In the news

On February 6, 2023, a letter authored by the American Frozen Food Institute, Association of Food and Drug Officials, Consumer Brands Association, Consumer Reports, Environmental Working Group, International Fresh Produce Association, STOP Foodborne Illness, and Western Growers was published in Food Safety News. The authors view the creation of a deputy commissioner position with line management authority over the current CFSAN and the functions of ORA’s state partnership office as an essential step forward. However, they find that the proposal does not answer the concern of the Reagan-Udall Foundation (RUF) report. The signees are concerned that organizational fragmentation will continue within the newly proposed structure. They raised many questions about the proposed structure and would like to meet with the commissioner. Among the questions raised is the question of the deputy commissioner management authority, how will ORA’s operation be transformed? Will the deputy commissioner be responsible for the formulation and execution of the entire food program budget? Will the deputy commissioner have management authority over the whole organization? Would the deputy commissioner have complete access to all ORA food-related data systems and authority to redesign ORA data collection and analysis systems to meet the needs of the Human Foods Program? @ https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2023/02/coalition-has-many-questions-about-how-fda-commissioner-will-protect-consumers-with-new-organizational-chart/

The USDA/FSIS announced its key achievements in 2022 that further protected public health through food safety; created more and better market opportunities; and advanced racial justice, equity, and opportunity. USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Emilio Esteban said, “This past year, we continued to move towards strengthening our policy for poultry products linked to Salmonella.” In 2022, FSIS announced its intention to declare Salmonella an adulterant in not ready-to-eat breaded and stuffed chicken products. The FSIS goal is to move the agency closer to achieving a reduction in foodborne illnesses and lay the groundwork for more developments in 2023 as FSIS continues its efforts to seek stakeholder feedback to inform planned rulemaking. State Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) programs are an integral part of the nation’s food safety system; they help prevent supply chain bottlenecks within a state. In 2022, Arkansas and Oregon joined the state MPI program, and FSIS finalized a CIS agreement with Montana. At the close of the year, 29 state inspection programs were operating, as well as a total number of 10 states participating in the CIS program. FSIS collaborates with many partners to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of food safety outcomes. This year, FSIS and the CDC signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance data sharing and coordinate critical public health activities. FSIS also updated its MOUs with the FDA to improve coordination on regulatory efforts with dual jurisdiction establishments—as well as with the U.S. OSHA regarding worker safety. @ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/news-events/news-press-releases/fsis-highlights-2022-accomplishments-protecting-public-health

The FDA reported that Fresh Ideation Food Group LLC of Baltimore, MD recalled products sold from January 24, 2023, through January 30, 2023, because the products could potentially be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Products have been distributed in Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia. Recalled Products were sold in retail locations, vending machines, and during travel with transportation providers. The products include sandwiches, salads, snacks, yogurt, wraps, and related products. All recalled products have a Fresh Creative Cuisine label and/or identifier on the bottom with the Fresh Creative Cuisine name and a fresh through or sell through date ranging from January 31, 2023, to February 6, 2023. The recall was initiated after the company’s environmental samples tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.            No illnesses have been reported to date. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/fresh-ideation-food-group-llc-recalls-sandwiches-and-other-products-because-possible-health-risk

The Department of Justice announced that food and ingredient manufacturer Kerry Inc. pleaded guilty to a charge that it manufactured cereal under insanitary conditions at a facility in Gridley, Illinois, linked to a Salmonella outbreak in 2018. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Kerry pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of distributing adulterated cereal marketed as Kellogg’s Honey Smacks. The company also agreed to pay a criminal fine and forfeiture totaling $19.228 million. If the court accepts the guilty plea, the $19.228 million fine and forfeiture will constitute the largest-ever criminal penalty following a criminal conviction in a food safety case. From June 2016 to June 2018, routine environmental tests detected Salmonella in the plant approximately 81 times, including at least one positive Salmonella sample each month. According to the plea agreement, employees at the Gridley facility routinely failed to implement corrective and preventative actions to address positive Salmonella tests. The CDC identified more than 130 cases of salmonellosis linked to the outbreak. In a related case, Ravi K. Chermala, Kerry’s Director of Quality Assurance until September 2018, previously pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of causing the introduction of adulterated food into interstate commerce. Chermala is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 16.@ https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/kerry-inc-pleads-guilty-and-agrees-pay-19228-million-connection-insanitary-plant-conditions