Food Safety

FSIS implements Public Health Criterion for Food Safety Assessments

The criteria will be implemented in the May 2013 scheduling cycle.

Shane O'Halloran

May 8, 2013

The criteria will be implemented in the May 2013 scheduling cycle.

FSMA

FDA releases Food Defense Plan Builder

New software integrates existing tools and resources.

May 2, 2013

Owners and operators of food facilities can design custom food defense plans in accordance with FSMA regulations.

TECH FLASH

The many sides of sanitation: What manufacturers should consider when enhancing sanitation measures

New FSMA provisions are expected to place even more stringent regulations on sanitation practices.

Shane O'Halloran

April 29, 2013

Tom Egan of PMMI discusses equipment sanitation as a component of advancing food safety standards.

TECH FLASH

Informational silos stand in the way of strong food safety management systems

Manufacturers benefit from engaging all four key elements of an effective system.

April 28, 2013

Elements include HACCP plans, manufacturing operations management, instant traceability and recall management and single-source ERP.

TECH FLASH

Largest ever food allergy study kicks off

Researchers will establish standard management practices and tools for food manufacturers.

April 28, 2013

A team at the University of Manchester will head up the research.

TECH FLASH

Food safety initiatives survey reveals room for improvement

Lack of employee understanding and incomplete records were the largest barriers to effective training.

Shane O'Halloran

April 28, 2013

Just two-thirds of respondents reported satisfaction with current initiatives.

FSIS issues statement on when meat/poultry Salmonella testing is unnecessary

Most, but not all, raw meat and poultry products are subject to Salmonella testing.

Shane O'Halloran

April 18, 2013

A narrow set of circumstances exists where sampling is not necessary.

Plant Sanitation

Top five ways to get your plant sanitation FSMA-ready

Although the final FSMA preventive controls and cGMP provisions may be more than a year away, now is the time to develop and apply requisite science-based food safety plans.

Julie Larson Bricher

April 9, 2013

On January 4, 2013, two years after the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law, FDA issued its proposed Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls (HARPC) regulations.

Food Safety

Metal detection: Quality or safety?

Make sure the equipment has been properly set up and validated, and these activities have been fully documented.

Richard F. Stier

April 9, 2013

Metal detection is a fact of life in the food processing industry. Most processors, whether they process snacks, meats, grains or liquids, have either metal detectors or X-ray machines to detect and control metal contamination.

Editor's Note