In the news

An interesting, objective, and informative description of Blockchain, what it can do and what it cannot do appeared in Food Online. The editor Sam Lewis asked questions about blockchain and got answers from Melanie Nuce, SVP Corporate Development at GS1 US. In it, Melanie emphasized that “It is impossible to implement blockchain if you still operate in data silos. the food industry understands the need to share product data with trading partners because of the traceback requirements to support product recalls outlined in FSMA several years ago.” Blockchain brought to the forefront the need to automate recordkeeping and improve traceability. One cannot implement blockchain without visibility of the supply chain. She said, “That data is consistent from supplier to manufacturer to distributor to retailer or operator, and can be executed without human intervention, which makes the GS1 System of Standards harmonious with blockchain.” Blockchain is sometimes overhyped, without sufficient emphasis on the decentralized data sharing with trading partners. Melanie stated” The reality is that blockchain is just one avenue for fulfilling a business goal — it cannot replace best business practices or be a company’s main innovation tool. For example, data managers are already well aware blockchain will do nothing to solve existing data quality issues. If trading partners don’t make a serious effort to clean up supply chain data and change their business processes for sustaining quality data, they just won’t get to a place where blockchain serves them.” “Specialized barcodes, called GS1-128 barcodes, already provide the ability to encode traceability information, such as expiration date, and the batch or lot that the product came from at the case level. Without this basic supply chain visibility, blockchain will not be effectively delivered.” @ https://www.foodonline.com/doc/blockchain-in-the-food-industry-separating-myth-from-reality-0001?vm_tId=2078905&user=16493dc3-7947-40a7-8829-11e4e6665f8c&utm_source=et_6212916&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=FOL-E_08-16-2018&utm_term=16493dc3-7947-40a7-8829-11e4e6665f8c&utm_content=Blockchain+In+The+Food+Industry%253a+Separating+Myth+From+Reality

Zakah Life, LLC of Ankeny, Iowa, is the latest company recalling Kratom products (Super Green Maeng Da Premium Kratom powder, Powerful Red Vein Bali Premium Kratom powder, Super Green Maeng Da Premium Kratom capsules, and Powerful Red Vein Bali Premium Kratom capsules) with expiration dates prior to 01/01/2023 because they have the potential of being contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled Kratom products were distributed nationwide in retail stores and through mail orders. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem. The presence of Salmonella was discovered during laboratory testing of some packages of Super Green Maeng Da Kratom powder, Red Powder Vein Bali Kratom powder, Super Green Maeng Da Premium Kratom capsules, and Powerful Red Vein Bali Premium Kratom capsules. Production of the product has been suspended while the FDA and the company continue their investigation as to the source of the problem. @ https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm617098.htm?utm_campaign=Zakah%20Life%20Recalls%20Kratom%20Because%20Of%20Possible%20Health%20Risk&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced the recall of Pinty’s Delicious Foods Inc.’s oven roasted chicken breast strips (sold refrigerated) due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The products were sold In B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba following tests by the CFIA. The recalled cutlets were from two batches with best-before dates of Aug. 9 and Aug. 15, tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes by CFIA. CFIA warns that the food may not look or smell spoiled but can still lead to sickness. There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products. @ https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2018/08/10/pintys-chicken-strips-recalled-due-to-possible-listeria-contamination.html

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) teamed with USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to survey produce growers about their food safety practices before the implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act’s (FSMA) Produce Rule (PR). The results showed that many producers that would be covered by the PR already had some food safety practices in place. Larger growers had adopted food safety practices at higher rates than smaller growers. Because growers with higher sales generally operated more produce acres, the share of acres on which food safety practices were in-place far exceeded the share of growers who implemented food safety practices. Most farms covered by the PR will need to make some changes to meet the standards. Smaller farms will need to make more changes than larger farms. Even growers who engaged in a particular food safety practice may not have performed it to the specifications of the PR. Audited growers spent on average about 2 to 10 times more on measured costs than growers without audits, depending on their PR and size coverage category. @ https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/89721/eib-194.pdf?v=43313