Jan-San Year in Review: Legislative Hurdles

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The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced two months ago that it was launching a stronger effort to reduce Salmonella illnesses associated with poultry products. “We’re doing this because for 20 years there has been a decrease in production contamination, without a corresponding decrease in illnesses,” said Sandra Eskin,… read more

COVID’s Impact on Processed Meat, Prepared Foods Safety

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CHICAGO – Buffets shuttered. Salad bars got covered. Deli-counter workers were reassigned jobs in the supermarket until protocol was in place to safely slice and scoop fresh foods portioned for customers’ in-person orders. These are some of the changes that occurred at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure food safety. Further, ingredient technology… read more

Ensuring Food Safety when Cleaning Conveyors

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Production room sanitation is not as simple as pulling out a water hose. Food safety requires well-thought-out procedures that are understood and followed by the cleaning team. “In the food production environment, we often see dry cleaning with compressed air, sweeping up heavy debris, and then completing a full wet clean with sanitizers and rinse,”… read more

McDonald’s is Testing a New System of Reusable, Returnable Coffee Cups

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If you visit a McDonald’s in the U.K. early next year, you might notice a new option if you get a hot drink like coffee or hot chocolate: Instead of a typical disposable cup, you’ll have the choice to walk away with a reusable plastic cup and lid that you can later put in a… read more

Sanitizing: Suppliers and Their Customers Adapt to the New Normal

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Food production facilities are already well versed in battling food-borne pathogens and keeping the US food supply safe. But COVID-19 has led to an increased emphasis on employee health and safety that for many companies is unprecedented, said Bob Forner, marketing director of Cockeysville, Md.-based Sterilex. “We’ve seen food manufacturers implementing intensified disinfection protocols in employee common areas and workstations, as… read more

FDA Uncovers Mislabeled CBD Products

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A preliminary study by the US Food and Drug Administration found many products containing cannabidiol (CBD) are mislabeled, containing either significantly more or less CBD than advertised. Nearly a quarter of food products tested by the agency did not meet their label claims, according to a report sent to the House Appropriations Committee obtained by Hemp Industry… read more

FDA Addresses Food Safety During and After Pandemic

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Government and industry are working to ensure the safety of the US food supply remains strong during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic even as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been forced to curtail certain inspections and other activities for the duration, Frank Yiannas, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for food policy and response, asserted in… read more

Food Safety Audits During COVID-19

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The coronavirus is fundamentally changing the way the food industry thinks about all kinds of processes and procedures — including, in many cases, food safety outbreaks. The outbreak is “uncharted territory for everyone,” said Candy Lucas, senior director of food safety, South division, for Kieler, Wis.-based PSSI. “It’s hard to say how this will impact… read more

Libbey, Glass Tableware Maker, Files for Bankruptcy

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Libbey, a glass tableware maker, joined the parade of retail-related companies filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy amid the coronavirus pandemic. “While we entered 2020 with positive momentum from our strong finish in 2019, the dramatic and prolonged impact of Covid-19 on the demand for our products and on our business is truly unprecedented in Libbey’s… read more