Articles by Melissa Lind

61. Are Listeria Infections On The Rise? 3/23/2015

    The Food Safety Lawyer, Bill Marler, has expressed concerns about what he sees as an increasing trend in Listeria outbreaks in food.

62. Hamburg Addresses Questions Regarding FDA's Funding Request 3/20/2015

    The FDA budget proposal for fiscal year 2016 asks for $109.5 million for implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The total budget request amounts to $4.9 billion and represents a near 10 percent increase over the previous year.

63. Combatting Seafood Fraud: Presidential Task Force Releases Final Action Plan 3/20/2015

    The final action plan from Presidential Task Force on Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing and Seafood Fraud has been released. The plan outlines steps to be taken by federal agencies which will implement recommendations made by the task force in December 2014.

64. FSMA Implementation: What's In Store For Private-Label Foods? 3/19/2015

    Full implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act is rapidly approaching. While regulations covering domestic food makers in the private-label sector have already been implemented, significant sections regarding foreign-manufactured food have not been. Full FSMA implementation may level the playing field somewhat for domestic food processors.

65. 4 Tips To Reduce Metal Detector False Rejects 3/17/2015

    Metal-detection systems continue to be a mainstay in preventing foreign-body contamination in food production. The equipment has grown from simple magnetic and radio frequency technologies into much more complex machinery.

66. Food Traceability: Going Beyond The When And Where Of Supply Chains 3/17/2015

    A June 2014 publication from the United Nations regarding traceability of food goes beyond the where and when of food production. It supplements this idea by digging further to include concerns about the ability to verify the reliability of claims in the areas of human rights, labor, the environment, and anti-corruption.

67. Choosing The Best GFSI Certification And Preparing For Its Audit 3/16/2015

    The Global Food Safety Initiative standards certification is not required by regulatory agencies, but is highly valued in the food industry. Though GFSI’s motto is “One Certified, Accepted Everywhere,” one size does not fit all.

68. Raising The Bar To Prevent Undeclared Food Allergens 3/13/2015

    Undeclared allergens were responsible for nearly half of all food recalls last year.  This number represents a dramatic rise from 2009 when allergens were responsible for just over a third of food recalls.

69. What Does The Spike In FSIS FTP Violations Mean? 3/9/2015

    The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued six recall notices in January due to failure to present regarding 220,000 pounds of imported meat and poultry products. That number represents a significant increase in failure to present violations and likely also indicates the Food Safety and Inspection Service has stepped up enforcement of import documentation.

70. The Food Safety Paradox 3/5/2015

    New regulations, requirements, and standards have contributed to an increase in the number of food product recalls. On the surface, it appears that the food supply is rife with contamination; a single incident can become instant fodder for endless news reports. While major food-safety events, such as a recent Listeria outbreak from caramel apples that has now affected 11 states, are certainly a cause for concern, overall the food supply is, in fact, actually becoming more and more safe.