There are more than 3,000 state, local and tribal agencies that have primary responsibility to regulate the retail food and food service industries in the United States. They are responsible for the inspection and oversight of over one million food establishments that include restaurants and grocery stores, as well as vending machines, cafeteria and other …
STOP EMA Economically Motivated Food Fraud
EMA or economically motivated adulteration is when someone takes out or leaves out or substitutes a valuable ingredient or part of a food intentionally. It can also occur when someone adds a substance to make it appear better, bigger or of greater value. As an example, if a manufacturer adds cheaper vegetable oil to more …
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Tech-Enabled Traceability Video Series for Companies of All Sizes
The FDA has launched its first video that focuses on how food safety and consumer protection from foodborne illness can be enhanced using tech-enabled traceability. This first video is primarily focused on Supply Chain Technology and how companies of all sizes can utilize low or no-cost tech enabled traceability technologies. In this video, 5 companies …
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Embracing a Sustainable Future in Agriculture: The Role of AI in Eco-Friendly Pest and Weed Management
In the realm of agriculture, the traditional use of glyphosate-based herbicides, such as Monsanto’s “Roundup”, has been a common practice for controlling various weeds and pests. However, concerns have risen about its potential health risks, including negative impacts on gut health, hormonal disruptions, and cancer risks. This has necessitated a shift towards safer, more sustainable …
Beware: Banned Food Additives in Europe Still Commonly Used in U.S. Foods
People with dietary restriction who travel abroad often worry about the food they will be served and if it will affect their health. Oddly enough, their trip turns out beautifully and without incident on the eating side. Some believe it may have to do with certain food additives that are banned in Europe but allowed …
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Robotic Technology Brings Food Safety Benefits
We’re entering a new era in fast foods. Now, your speedy meals may be assembled not just by human hands, but with the help of the advanced precision of robotics. An example: Chipotle, a trailblazer in culinary innovation, has joined forces with Hyphen (kitchen technology experts) and together they are cooking up something extraordinary – …
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FDA Responds to Conference For Food Protection Recommendations
The Conference for Food Protection is a non-profit organization that was created to provide a formal process that members of industry, regulatory, academia, consumer, and professional organizations can use to provide input in the development and/or modification of food safety guidance for food safety laws and regulations at all levels of U.S. government. The U.S. …
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Allergic to Sesame? It’s now # 9 on List of Major Food Allergens
Sesame has now joined eight other foods considered as major food allergens by federal law. The following list includes the nine major food allergens: milk eggs fish, such as bass, flounder, cod Crustacean shellfish, such as crab, lobster, shrimp tree nuts, such as almonds, walnuts, pecans peanuts wheat soybeans Sesame became the ninth major food …
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From Farm to Table: Empowering Food Safety with AI-Driven Software
Francine Shaw is a food safety specialist, podcaster, and co-founder of My Food Source with over 20 years of experience in the food service industry. She is an avid author having written hundreds of articles for National Trade magazines and has appeared on Dr. Oz, the BBC World Series Radio and iHeart Radio as a …
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Genetically Engineered Food (GMO’s) – New Plant Variety Regulatory Information
All human and animal food from plants including plants produced through use of genetic engineering and genome editing are regulated by the FDA under the Federal, Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). They are held to the same standards as all foods produced, processed, stored, shipped, or sold in the USA. This regulation of …
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Small Entity Compliance Guide for FSMA Food Traceability Rule Available Here
On May 18, 2023, the FDA published a Small Entity Compliance Guide for the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Food Traceability Rule. You can also View on the FDA Website. This compliance guide describes the requirements of the Food Traceability regulation to assist small entities, including farms and small businesses to comply with the applicable …
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USDA Takes Steps to Reduce Salmonella in Poultry
The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) estimates that “Salmonella bacteria cause 1.35 million human infections and 26,500 hospitalizations in the United States every year. Of those infections, more than 23 percent are attributed to poultry consumption. Foodborne illness can have a devastating impact, both personally and financially, on people’s lives, the cost of which …
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The Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in Produce
The Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in Produce is a publication that should be of interest to anyone in the food industry. Note that it is produced by the EWG – Environmental Working Group which is a non-profit environmental health organization. It contains testing data on 46,569 samples of non-organic fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables …
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Ready for a FDA or USDA Inspection? AFFI’s New Toolkit Provides Detailed Guidance
The latest message from Alison Bodor, CEO of AFFI (the American Frozen Food Institute) provides updates on what’s happening in the FDA including changes that are important to all who produce and sell frozen foods as noted in the following report: FDA Structural Reform: AFFI has been part of a small and diverse coalition of …
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Sesame – A New Food Allergen That Must Be Declared by Federal Law
You may already be familiar with the 8 foods that must be declared as major food allergens: 1) milk, 2) eggs, 3) fish (such as bass, flounder, cod), 4) crustacean shellfish such as crab, lobster, shrimp, 5) tree nuts such as almonds, walnuts, pecans, 6) peanuts, 7) wheat, and 8) soybean. Now, effective January 1, …
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New Era of Smarter Food Safety Uses Tech-Enabled Traceability
FDA’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety Four Core Elements Just as companies such as Yum! Brands, Inc and others are using technology to improve and advance their businesses, the FDA’s new approach to food safety, known as the New Era of Smarter Food Safety leverages technology and other tools to create a safer, more …
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FDA Announces the Final Rule for Food Traceability Under FSMA
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a final rule on food traceability designed to facilitate faster identification and rapid removal of potentially contaminated food from the market, resulting in fewer foodborne illnesses and/or deaths. Foods subject to the final rule requirements appear on the Food Traceability List (FTL). The FTL includes fresh cut fruits …
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FDA Proposes Changes and New Guidelines to Label Foods as “Healthy”
The current definition of “healthy” that you will find on many packaged foods is up for revision and it’s about time. The definition of “healthy” as a claim for nutrient content was established in 1994 and hasn’t been updated since. Avocados and Salmon Don’t Qualify as “Healthy”? Here’s something you may not know. The current …
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It All Begins with a Story
It’s a fact. We all want to know where the food we are buying comes from and that it is safe. Now “86% of U.S. consumers believe brand transparency is more important than ever before and 73% of consumers are willing to pay more for products that guarantee total transparency.” Enter StoryBird technology. It’s a …
House Bill Calls for Single Food Safety Entity Under FDA
by Keith Loria A new bill, introduced by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), looks to create a single food safety agency under the department of Health and Human Services that would be responsible for keeping all food safe for market. The legislation, known as the Food Safety Administration Act, would ensure that a …
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