Food Chemical News articles from May 2007

Food Chemical News archives from May 2007

New data groups formed by FSIS; consumer advocates criticize timing.(USDA)
May 7, 2007... FSIS announced last week that it has formed two new internal entities to help it sort through all the data it generates. In its latest contribution to government acronyms, FSIS has created the Data Analysis and Integration Group, a.k.a. DAIG,...

FDA selects Acheson to be new "food safety czar".(FDA)
May 7, 2007... FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach last week appointed David Acheson to the newly created position of Assistant Commissioner for Food Protection--a "food safety czar," so to speak. Acheson currently serves as chief medical officer and...

Beltway notebook.
May 7, 2007... HOLD THE CHICKEN: In the midst of the ever-growing story about melamine-tainted pet food and revelations of poor product standards in China (see story, Page 16), Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) has written a letter to Agriculture Secretary Mike...

USDA promises ANPR on bioengineered animals.(BIOTECHNOLOGY)
May 7, 2007... USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service last week promised an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on regulation of genetically engineered animals in its Semi-Annual Regulatory Agenda in the April 30 Federal Register. The ANPR...

Judge orders permanent injunction on planting RR alfalfa.(BIOTECHNOLOGY)
May 7, 2007... U.S. Judge Charles Breyer of the Northern District of California on May 3 called on USDA to ban any further planting of Roundup Ready alfalfa until the department conducts a complete Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on Monsanto's transgenic...

Milk producers oppose any labeling in response to cloning.(BIOTECHNOLOGY)
May 7, 2007... The National Milk Producers Federation has recorded its opposition to any form of labeling--positive or negative--in response to FDA's proposal last December to allow meat and milk from cloned animals or their offspring into the food supply...

Codex panel to continue work on biotech labeling.(BIOTECHNOLOGY)
May 7, 2007... To the chagrin of the United States and its allies, the Codex Committee on Food Labeling decided to continue work on draft guidance for labeling bioengineered foods when the CCFL met last week in Ottawa, Canada. The U.S. delegation had...

Dow AgroSciences acquires Austrian corn breeding program.(BIOTECHNOLOGY)
May 7, 2007... Dow AgroSciences LLC announced last week that it has acquired assets of the Austrian affiliate of Maize Technologies International (MTI), an Austrian based corn seed company, including its breeding programs, germplasm, and related technology,...

Animal cloning advocates and opponents duel in the media.(BIOTECHNOLOGY)
May 7, 2007... Advocates and opponents of food from cloned animals duked it out with dueling press releases as FDA's May 3 comment deadline on the issue loomed last week (see also story on Page 6). The Federation of Animal Science Societies reported that...

Senate ag leaders ask GAO to study biotech regulation.(BIOTECHNOLOGY)
May 7, 2007... Senate Agriculture Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and ranking Republican member Saxby Chambliss (Ga.) have asked the Government Accountability Office to study USDA's regulation of agricultural biotechnology in light of recent rice contamination...

Unauthorized transgenic corn found in the Netherlands.
May 7, 2007... Herculex RW59122, a transgenic corn variety from Pioneer Dow Agrosciences unauthorized in Europe, has been found in a shipment from the United States to Ireland and the Netherlands. The illegal corn was found not by the control authorities...

Korea's acceptance of Creekstone beef draws praise.(BSE)
May 7, 2007... South Korea's acceptance of a 6.4-ton shipment of beef from Kansas-based Creekstone Farms on April 27 drew praise from U.S. government and industry officials and prompted other companies to say they would be following suit. Seoul announced...

Arizona governor signs anti-NAIS legislation.
May 7, 2007... Arizona governor Janet Napolitano (D) last week signed legislation (SB 1428) that would prohibit forced participation in USDA's National Animal Identification System. Approved by the Arizona legislature on April 26, the bill as introduced...

Former FDA commissioners decry lack of resources.(FDA)
May 7, 2007... Three former FDA commissioners raised alarms over the agency's lack of resources and shrinking staff levels at a hearing of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held May 1. "Simply put, our food safety system in this...

Senators add food safety amendment to PDUFA legislation.(FDA)
May 7, 2007... A funny thing happened to the FDA Revitalization Act (S.1082) on its way through the Senate last week: it ended up containing significant new provisions related to food safety. During floor debate on S1082, which reauthorizes the...

FDA releases semiannual regulatory agenda.(FDA)
May 7, 2007... FDA last week issued a comprehensive listing of its planned regulatory activities as a part of the Department of Health and Human Service's Semiannual Regulatory Agenda. The agenda details the agency's timetable on several key topics including...

FDA says meat from melamine-fed animals no threat to humans.(INTERAGENCY)
May 7, 2007... Meat from animals given melamine-tainted feed has entered the human food supply, but it does not represent a significant danger to consumers, newly appointed FDA Assistant Commissioner for Food Protection David Acheson said May 3. Acheson...

Raymond told of melamine-fed hogs during visit to plant.
May 7, 2007... About 200 hogs that had been fed melamine-laced feed were slaughtered at a Tyson Foods, Inc. plant in Madison, Nebraska, Under Secretary for Food Safety Richard Raymond confirmed to Food Chemical News on April 30. The hogs had been fed at...

USDA warns against food counterfeiters in China.(INTERNATIONAL)
May 7, 2007... The rapid growth of foreign food companies operating in China has resulted in a large number of counterfeit products, according to USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service. In a report published last month, FAS estimated that 20-30% of all...

EU Parliament panel to debate flavor and enzyme proposals.(INTERNATIONAL)
May 7, 2007... The European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy says a proposed regulation on enzymes should clarify that it covers only enzymes added to food to perform a technical function and not enzymes intended for human consumption...

European Commission accused of undermining food hygiene.(INTERNATIONAL)
May 7, 2007... Industry, consumer advocates and some EU member-states fear that a draft European Commission proposal exempting small food businesses from key food hygiene requirements would undermine consumer protection. Under its Better Regulation...

CFIA steps up border inspections in wake of pet food recall.(INTERNATIONAL)
May 7, 2007... The contaminated pet food episode has led the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to step up border inspections of imported corn, rice, soy and wheat gluten as well as other vegetable protein concentrates from China (see also story, page 16). ...

Voluntary price ceiling diffuses Mexico's tortilla crisis.(INTERNATIONAL)
May 7, 2007... Mexico's leading food retail association and President Felipe Calderon's administration have agreed on a voluntary price ceiling for corn tortillas that both parties believe will diffuse a potentially explosive consumer revolt. During the...

USDA promises pasture access proposal next month.(LABELING)
May 7, 2007... USDA's National Organic Program plans to propose access to pasture rules for livestock next month with final action in September, according to the department's Semi-Annual Regulatory Agenda published in the April 30 Federal Register. ...

Peterson urged to implement COOL this fall.(LABELING)
May 7, 2007... Representatives of R-CALF USA last week delivered a letter to House Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) urging his assistance in implementing mandatory country-of-origin labeling by Sept. 30. Peterson has said COOL won't happen...

State legislation.
May 7, 2007... Each week FCN brings you a listing of the latest state-level legislation relating to food safety, labeling, biotechnology and other related topics. States are listed alphabetically. Status of each bill is current as of press time. New York...

Chinese poultry rule to be proposed by USDA.(USDA)
May 7, 2007... Bye-bye bacon, hello Chinese poultry. The USDA has withdrawn a rule that would have established an upper limit for nitrites in massaged bacon, according to the agency's latest semiannual regulatory agenda published in the April 30 Federal...

FDA noted the following foods and cosmetics Class I recall in its May 2 enforcement report.(ENFORCEMENT REPORT)
May 7, 2007... Conagra Foods Inc., Omaha, Neb., recalled 326,000 lbs. of the following peanut butter spreads because they may be contaminated with Salmonella: * Peter Pan[TM] brand Peanut Butter, Creamy * Great Value[TM] brand Creamy Peanut Butter...

Recall classifications.
May 7, 2007... A Class I recall is one in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death. A Class II recall is one in which there may be temporary or medically...

Virginia seafood processing facility for HACCP, GMP violations.(WARNING LETTERS)
May 7, 2007... FDA's Baltimore District issued a warning March 23 to Gloucester Seafood, Inc., Maryus, Va., concerning serious violations of federal seafood processing and good manufacturing practice regulations. The agency said its inspection revealed...

New York facility for labeling violations.(WARNING LETTERS)
May 7, 2007... FDA's New York District issued a warning March 30 to Everything Spelt Co., Inc., Suffern, N.Y., concerning violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The agency reviewed labels for the firm's Spelt Challah Medium, Spelt Sandwich...

Semiannual regulatory agenda issued.(FDA)
May 7, 2007... In the April 30 Federal Register (72 FR 22489), the Department of Health and Human Services issued the agency's semiannual regulatory agenda. Federal regulations require the semi-annual publication that outlines the rulemaking actions under...

Temporary marketing permits issued for canned salmon, bottled water.(FDA)
May 7, 2007... April 27 (72 FR 21030), FDA issued a notice announcing that a temporary permit has been issued to Peter Pan Seafoods, Inc., Seattle, Wash., to test market canned Pacific salmon that deviates from the U.S. standard of identify for canned Pacific...

Animal drug approval, correction and sponsor changes issued.(FDA)
May 7, 2007... May 2 (72 FR 24185), FDA issued a final rule amending [section]520.905c to correct an inadvertent error in the conditions of use of fenbendazole paste in horses and cattle. The original final rule was issued March 9 (see FCN, March 19, Page...

Semiannual regulatory agenda issued.(USDA)
May 7, 2007... April 30 (72 FR 22243), USDA issued the agency's semiannual regulatory agenda. Federal regulations require the semi-annual publication describing the rulemaking actions under development by agencies within USDA including: the Agricultural...

Extensions sought for technology, poultry import information collections.(USDA)
May 7, 2007... May 2 (72 FR 24266), USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a notice announcing the agency's intent to request an extension of approval for an information collection, "Procedures for the Notification of New Technology." FSIS has...

Semiannual regulatory agenda issued.(EPA)
May 7, 2007... April 30 (72 FR 23155), EPA issued the agency's semiannual regulatory agenda. The agency's semiannual update of actions under development includes: * regulations and major policies currently under development * reviews of existing...

Petitions filed to establish exemptions and tolerances for numerous pesticides.(EPA)
May 7, 2007... April 30 (72 FR 21261), EPA issued a notice announcing the filing of the following pesticide petitions: * Docket No. EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-0223: Keller and Heckman LLP, Washington, D.C., proposing to establish an exemption from the requirement...

Tolerance expression for glyphosate amended.(EPA)
May 7, 2007... May 2 (72 FR 24188), EPA issued a final rule amending [section]180.364 by amending the tolerance expression for glyphosate to include the dimethylamine (DMA) salt of glyphosate. EPA announced Feb. 7 that Dow AgroSciences, LLC, Indianapolis,...

Proposal issued to revoke, modify and establish tolerances for numerous pesticides.(EPA)
May 7, 2007... May 2 (72 FR 24198), EPA issued a proposal to revise, revoke, establish and/or modify tolerances for numerous pesticides. Specifically, the proposal calls for the following actions: * chloroneb, [section]180.1134: (1) revise tolerance...

Meeting scheduled to address antimicrobial resistance.(CDC)
May 7, 2007... April 30 (72 FR 21265), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a notice announcing that a meeting has been scheduled for June 27 at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda, Md. The purpose of the meeting is to present the annual report of...

Officials defend federal response to melamine contamination.(INTERAGENCY)
May 14, 2007... Newly appointed FDA Assistant Commissioner for Food Protection David Acheson and FSIS Assistant Administrator Kenneth Petersen vigorously defended the federal response to the discovery of melamine in animal feed at a hearing of the House...

Agricultural biotechnology seen outstripping medical biotech.(BIOTECHNOLOGY)
May 14, 2007... "One day ag biotech will become bigger than medical biotech," venture capitalist Sano Shimoda, president of BioScience Securities, Inc., told the Biotechnology Industry Organization's annual convention in Boston last week. "I think we're...

Beltway notebook.
May 14, 2007... GMPs FINALIZED: After 12 years and countless twists and turns, the dietary supplement industry is at last going to see a good manufacturing practices (GMPs) final rule published in the Federal Register. "Finally!" said Sen. Orrin Hatch...

Europe seen blocking biotech progress in Third World.(BIOTECHNOLOGY)
May 14, 2007... Artificial trade barriers erected in response to anti-biotech groups in Europe are hindering adoption of transgenic crops in Africa, Jocelyn Webster, executive director of AfricaBio, told the Biotechnology Industry Organization's annual...

BIO panelists see no conflict between food and fuel.(BIOTECHNOLOGY)(Discussion)
May 14, 2007... Speakers at a session on "Having it all: producing enough grain for both food and fuel" found no conflict between the two uses at the Biotechnology Industry Organization's annual convention last week in Boston. Introducing the session,...

Dairy processors warn against lifting cloned milk moratorium.(BIOTECHNOLOGY)
May 14, 2007... The International Dairy Foods Association has warned FDA against lifting the current moratorium on sale of milk from cloned animals and their progeny until the agency is confident of consumer acceptance. In comments submitted before the May...

European Commission accused of ignoring MON 863 concerns.(BIOTECHNOLOGY)
May 14, 2007... Hiltrud Breyer, a German Green member of the European Parliament, last week accused the European Commission of negligence for allowing Monsanto's MON 863 transgenic corn variety to remain on the market despite doubts raised by a recently...

NGFA reissues sample contracts in response to Agrisure RW.(BIOTECHNOLOGY)(National Grain and Feed Association)
May 14, 2007... The National Grain and Feed Association last week reissued a series of sample grain-purchase contract clauses for use by grain handlers, processors and exporters in addressing Syngenta's decision to commercialize Agrisure RW corn in the absence...

USDA says pilot projects show animal ID works.(BSE)
May 14, 2007... USDA says a final report on a variety of animal identification pilot projects conducted throughout 2004 demonstrate that its National Animal Identification System will "work well and greatly benefit America's producers." "These concrete...

CFIA: latest BSE case shouldn't disrupt Canadian recovery.(BSE)
May 14, 2007... The discovery of a BSE-infected cow in British Columbia in early May shouldn't throw off the reopening of foreign markets to Canadian beef, says Brian Evans, chief veterinarian with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The CFIA has always...

AHPA asks for withdrawal of draft CAM guidance.(DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS)
May 14, 2007... The American Herbal Products Association is asking FDA to withdraw a draft guidance for industry that suggests the agency may be planning more regulatory scrutiny of food and dietary supplements used in complementary and alternative medicine...

Senate passes FDA revitalization act.(FDA)
May 14, 2007... The Senate last week passed the FDA Revitalization Act (S.1082), legislation aimed at shoring up the agency's capabilities for dealing with prescription drugs and medical devices that contained more than a few food safety amendments by the time...

Fish feed also contaminated with melamine, feds say.(INTERAGENCY)
May 14, 2007... Federal agencies examining the contamination of pet and animal feed with the toxin melamine have added new wrinkles to the already complex investigation, announcing that Canadian fish meal used in the United States was also contaminated. ...

DeLauro repeats call for single food safety agency.(INTERAGENCY)
May 14, 2007... Outspoken FDA critic Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) is once again arguing that the solution to a "broken" federal food safety net lies in a single unified food agency. The federal oversight net, with various functions scattered over 15...

Agencies: meat from melamine-fed animals no risk to humans.
May 14, 2007... A five-agency risk assessment shows meat from animals given melamine-tainted feed poses "very low risk to human health," the agencies said May 7. "In the most extreme risk assessment scenario, when scientists assumed that all the solid...

China agrees to work towards stronger food safety measures.
May 14, 2007... A meeting between Sen. Dick Durbin (D-III.), Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), FDA commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach and Chinese ambassador Zhou Wenzhong bore food safety fruit May 9, as the Chinese government agreed to work towards more...

UK agency silent on link between additives and behavior.(INTERNATIONAL)(Clinical report)
May 14, 2007... The UK Food Standards Agency last week maintained silence on research it has funded suggesting a link between some food colors and preservatives and children's behavior. Discussed in a secret session of the Committee on Toxicity in March,...

EU Parliament panel says flavorings must benefit consumers.(INTERNATIONAL)
May 14, 2007... The European Parliament's Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee last week backed a rule that flavorings must provide a clear consumer benefit before they can be approved. In a vote that largely mirrored last month's committee...

FAO examines pros and cons of organics in Third World.(INTERNATIONAL)
May 14, 2007... The UN Food and Agriculture Organization examined the pros and cons of organic agriculture for developing countries at an international conference in Rome early this month. "Organic agriculture is no longer a phenomenon in developed...

Australian politicians endorse national organic standard plan.(INTERNATIONAL)
May 14, 2007... Australian politicians have endorsed a plan by Standards Australia to develop a voluntary national standard for organic and biodynamic produce and will consider whether to make it mandatory in future. Meeting in Brisbane, the Primary...

Australia, New Zealand delay regulatory action against trans fats.(INTERNATIONAL)
May 14, 2007... Australia and New Zealand have agreed not to regulate trans fatty acids for now but will review the decision in 2009. In doing so, Australia and New Zealand's Food Regulation Ministerial Council considered a report from their food regulator...

Wal-Mart promises more accurate organic food signage.(LABELING)
May 14, 2007... Wal-Mart said last week it has provided updated signage guidelines to employees in response to a complaint that some conventional food products were incorrectly displayed on store shelves as organic. The Wisconsin-based Cornucopia...

Dorgan introduces bill to build pressure for COOL.(LABELING)
May 14, 2007... In the wake of reports of another Canadian BSE case, Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) on May 3 introduced bipartisan legislation (S 1308) that would prevent USDA from expanding imports of Canadian cattle until the department implements mandatory...

State legislation.
May 14, 2007... Each week FCN brings you a listing of the latest state-level legislation relating to food safety, labeling, biotechnology and other related topics. States are listed alphabetically. Status of each bill is current as of press time. New York...

Food & Water Watch urges recall of meat from melamine-fed animals.(USDA)
May 14, 2007... The advocacy group Food & Water Watch says that FSIS should have initiated recalls of pork and poultry products from animals whose feed was adulterated with melamine. In a May 4 letter to FSIS Acting Administrator David Goldman, the group...

Members of the new FSIS data groups.(Food Safety and Inspection Service )(Brief article)
May 14, 2007... Better late than never, FSIS provided us with this list of members of its new data groups after our deadline for last week's story, which described how the agency created two new internal entities to help it analyze and integrate the data it...

Enforcement report.
May 14, 2007... FDA noted the following foods and cosmetics Class I recalls in its May 9 enforcement report: Quality Formulation Laboratories, Inc., Patterson, N.J., recalled 29,421 lbs. of egg protein (all flavors) in bulk because the product contained...

Recall classifications.
May 14, 2007... A Class I recall is one in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death. A Class II recall is one in which there may be temporary or medically...

California seafood processing facility for HACCP, GMP violations.(WARNING LETTERS)
May 14, 2007... FDA's San Francisco District issued a warning May 1 to Italfoods, Inc., South San Francisco, Calif., regarding serious violations of federal seafood processing and good manufacturing practice regulations. The agency's inspection found...

Vermont dairy operation for illegal animal drugs residues.(WARNING LETTERS)(Brief article)
May 14, 2007... FDA's New England District issued a warning May 1 to Young View Farm, West Glover, Vt., concerning violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The agency said a USDA/FSIS analysis of a dairy cow offered for slaughter as human...

Information collection on food industry GMPs submitted to OMB.(FDA)
May 14, 2007... In the May 8 Federal Register (72 FR 26132), FDA issued a notice announcing that a proposed collection of information, "FDA Survey of Current Good Manufacturing Practices in the Food Industry," has been submitted to the Office of Management and...

Animal drug approval, sponsor change issued.(FDA)
May 14, 2007... May 9 (72 FR 26289), FDA issued a final rule amending [section]529.1660 to reflect approval of an abbreviated new animal drug application filed by Cross Vetpharm Group Ltd., Dublin, Ireland. The ANADA provides for use of oxytetracycline...

Type C medicated feeds guidance document available.(FDA)(Brief article)
May 14, 2007... May 9 (72 FR 26399), FDA issued a notice announcing the availability of a guidance document for industry entitled "Analytical Methods Description for Type C Medicated Feeds." The document outlines the agency's recommendations for describing...

Deadline extended for comments on medicated feed facility inspection policy guide.(FDA)(Brief article)
May 14, 2007... May 8 (72 FR 26135), FDA issued a notice announcing that the deadline for comments on the agency's draft compliance guide on voluntary self-inspection of medicated feed manufacturing facilities has been extended to June 8. In a notice issued...

Comment deadline extended for Chile inspection proposal.(USDA)(Brief article)
May 14, 2007... May 10 (72 FR 26567), USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a notice providing additional information about the basis on which it had tentatively concluded that Chile's inspection system for poultry and poultry products was...

Extension sought for NAHMS information collection.(USDA)(National Animal Health Monitoring System: Small Enterprise Chicken Study)(Brief article)
May 14, 2007... May 9 (72 FR 26071), USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued a notice announcing the agency's intent to request an extension of approval of the information collection, "National Animal Health Monitoring System: Small Enterprise...

Swine, fruit/vegetable and NOP information collections submitted to OMB.(USDA)
May 14, 2007... May 10 (72 FR 26588), USDA/APHIS issued a notice announcing that a collection of information, "Interstate Movement of Swine Within a Production System," has been submitted to OMB for review and clearance. APHIS conducts disease prevention...

Petitions filed to establish and amend tolerances for numerous pesticides.(EPA)
May 14, 2007... May 9 (72 FR 26375), EPA issued a notice announcing the filing of the following pesticide petitions: * Docket No. EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-0189: The Interregional Research Project No. 4, Princeton, N.J., proposing to establish tolerances in...

Temporary exemption extended for Bacillus thuringiensis Vip3Aa19, exemption issued for foramsulfuron.(EPA)
May 14, 2007... May 9 (72 FR 26300), EPA issued a final rule amending [section]174.452 by extending until May 1, 2008, a temporary exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of the Bacillus thuringiensis Vip3Aa19 protein in cotton when...

Tolerances issued for clethodim and flufenacet; emergency time-limited tolerance issued for fenproximate.(EPA)
May 14, 2007... May 9 (72 FR 26310), EPA issued a final rule amending [section]180.458 by establishing tolerances for combined residues of the herbicide clethodium,...

Acheson defends FDA's role in securing produce safety.(FDA)
May 21, 2007... David Acheson, FDA's newly appointed assistant commissioner for food protection, found himself on the defensive during questioning by lawmakers on FDA's ability to ensure produce safety at a hearing of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on...

AMI sends cordial letter to FSIS about risk-based inspection.(USDA)(Food Safety and Inspection Service)(American Meat Institute)
May 21, 2007... Pleased that FSIS has responded to its earlier concerns about risk-based inspection, the American Meat Institute has sent a complimentary letter to Under Secretary for Food Safety Richard Raymond. In February, when FSIS first rolled out its...

Beltway notebook.
May 21, 2007... CUT TO THE CHASE: It's refreshing when a celebrity testifying on Capitol Hill actually pokes fun at themselves as an "expert" panelist. Such was the case when actor and comedian Chevy Chase appeared May 10 at a House Committee on Education and...