[AIB Update] News

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is asking commercial food transporters to follow new guidance to reduce the chances of physical, chemical, biological and other risks during transportation of foods while the agency reviews current food safety transportation regulations.

In an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) published in the Federal Register, the FDA has requested input on writing the new rules from all interested parties, including the food and transportation industries and consumer interest organizations. The ANPRM is the first step in creating new regulations to govern sanitary practices by shippers, carriers by motor vehicle or rail vehicle, receivers, and others engaged in the transportation of food products for people and animals.

The new industry guidance covers safety measures that should be employed while the regulations are being written and finalized. They include ensuring that food in transit is maintained at appropriate temperatures; that such food is closely monitored for pests; that the vehicles used to transport foods are sanitary and in proper working condition; that pallets used are of good quality; and that sanitary measures are followed in the loading and unloading of foods.

"Our aim is to look at every component of the system to assess hazards, and to take science-based action where appropriate to maximize the safety of our food from farms all the way to consumers’ tables," said FDA’s Associate Commissioner for Food Protection Jeff Farrar. "Although contamination of food product during commercial transport is relatively infrequent, the potential harm can be widespread and serious."

After evaluating comments received in response to the ANPRM, the FDA will propose specific regulations. The FDA will coordinate with the U.S. departments of Agriculture and Transportation in the rulemaking process.

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Philippines Projected to Become

Southeast Asia’s Food Safety Center

The United Nations’ Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) will set up a Traceability Center for Agro-Industrial Exports (TRACE) in the Philippines, making it a food safety hub in Southeast Asia.

The Philippine Trace, or P Trace, will be similar to the Egyptian Trace, or E Trace, that UNIDO established earlier.

P Trace will enable Filipino exporters of food products to developed countries to sustain and raise export. The traceability program involves the use of food safety certification, HACCP, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), and other technologies to control transport of contaminated food and trace the origin of unsafe food.

Once established, the P Trace can make the Philippines a center for training of other potential food safety experts in the region.
 

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FDA Seeks Comments On Package Labeling

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has asked for comments and information from the public and other interested parties about front-of-package nutrition labeling and shelf tags in retail stores.

The FDA is seeking public participation as it deliberates about how to enhance the usefulness to consumers of point-of-purchase nutrition information. This includes information "front-of-pack" product labeling, and on shelf tags in retail stores. The FDA is seeking to learn more about:

• the extent to which consumers notice, use and understand nutrition symbols on front-of-pack labeling of food packages or on shelf tags in retail stores
• research that assesses and compares the effectiveness of particular approaches to front-of-pack labeling
• graphic design, marketing and advertising data and information that can help develop better point-of-purchase nutrition information
• how point-of-purchase information may affect decisions by food manufacturers to reformulate products

The front-of-pack nutrition labeling effort aims to maximize the number of consumers who readily notice, understand, and use point-of-purchase information to make nutritious choices for themselves and their families.

The FDA is accepting comments until July 28, 2010. Comments may be sent to www.regulations.gov by entering Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0210. Written comments also may be sent to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305) Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

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European Union Votes Against "Traffic Light" Labeling

After 18 months of discussions,the European Parliament’s environment committee voted against imposing E.U.-wide use of a "traffic light" system to show important nutrient amounts. At the same time, the committee said food labels should give information on energy content and nutritional value, but must do so in a clear and concise manner.

The draft legislation said it will seek to "modernize, simplify and clarify food labeling within the European Union" by making minor changes to existing rules, such as adding requirements to list key nutritional information and showing the country of origin.

Mandatory nutrition information will include key information such as amounts of fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates, sugar and salt on the front of package, with specific rules added to guarantee that energy content is visible as well.

The committee rejected the "traffic light" system, saying that any proposed regulation should provide only general rules on how information should be displayed, not prescribe a specific system.

The regulations will not go into effect until 20 days after publication in the E.U. Official Journal, and rules on nutrition labeling would not take effect until three years after that. Food business operators with fewer than 100 employees and annual sales of less than $5 million would have five years after publication to comply. AIB

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Correction

In the article "Environmental Monitoring for Non-Pathogenic Organisms" (Jan/Feb AIB, page 14), the listed suggested action levels for Total Plate Count, Yeast/Mold, and Coliform state "less than 1000," "less than 100," and "less than 10." Each of these should state "more than."
 

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