Food safety is a matter that affects anyone who eats food. Whether or not a person consciously thinks about food safety before eating a meal, a host of other people have thought about the safety of that food, from farmers to scientists to company presidents to federal government officials and public health officials. Ensuring the safety of food is a shared responsibility among producers, industry, government, and consumers. Safe food is food that is free not only from toxins, pesticides, and chemical and physical contaminants, but also from microbiological pathogens such as bacteria, parasites, and viruses that can cause illness.
Majority of Voters Support New Government Oversight of Food, Pew Commissioned Poll Finds – Most Americans support for measures that would give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new authority to ensure the food Americans eat does not make them sick.
FDA Awards $1 Million in Grants to Three States to Enhance Food and Feed Safety – Arkansas, Nebraska, and Wisconsin funded for Food Safety and Security Monitoring. – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently enhanced its food and feed protection initiatives with the award of three one-year Food Safety and Security Monitoring grants totaling $1 million to the states of Arkansas, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. The funds support cooperative agreements designed to create a national integrated food safety system through enhanced federal and state collaboration in food emergency response activities.
New Web Site, www.foodsafetyworkinggroup.gov, Will Serve as Hub for Citizens and Stakeholders to Stay Informed and Provide Input – Responding to President Obama’s directive to upgrade the nation’s food safety system, the White House Food Safety Working Group, led by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, launched a Web site to provide information about the group’s activities and progress.
FDA Warns Consumers to Stop Using Hydroxycut Products Dietary Supplements; Pose Risk of Liver Injury. – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers to immediately stop using Hydroxycut products by Iovate Health Sciences Inc., of Oakville, Ontario and distributed by Iovate Health Sciences USA Inc. of Blasdell, N.Y. Some Hydroxycut products are associated with a number of serious liver injuries. Iovate has agreed to recall Hydroxycut products from the market.
FDA Warns Against Consuming Peanuts and Peanut Products Sold by Westco Fruit and Nuts Inc.; Westco/Westcott Products Linked to Recalled Peanuts from the Peanut Corporation of America. – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to consume any peanuts or peanut-derived products sold by Irvington, New Jersey-based Westco Fruit and Nuts Inc. (Westco/Westcott) due to possible Salmonella contamination.
Rochester study raises new questions about controversial plastics chemical Bisphenol A. – A University of Rochester Medical Center study challenges common assumptions about the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), by showing that in some people, surprisingly high levels remain in the body even after fasting for as long as 24 hours.
Diet Coke Plus violating US FDA food safety law. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviewed the label for Diet Coke Plus 20 FL OZ (1.25 PT) 591ml, and concluded that this product is in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. – The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviewed the label for Diet Coke Plus 20 FL OZ (1.25 PT) 591ml. Based on the review, FDA concluded that this product is in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act).
Flour batch believed linked to Salmonella outbreak in New Zealand, reported by New Zealand Food Safety Authority. – Investigations into the outbreak of Salmonella typhimurium phage type 42 have found one detection of the bacteria in samples of flour taken from the home of one of the affected people.
Health Canada Reaffirms Safety of BPA for Use in Metal Food Packaging. North American Metal Packaging Alliance (NAMPA) Working with Canadian Government and Infant Formula Manufacturers to Develop Industry Code of Practice for Infant Formula. – Announcement by Health Canada regarding completion of its assessment of bisphenol A (BPA) offers reassurance to Canadians that the use of this chemical in the production of epoxy resins in metal food and beverage packaging presents no risk to consumers.
US FDA issues Interim Safety and Risk Assessment of Melamine and Melamine-related Compounds in Food. – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the results of its interim safety and risk assessment of melamine and melamine-related compounds in food, including infant formula.
