October 12th, 2009 - Barbara Feiner
Leanne Skelton, chief of the Fresh Products Branch of the USDA’s Agriculture Marketing Service, is working with the FDA to help develop new food safety rules.
Through this coordinated effort, the FDA will gather information and feedback from the fresh produce industry—including small and organic farmers—on the impact food safety rules have on their businesses.
“President Obama, like most Americans, wants immediate improvements in our food safety system,” says Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “As such, we are pulling together all our best resources—state and federal—to improve the safety of our foods and to work with growers to protect and promote the health of our nation.”
“The USDA and the FDA have joined together on listening sessions and farm tours, and are eager to develop a system of regulation that will work for American families and the growers,” adds the USDA’s Rayne Pegg.
In media statements, the Feds are emphasizing that they want to speak with local growers across the country to hear their ideas, concerns and experiences.
Time will tell whether local and organic farmers get the attention they deserve.
Tags: agriculture, family farms, farming, FDA, organic farming, Organic Food, USDA
Posted in Organic Food | No Comments »
September 2nd, 2009 - Barbara Feiner
September is National Food Safety Education Month. So, should we don our party hats?
I think not.
Let’s look at some recent news events:
- A woman is fighting for her life in Las Vegas. Linda Rivera was infected with E. coli after eating contaminated Nestle Cookie Dough, which was later recalled.
- Cantaloupes from a Florida distributor tested positive for salmonella on Aug. 21 and have been recalled.
- Jumbo green onions from several distributors were recalled Aug. 12. They, too, tested positive for salmonella.
- The romaine recall we told you about on July 26 continues. Salinas, Calif.-based Tanimura & Antle has expanded it to cover all 50 states.
- Cilantro from a Texas distributor joined the salmonella-infection club on July 28. The product originated in Mexico.
If there was ever a time for a national overhaul of our food-safety systems, it’s now.
True, the House of Representatives has passed the Food Safety Enhancement Act (HR 2749), but there were unresolved issues regarding organic producers and access to local food. OrganicAuthority Publisher Laura Klein has grave concerns about this bill.
Do you worry about the safety of our country’s food supply? Please let us know how recent events have changed your buying habits.
Photo courtesy of the CDC
Tags: FDA, food safety, Food Safety Enhancement Act, legislation, Organic Food, recalls
Posted in Health, Organic Food | 1 Comment »
August 17th, 2009 - Barbara Feiner
They call it “bench trim”—remnants from steaks and other cuts of meat that are used to make ground beef.
In an attempt to prevent E. coli outbreaks, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service has issued a guidance that amps up inspection efforts. Inspectors would begin taking samples of bench trim, which is not routinely tested, during site visits.
According to FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, MD, the guidance—which would apply to mainstream and organic meat producers—represents a shift from a reactive (dealing with outbreaks) to a proactive (preventing contamination) agenda.
In recent years, E. coli has been responsible for numerous outbreaks. The bacterium can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration and kidney failure. Most susceptible to infection are children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.
Consumer groups, lawmakers and the Obama administration have demanded FDA reforms and an overhaul of our antiquated food safety system.
Tags: beef, E. coli, FDA, food safety, meat, Organic Food, recalls
Posted in Health, Organic Food | 2 Comments »
August 8th, 2009 - Barbara Feiner
Two new food recalls—ground beef and fresh cilantro—remind us that the safety of the U.S. food supply remains a pressing issue.
On July 30, the House of Representatives passed HR 2749 (also known as the Food Safety Enhancement Act) by a vote of 283 to 142. It gives the FDA increased authority and resources to prevent foodborne illnesses by:
- Requiring food facilities to have safety plans in place to identify and mitigate hazards
- Increasing the frequency of FDA inspections of food facilities
- Providing enforcement tools like mandatory recalls, stronger penalties and subpoena authority
- Expanding the FDA’s traceback capabilities in the event a food-related outbreak occurs
The bill, however, is not without controversy.
Singing its praises is its author, Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI): “Over the past two years we have seen issues of melamine in infant formula; tainted peppers from Mexico; harmful seafood from China; and E. coli in spinach. Each year, 76 million people contract a foodborne illness in the United States. According to CDC, about 5,000 die. The Food and Drug Administration—the agency responsible for regulating about 80% of the food supply—has been expected to adequately protect American consumers with outdated authorities and woefully inadequate funding. HR 2749 has the support of consumer groups, food safety groups and industry groups. It is a monumental piece of bipartisan legislation that will grant FDA the authorities and resources needed to effectively oversee an increasingly global food marketplace.”
But the Organic Consumers Association has concerns about how the bill will affect small farms and local producers, as well as consumers’ ability to access their products. As the OCA’s Alexis Baden-Mayer notes:
While the language instructing FDA to coordinate with USDA, secured by the House Agriculture Committee in its negotiation with Energy and Commerce, is a very positive step in the right direction, specific language that requires the FDA to coordinate with the National Organic Program on the development and enforcement of standards with respect to organic farming should be included.
Click here to read Baden-Mayer’s full analysis.
The bill now heads to the Senate.
Tags: FDA, food safety, Organic Food, recalls
Posted in Organic Food, Political Action | 4 Comments »
August 2nd, 2009 - Barbara Feiner
The FDA has published three draft guidances designed to help growers and others in the food supply chain minimize or eliminate microbial contamination in tomatoes, leafy greens and melons.
“These new food safety guidelines will facilitate the development of enforceable food safety standards and ensure a safer supply of fresh food for all Americans,” says FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, MD.
The guidances will be made final after a public comment period and “will be followed within two years by enforceable standards for fresh produce,” she says.
The recommendations are based on three fundamental food safety principles:
- Prevent harm to consumers
- Use good data and analysis to ensure effective food safety inspections and enforcement of the law
- Quickly identify outbreaks of foodborne illness and stop them
The guidances include recommendations regarding produce growing, harvesting, packing, processing, transportation and distribution. Recordkeeping requirements are also included to enable the FDA to rapidly determine the source of future outbreaks.
The actions taken “will result in safer food in our country, which means healthier children, longer lives and less costly healthcare,” says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
“We commend the FDA for moving forward on initiatives to improve the safety of fresh produce,” adds Jim O’Hara, director of the Produce Safety Project at Georgetown University. “The proposed guidance documents put out for comment address three of the highest-risk commodities, and we hope that the agency will finalize these documents quickly. We also look forward to the agency’s next steps regarding produce safety: issuance of proposed regulations. Science-based, risk-based, enforceable safety standards will restore consumer confidence in foods that are key components of a healthy diet.”
To view the actual draft guidances, follow these links:
Tags: FDA, food safety, leafy greens, melons, Organic Food, recalls, tomatoes
Posted in Organic Food | 1 Comment »
June 30th, 2009 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese
 Bisphenol-A, or BPA, is a compound found in the liner of aluminum cans and used to make hard plastic. Over the years, BPA has been under ever-increasing scrutiny.
Last year, BPA was found into interfere with brain cells and cause learning impairments. That’s why states like Connecticut, New Jersey and Delaware wanted it banned.
Many claim the FDA is too relaxed on BPA. So Wednesday, a group of companies, foundations and advocacy groups petitioned the FDA to better ensure the soundness of research on the safety of BPA.
The coalition claims the Food & Drug Administration is too dependent on industry-data and that the BPA industry wishes to prevent regulation and protect industries that use Bisphenol-A.
Without government-backed regulation companies that produce and use BPA will have no reason to investigate the potential health consequences of the chemical. If the FDA were to put pressure on the BPA industry, it would force manufacturers to develop a safe alternative.
Listen, the government has to protect us from potentially harmful products, because companies don’t care. For example, in 2001—NOT 1801—a company was fined $500,000 for selling flammable children’s pajamas.
Hard to believe stuff like this is still going on today!
Via Red Green and Blue.
Tags: Bisphenol-A, FDA
Posted in The Environment | No Comments »
June 28th, 2009 - Barbara Feiner
The Western Pistachio Association (WPA), a Fresno, Calif.-based trade group that represents growers in California, Arizona and New Mexico, is trying to restore its product’s good name.
Upon learning that Anaheim, Calif.-based Orca Distribution West repackaged and sold potentially contaminated nuts (see yesterday’s story), the WPA issued a press release to help allay consumers’ fears. It states:
Pistachio products subject to the recall should have already been removed from the market by each distributor and/or entity that had potentially contaminated product. The WPA does not condone any entity that knowingly shipped recalled product or withheld information related to the product recalls.
The association has also launched a website that provides a list of safe, regionally grown, organic and nonorganic brands. This is helpful, as I’ve avoided buying pistachios since the FDA initiated the recall in March.
If you’re worried about our nation’s food supply, you’re not alone. According to a recent survey, 60% of consumers polled have qualms about the food they buy. Tune in tomorrow for more staggering stats from the study.
Tags: FDA, food safety, Organic Food, pistachios, recalls
Posted in Health, Organic Food | 2 Comments »
June 27th, 2009 - Barbara Feiner
It’s been a bad year for the food industry, with recalls for peanuts, pistachios, ground beef and the latest entry: Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough.
The ongoing pistachio recall includes more than 660 organic and nonorganic products that may pose a salmonella risk. And even after companies were warned to stop selling pistachios sourced from Setton Farms (ground zero for the outbreak), the FDA recently found that Anaheim, Calif.-based Orca Distribution West had repacked and distributed potentially contaminated nuts under the California Prime Produce and Orange County Orchards brands, most of which were sold at airports and hotels.
According to the FDA, Orca has “not made a public announcement regarding these products.”
As for Nestle, the FDA and CDC have warned consumers to avoid eating any varieties of Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough because of possible E. coli contamination. Since March, there have been 66 reports of illness across 28 states, with 25 hospitalizations. Seven of the hospitalized patients developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a potentially fatal condition that can seriously damage the kidneys. No one has died.
If you happen to have any Nestle cookie dough in your fridge, throw it away. Don’t bake the dough, as your hands and cooking surfaces can be contaminated by the bacterium. Nestle has updated information on its website, as well as a toll-free phone number to handle questions: (800) 559-5025.
“If there was anyone left in America who didn’t realize we need to reform the food safety functions at the Food and Drug Administration, this latest recall of Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough provides a sobering wakeup call,” says Sarah Klein, attorney for the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington, DC.
“For too long, the agency has lacked the authority and the resources it needs to inspect food processing facilities, issue mandatory recalls and punish violators,” she adds. “Once again, the agency is forced to react after illnesses are already occurring, when the focus should be on preventing contamination in the first place. We urge the House to pass the Food Safety Enhancement Act now.”
Photos courtesy of Orca Distribution (top), Nestle
Tags: CDC, FDA, food safety, Health, Organic Food, recalls
Posted in Health, Organic Food | 5 Comments »
May 24th, 2009 - Barbara Feiner
 It’s Memorial Day weekend, a time to pay tribute to our fallen heroes and invite friends for a backyard barbecue of hamburgers, hot dogs and potential food poisoning.
Damn, it’s happened again.
Valley Meats, LLC, in Coal Valley, IL, has recalled almost 96,000 pounds of (not organic) ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli. Click here for the full product list.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a Class I recall, which means “there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.” The meat was processed March 10 and distributed nationwide.
What will it take to ensure the safety of our food supply?
I’m sure infectious-disease specialist Margaret Hamburg, MD, is pondering the same question. Our new Food and Drug Administration commissioner was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Thursday. She formerly served as New York City’s health commissioner.
Tags: FDA, food safety, recalls
Posted in Health, Political Action | 1 Comment »
March 13th, 2009 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese
 The salmonella-peanut butter outbreak linked to a mold and poop infested peanut plant in Georgia has a lot of people spooked over food safety.
But I think even before the salmonella scare people were already leery about certain food products, especially anything manufactured in a large facility.
And despite the squeaky clean image and the perceived safeness of organic foods, they can get into trouble too.
The New York Times reveals how current organic standards can leave organics at risk:
By 2002, those ideals had been arduously translated into a set of federal organic regulations limiting pesticide use, restricting kinds of animal feed and forbidding dozens of other common agricultural practices.
To determine who would be allowed to use the green and white “certified organic” seal, the Department of Agriculture deputized as official certifiers dozens of organizations, companies and, in some cases, state workers.
These certifiers, then, are paid by the farmers and manufacturers they are inspecting to certify that the standards have been met. Depending on several factors, the fee can be hundreds or thousands of dollars. Manufacturers who buy six or seven organic ingredients to make one product are especially dependent on the web of agents.
If agents do a thorough job, the system can be effective. But sometimes it falls apart.
No doubt, this sounds no different than non-organic food regulations or any government system for that matter, sometimes the process breaks down.
And since people assume organic is safer, even if it isn’t, all the more reason for organizations, like the FDA and USDA, to sure up their operations.
Tags: FDA, food safety, peanut butter, USDA
Posted in Organic, Organic Food | 1 Comment »
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