The USDA and FDA have announced that they will be aligning the Harmonized Good Agricultural Practices Audit Program (USDA H-GAP) with the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule.

The FDA has announced that it is extending the compliance date for certain uses of partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs).

Two recent studies show there is work to be done to make USDA and FDA research and rules more definitive, conclusive and final.

Food Engineering features some thoughts on the recent Romaine lettuce contamination by Aaron Cohen, co-founder of CoInspect and adjunct professor at New York University where he teaches the History of Internet Media. FE conducted an exclusive, one-on-one interview with Cohen, immediately following Cohen’s text.

The Golden International Corporation of Renton, WA is issuing a public safety notice for 405 cartons of stolen frozen tilapia, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella after it was stolen and possibly sold.

Seabear Company of Anacortes, Washington is voluntarily recalling 1,225 units of Cold Smoked Wild Coho Salmon Lox, produced under the Gerard & Dominique Seafoods brand, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum.

Greenbelt Greenhouse LTD of British Columbia, Canada is recalling all Greenbelt Microgreen products because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

FDA has not determined where in the supply chain the contamination occurred, and it is not the cause of the whole E.coli outbreak.

FDA updated its 2013 risk profile on pathogens and filth in spices with data demonstrating the prevalence of Salmonella in nine out of 11 types of retail spices in the US was significantly lower than that for shipments of spice at import.