administrator, Kevin Shea, recently sent out a notice that J.R. Simplot Co.’s (Simplot) potatoes designated as InnateTM potatoes are no longer subject to APHIS’s regulations governing the introduction of certain genetically engineered organisms under title 7, part 340 of the Code of Federal Regulations. … Continue reading
On November 5, 2014, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (“USDA”) Food Safety and Inspection Service (“FSIS”) issued a constituent update approving four Chinese poultry processing plants’ ability to export cooked chicken into the United States. The USDA also announced the names of the four plants that have been approved: Shandong Delicate Food Company, Ltd.; Qingyun Ruifeng … Continue reading
The Economic Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) compiled data that indicate foodborne illnesses in the United States may result in $15.6 billion in annual costs. The data were compiled from estimates of foodborne illnesses or deaths gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), peer-reviewed data regarding medical … Continue reading
On July 31, 2014, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (“USDA”) Food Safety and Inspection Service (“FSIS”) announced additional food safety requirements for chicken and turkey products. Specifically, the Modernization of Poultry Slaughter Inspection final rule will work to control Salmonella and Campylobacter and hopefully prevent 5,000 foodborne illnesses each year by implementing the optional New Poultry … Continue reading
To improve the safety of ground beef, the US Department of Agriculture’s (“USDA”) Food Safety and Inspection Service (“FSIS”) issued a proposed rule on July 16, 2014 entitled “Records To Be Kept by Official Establishments and Retail Stores That Grind Raw Beef Products.” FSIS proposes to amend the current recordkeeping regulations (9 C.F.R. §320(a)-(b)) to … Continue reading
Despite today’s challenging fiscal climate, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a draft of its ambitious strategic goals and objectives for keeping patients and consumers safe, the “Food and Drug Administration Strategic Priorities 2014-2018,” which will be used to justify its request for a more robust FY 2015 budget. This four-year plan is intended … Continue reading
On June 6, 2014, Food & Water Watch, a non-profit consumer advocacy group, sent a letter to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (“FSIS”) of the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) requesting that FSIS revoke the equivalency status determinations for four meat inspection programs. The programs include the Australian Export Meat Inspection System, the Alternate New … Continue reading