FDA has seen products containing cannabis or cannabis derivatives that are marketed as human drugs, dietary supplements, conventional foods, animal foods and drugs, and cosmetics. The public is looking to the FDA for clarity on what pathways are available to market such products lawfully under these authorities. Hemp is cannabis and cannabis derivatives with extremely low (no more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis) concentrations of the psychoactive compound delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the Controlled Substances Act, which means that it is no longer a controlled substance under federal law. The FDA had issued multiple warning letters to companies marketing cannabidiol (CBD) products with egregious and unfounded claims that are aimed at vulnerable populations. In May the FDA will hold a public hearing about the regulatory status of existing products and the lawful way products containing cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds can be marketed. For example, recently the FDA allowed Epidiolex – a purified form of CBD that the FDA approved in 2018 for use in the treatment of certain seizure disorders. The FDA identified certain safety risks, including the potential for liver injury. There are unresolved questions regarding the cumulative exposure to CBD if people access it across a broad range of consumer products, as well as questions regarding the intended functionality of CBD in such products. Additionally, there are open questions about whether some threshold level of CBD could be allowed in foods without undermining the drug approval process or diminishing commercial incentives for further clinical study of the relevant drug substance. FDA vows to take action against companies illegally selling these types of products. The FDA is announcing that it has issued warning letters, in collaboration with the Federal Trade Commission, to three companies (i) Advanced spine and plan LLC; (ii) Nutra Pure LLC; and (iii) PotNetwork Holdings Inc. in response to their making unsubstantiated claims The companies made unfounded, egregious claims about their products’ ability to limit, treat or cure cancer, neurodegenerative conditions, autoimmune diseases, opioid use disorder, and other serious diseases, without sufficient data. @ https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm635048.htm?utm_campaign=040219_Statement_FDA%20announces%20new%20steps%20on%20cannabis-related%20products&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua
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FDA is announcing a number of important new steps and actions to advance our consideration of a framework for the lawful marketing of appropriate cannabis and cannabis-derived products under our existing authorities.
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The Mercer County Health Department detected a sudden increase in E. coli O103 cases in Kentucky (between March 5-25, 2019), linked to “extensive fast food exposure.” Currently, the health agency has not announced what fast food restaurants are involved. Children and teenagers are implicated in many of these cases, but the outbreak does not appear to just be limited to children. The health department has confirmed 19 cases in central Kentucky. @ https://www.makefoodsafe.com/ecoli-o103-outbreak-kentucky-kids-fast-food/
Today, the Mercer County Health Department announced that there is an Ecoli O103 outbreak linked to “extensive fast food exposure.” At this time, the health agency has not yet announced what fast food restaurants those who were ill ate at…. read more
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The FDA sent a warning letter to D’Andrea Foods Inc. of East Bridgewater, MA claiming that the company had serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation. As a result, the refrigerated, ready-to-eat (rRTE) seafood salads and tuna salads are adulterated due to the unsanitary conditions of their preparation, production, and packaging. According to the FDA D’Andrea Foods does not have the mandatory HACCP plan. Production of rRTE seafood salads must have a plan to control the food safety hazard of pathogenic bacteria growth and toxin formation and scombrotoxin (histamine) formation. FDA demands that the company conduct a HACCP analysis, list the hazards and include appropriate critical control points, critical limits, monitoring procedures and frequencies, verification procedures and frequencies, and provide for a recordkeeping system. @ https://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/ucm634022.htm
Seafood HACCP/CGMP for Foods/Adulterated/Insanitary Conditions
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the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that Aurora Packing Company, Inc., from North Aurora, IL recalled approximately 4,838 pounds of beef heel and chuck tender products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The bulk beef products were produced and packed on Feb. 27, 2019. The recalled products are varying catch weight cardboard box case packages containing bulk pieces of “AURORA ANGUS BEEF BONELESS BEEF – CHUCK TENDER”. Varying catch weight cardboard box case packages containing bulk pieces of “BONELESS BEEF – HEEL MEAT”. Varying catch weight cardboard box case packages containing bulk pieces of “BONELESS BEEF – HEEL MEAT”. These items were shipped for institutional use in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. The problem was discovered during traceback activities following routine FSIS testing. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. @ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2019/recall-038-2019-release
Aurora Packing Company, Inc., a North Aurora, Ill. establishment, is recalling approximately 4,838 pounds of beef heel and chuck tender products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.