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 … Read more
Ferrarini USA, importer of record in California is recalling about 15,118 pounds of salami products that were not presented for import reinspection. That is required by FSIS before an imported product can enter commerce in the US. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the consumption of these products. The recalled products include Salame … Read more
The Safe Food Coalition has written a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, asking him to withdraw that agency’s proposal to modify its poultry slaughter inspection program. That program, known as HAACP-Based Inspection Models Project (HIMP) shifts responsibility for inspecting poultry processing plants from government to the companies. The Food Integrity Campaign has released affidavits … Read more
The Government Accountability Office released an analysis yesterday of the HACCP-based Inspection Models Project (HIMP) in poultry slaughter. The USDA is using that project to justify a proposal to private poultry inspection in some plants in this country. The proposed rule, called “Modernization of Poultry Inspection” published in January 2012, would use untrained company employees … Read more
A report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that the USDA’s FSIS inspections of small plants are inconsistent. A small plant is defined as one that has 25 or fewer employees. FSIS completed most of the activities outlined in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill). The program … Read more
Tibor’s Gourmet of California is recalling about 200 pounds of ready-to-eat smoked pork sausage products because they were made with the benefit of federal inspection. No reports of illness have been reported to date in connection with the consumption of this product. The recalled products are Tibor’s Gourmet “Ready to Eat” Gourmet Hungarian Brand Mild … Read more
Real Pasta Inc. of New Jersey is recalling 25,000 pounds of assorted frozen pasta products that were made without the benefit of inspection. Some of the products were also misbranded and may contain soy, one of the major food allergens, that is not declared on the label. There have been no reports of illness to … Read more
The Agriculture’s Undersecretary for Food Safety, Dr. Elisabeth Hagen, said that there will be 11 days of unpaid leave required of food inspectors to meet the budget cuts that were imposed as part of the sequester on March 1, 2013. She spoke at the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee on March 13, 2013. The furloughs will … Read more
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has suspended operations at St. Ann’s Foods, Establishment 287, effective February 7, 2013. The company failed to correct deficiencies in hygienic practices that were found in earlier inspections. While St. Ann’s Foods had an acceptable action plan that they presented to the government, they did not demonstrate “consistent or … Read more
The Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Meat and Poultry Inspection Program has halted custom exempt processing operations at Leinbach Custom Processing. A routine inspection on February 11, 2013 found that the facility was using non-potable water in plant operations. The water was sampled January 29, 2013 and February 8, 2013 and analyzed at the State Public … Read more