Tag: food safety
-
India Supreme Court Requests Removal of Industry Reps from Safety Enforcement Panels
Ruling on a request by a non-governmental organization (NGO), two supreme court justices in India have reportedly asked the government to remove food and soft drink company representatives from food-safety standards and enforcement panels. According to the justices, the industry representation clearly breaches the mandate of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Under the…
-
States Rights Moves into the Food Safety Arena
Utah State Representative Bill Wright (R-Holden) has reportedly introduced legislation (H.B. 365) that would exempt from federal regulation all foods grown and consumed within the state’s borders. He was quoted as saying, “Within the state, it’s state’s rights. We already have regulations over those items. We function well now. We don’t think they have a…
-
FSIS Considers Animal Rights Groups’ Petitions on Downer Livestock
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has requested comments on two petitions for rulemaking submitted by animal rights groups seeking reformed regulations concerning “the disposition of non-ambulatory disabled” livestock at slaughter. FSIS also plans to clarify its requirements for “condemned non-ambulatory disabled cattle at official slaughter establishments.” The Humane Society…
-
FDA Issues Strategic Plan for National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a strategic plan that outlines the 2011-2015 goals and objectives of the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS), which aims to protect “the health of Americans through safer food.” Calling the plan “a dynamic roadmap which outlines the program’s commitment to sustained food safety through monitoring and…
-
Obama Rolls Out Regulatory Reforms, Urges Action on Existing Burdensome Rules
President Barack Obama (D) has signed an executive order establishing principles for agencies to follow in adopting regulations addressing such matters as food safety, toxic chemicals, labor, energy, and the environment. The order also requires a review of existing regulations to eliminate or revise those “that may be outmoded, ineffective, insufficient, or excessively burdensome.” A…
-
Returned and Repackaged Hamburger Products Recalled from Prisons
After a Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) investigation of complaints about discoloration and off-odors, a New Jersey-based meat processor has reportedly recalled more than 225,000 pounds of ground beef products distributed to penal institutions in California and Oregon. In a recall release, FSIS reported that its review “uncovered evidence to show that the establishment…
-
IOM Forum to Discuss FDA’s Food Safety Role
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has announced a January 28, 2011, forum to discuss the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) role in ensuring safe food. IOM’s Committee on Review of FDA will meet in Washington, D.C., with agency representatives to review the recommendations put forth in its June 2010 report, Enhancing Food Safety, which described…
-
FDA Responds to Media Report about Imported Toxic Seafood
A recent investigation by NBC’s Today show has apparently revealed that some imported seafood “may contain toxic chemicals that can cause serious health problems.” Testing conducted by Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Oklahoma authorities has reportedly found contamination in shrimp, catfish, crabmeat and tilapia imported from China, Indonesia Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. “Footage taken by a…