Industry Officials Now Required to Use
Reportable Food Registry to Alert FDA
As of September, food industry officials are now required to use the Reportable Food Registry (RFR) to alert the FDA when they find their products might sicken or kill consumers. The requirement, a result of legislation, took effect with the launch of the electronic RFR portal. Facilities that manufacture, process or hold food for consumption in the United States now must tell the FDA within 24 hours if they find a reasonable probability that an article of food will cause severe health problems or death to a person or an animal.
The reporting requirement applies to all foods and animal feed regulated by the FDA, except infant formula and dietary supplements, which are covered by other regulatory requirements. Some reasons a food may be reportable include bacterial contamination, allergen mislabeling or elevated levels of certain chemical components.
The requirements apply to any person who has to submit registration information to the FDA for a food facility that manufactures, processes, packs, or holds food for human or animal consumption in the United States.
A responsible party:
• must investigate the cause of the adulteration if the adulteration of food may have originated with the responsible party.
• must submit initial information, followed by supplemental reports.
• must work with the FDA authorities to follow up as needed.
• is not required to report the problem if found and corrected (or product is destroyed) before the food was shipped.
Final guidance on the RFR is available to assist the food industry in complying with the requirements. For more information, visit: http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/FoodSafetyPrograms/RFR/default.htm.
*****
HHS, USDA Unveil New
Food Safety Consumer Web Site
Health and Human Services (HHS) and the USDA have unveiled a new Web site designed to help consumers get the latest information on food safety and recalls in one place.
The site, www.foodsafety.gov, features information from all agencies across the federal government that deal with critical food and food safety information, including preventive tips about how to handle food safety, alerts on life-saving food recalls, and the latest news.
Consumers can sign up to receive e-mail and RSS alerts on recalled or potentially unsafe food and hear from top scientific experts across the government on food safety.
*****
Draft Guidance Issued On Certain Beer Labeling
The FDA has issued draft guidance to manufacturers on the labeling of non-malted beers that contain substitutes for malted barley, such as sorghum, rice or wheat, or are made without hops. Because these beer products are not considered to be malted beverages, they fall under FDA rather than the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. The guidance advises industry on how to label beers that are subject to the FDA’s labeling laws. To view this Constituent Update with links to the guidance document, go to: http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ConstituentUpdates/ucm179225.htm.
*****
Calendar
AIB is holding a variety of educational seminars throughout North America. To learn more about any of the seminars listed below, visit www.aibonline.org. All dates are subject to change without notice.
Nov. 10-12
Food Defense Coordinator, Miami Beach, Fla.
Nov. 17-18
Food Plant GMP/Sanitation Workshop, Ontario, Calif.
Nov. 19-20
HACCP Workshop, Ontario, Calif.
Dec. 1-2
Sustainability Essentials:
Principles & Practices, Washington, D.C.
Dec. 8-10
An Integrated Quality System for the Food Industry, San Jose, Calif.
Jan. 25-28
Food Safety and Sanitation for Food Plants, Manhattan, Kan.
Jan. 26-28
An Integrated Quality System for the Food Industry, Phoenix, Ariz.
Feb. 9-10
Food Plant GMP/Sanitation Workshop, San Diego, Calif.
Feb. 11-12
HACCP Workshop, San Diego, Calif.
Feb. 16-17
Principles of Inspecting and Auditing Food Plants, Birmingham, Ala.
Feb. 16-18
Food Defense Coordinator, Seattle, Wash.
Feb. 22-23
Principles of Warehouse Sanitation, Manhattan, Kan.
March 2-3
Advanced HACCP Workshop, Phoenix, Ariz.
March 2-4
Food Defense Coordinator, Tampa, Fla.
March 9-10
Food Plant GMP/Sanitation Workshop, Atlanta, Ga.
March 11-12
HACCP Workshop,
Atlanta, Ga.