Food and Water Watch is questioning the USDA's import inspection program after lapses allowed problematic food into the country. Wenonah Hauter, executive director of the agency, sent a letter to USDA SEcretary Tom Vilsack, "pointing to six specific incidents where imported product was ether recalled or entered into U.S. without proper inspection. In some of these cases, the problem was not discovered until U.S. consumers had already consumed most of the product." The problems are apparently in the new inspection information technology system called the Public Health Information System (PHIS). Food safety experts say that there are problems with PHIS for both domestic and imported food inspections. PHIS went into operation on May 29, 2012. The incidents include recalls on February … [Read more...]
Canada’s Food Inspection System Barely Passes USDA Audit
The Canadian food safety system has been given the lowest audit rating possible so it can still export food to the United States. The rating of "adequate" follows an on-site audit of Canada's meat inspection system from October to November 2012. The results were just released to the public last month. These results mean that food coming in from Canada will be more closely inspected at the border. The three grades in the audit system are "well-performing", which is the best grade, then "average" and finally "adequate". There are six components of the audit, including government oversight, statutory authority and food safety regulations, sanitation, hazard analysis and HACCP, chemical residues control program, and microbiological testing programs. The audit found that oversight of hazard … [Read more...]
FDA Releases Risk Profile on Pathogens and Filth in Spices
Over the years, there have been recalls for pathogens and filth in spices. The USDA recently completed a report about the risk of Salmonella in imported spices. In that report, scientists found that about 14% of spices from Mexico were contaminated. The FDA has now released a draft profile on the risk of contamination in spices and the steps it plans to take to improve safety. Pathogens found in spices range from Salmonella, Bacillus, Clostridium perfringens, Cronobacter, Shigella, and Staphylococcus aureus. Filth adulterants include insects, excrement, hair, and other materials such as decomposed parts, wood slivers, twigs, staples, stones, plastic, and rubber bands. During the time period of 1973 - 2010, fourteen illness outbreak were attributed to the consumption of … [Read more...]
