FDA
Dozens sickened by eating raw dough, FDA says
Dozens of people across the country have become ill by eating raw dough contaminated with a strain of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, the FDA said. The doughs had been made with General Mills flour produced in a Kansas City, Missouri, facility.
Senate sets test vote on GMO disclosure bill for Wednesday
The Senate will vote on Wednesday on whether to limit debate on the Roberts-Stabenow GMO disclosure bill, a key test of support for pre-empting state GMO food-labeling laws and mandating nationwide disclosure of GMO ingredients in food. If the vote is successful, the Senate could move quickly to pass the bill.
Deadline looms for phase-out of over-the-counter livestock drugs
As the deadline for an FDA plan to shift sales of medically-important antibiotics in the livestock industry from over-the-counter to prescription draws near, there are concerns among retailers and feed-industry officials that the transition may not go smoothly, says FeedNavigator.
Peanut residue in flour spurs snack recalls
Foodmakers pulled cookies, energy bars and pretzels from grocery shelves in a food recall prompted by the discovery of peanut residue in Grain Craft flour, the largest independent wheat miller in the U.S.
FDA has been slow to announce food recalls, says OIG
In two recent cases, the FDA waited months before forcing the recall of contaminated food, said Inspector General Daniel Levinson, calling for "immediate attention" to the shortcoming. "Consumers remained at risk of illness or death for several weeks after FDA knew of potentially hazardous food," Levinson wrote to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf in a rare "early alert" warning.
Foodmakers say ‘not so fast’ to FDA call for less salt in food
The FDA called on foodmakers and restaurateurs to reduce sharply the amount of salt in their products to help Americans avoid high blood pressure and the risk of chronic illness. The food industry balked, saying it already has low-salt products on sale and that the science on healthy salt levels was not as clear as the government says.
Canada OKs GE salmon, no label required
The genetically engineered AquAdvantage salmon is cleared for sale as food in Canada, the first food animal approved for the commercial market, said Canadian health officials. The salmon, which also was the first GE animal approved by U.S. regulators, will not be required to carry a label in stores to say it was genetically modified, said the CBC.
FDA requires drugmakers to disclose details on livestock antibiotic sales
As part of a government-wide campaign to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics in treating disease in humans, drugmakers will have to estimate sales of antimicrobials for use in the major species of food animals, such as cattle, hogs, chickens and poultry. FDA said the industry estimates "will complement the data collection plan were are developing to obtain additional on-farm use and (bacterial) resistance data."
FDA starts countdown to May 2017 calorie-count menu mandate
FDA approves folic acid in corn masa flour
Corn masa flour is a common part of Latin American foods, used in making tortillas, tamales, taco shells, corn chips and tortilla chips. Now, foodmakers have FDA approval to fortify masa with folic acid,
House panel would delay menu labels to late 2017, or beyond
The House Appropriations subcommittee that oversees USDA and FDA is writing its own guarantee of a gradual transition to calorie counts on menus a restaurants, carry-outs, stores and fast-food stands. It included a rider, Section 735, in its USDA-FDA funding bill saying enforcement cannot occur until a year after Dec. 1, 2016, or a year after the FDA issues the final rule on menu labels.
FDA wants limit for inorganic arsenic in rice cereal
Rice cereal is a common "starter" food for infants, but rice has higher levels of inorganic arsenic, a potential health risk, than other grains.
FDA approval of GE salmon is challenged in court
Environmental and consumer groups made good on their pledge, issued last Nov. 19, to challenge in court the FDA's approval of the sale and consumption of the genetically engineered salmon developed by AquaBounty Technologies.
Seafood, vegetables and fruit lead list of rejected food imports
A USDA analysis of FDA food inspections over a 15-year period found that seafood, vegetables and fruits are rejected more than anything else.
Senate appropriator Moran may see challenge in Kansas
A Tea Party group in Kansas said it may encourage Milton Wolf to run in the Republican primary on Aug. 2 against first-term Sen. Jerry Moran, the chairman of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that oversees USDA and FDA funding.
To avoid toxic acrylamide, don’t burn the fries
"Don't burn those french fries. And keep those cookies light," said Agri-Pulse in summarizing FDA's guidance to foodmakers to reduce levels of acrylamide, a possible carcinogen.
Senate confirms Califf as FDA commissioner
Robert Califf, a prominent medical researcher before joining FDA as a deputy commissioner in January 2015, now holds the top job at the agency. The Senate voted 89-4 to confirm the nomination made last September by President Obama.
Taylor to leave FDA after five years at deputy commissioner
The top FDA official involved in stricter controls on antibiotics in livestock and implementation of the 2011 Food Safety Modernization law, Michael Taylor, will leave the agency on June 1 after more than five years as deputy commissioner.
Trump picks Kennedy, vaccine skeptic, for health secretary
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will head the Department of Health and Human Services in the new administration, said President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday. “For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to public health,” said Trump in announcing the nomination.