I.S.O. Introduces New Food Traceability Standard
The International Organization for Standardization (I.S.O.) has introduced I.S.O. 22005 for the traceability of food and feed. The new standard gives the principles and specifies the basic requirements for the design and implementation of a feed and food traceability system. It can be applied by an organization operating at any step in the feed and food chain.
The traceability system is a technical tool to assist organizations in meeting defined objectives and in determining the history or location of a product.
Recent food contamination events have emphasized the need for companies to develop comprehensive traceability systems that may be effective throughout the supply chain. Since hazards may appear at any stage in the farm-to-fork process, control and communication is essential.
FDA Aids States’ Food Safety Programs
The Food and Drug Administration has launched a national program to bring about the adoption of more uniform, equivalent, and high quality regulatory programs by state agencies responsible for regulating facilities that manufacture, process, pack or hold food under FDA’s jurisdiction.
The Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards are the result of five years of intensive cooperative effort by federal and state regulators. The standards define best practices for the critical elements of state regulatory programs designed to protect the public from foodborne illness and injury.
“This risk-based program represents a significant step in further integrating our food safety system,” said Margaret O’K. Glavin, FDA’s associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. “We realize it will be several years before it’s fully implemented, but we’re confident this program will bring great benefits to the public health.”
Currently, programmatic activities can vary from state to state and such variations can lead to inconsistencies in oversight of food safety. Adoption of voluntary standards for state regulatory programs will establish a uniform basis for measuring and improving the performance of state programs for regulating manufactured food and help authorities reduce foodborne illness hazards in food facilities.
FDA Updated Information on the Occurrence of Benzene in Soft Drinks and Other Beverages
Benzene is a carcinogen that can cause cancer in humans. It can form at very low levels in some beverages that contain both benzoate salts and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) or erythorbic acid, which is a closely related substance also known as d-ascorbic acid. Exposure to heat and light can stimulate the formation of benzene in some beverages that contain benzoate salts and ascorbic acid (vitamin C). FDA first became aware that benzene was present in some soft drinks in 1990. The agency is working with the beverage industry to minimize benzene formation in products.
For more information about benzene in soft drinks and other beverages, click here.