The 120 Day Food and Agriculture Interim Risk Review provides a review of critical and emergent risks facing the U.S. Food and Agriculture sector, as well initial mitigation strategies, factors contributing to risk and proposed actions to address risks.
Infant food safety, including new arsenic and cadmium action levels, supplements and menu labeling, are among the priority draft and final guidances the FDA plans to address before the end of 2023.
The FDA has proposed a number of new changes to ORA, including moving several of its laboratories and merging its current compliance functions into those of the new Human Foods Program.
The FDA has posted new frequently asked questions and additional tools related to the FSMA Food Traceability Rule to help clarify how the rule applies to specific situations and commodities.
The agency will continue to monitor arsenic in apple juice samples and if testing identifies inorganic arsenic in apple juice above 10 ppb, the FDA will consider this action level, in addition to other factors, to determine whether to take enforcement action.
The agency is seeking increased funding, new staff and industry buy-in to expand its post-market surveillance of chemicals added to, as well as those that come in contact with, food products.
The compliance guide describes the requirements of the Food Traceability regulation to assist small entities, including farms and small businesses, in complying with the applicable recordkeeping requirements.
The draft CPG describes the labeling requirements for major food allergens and proper use of the ingredient list and the “Contains” statement for major food allergen declarations. It also describes requirements for firms to implement controls to prevent or significantly minimize allergen cross-contact. In addition, the draft CPG describes additional allergen labeling violations and directs FDA staff to examine potential product adulteration due to allergen cross-contact as well as potential labeling violations.
To reduce risk to consumers as well as the risk of recalls, the FDA is encouraging developers of new plant varieties to consult with the agency through its voluntary premarket consultation program for foods from new plant varieties prior to marketing.
The FDA announced that it will reopen the comment period for the draft guidance “Labeling of Plant-Based Milk Alternatives and Voluntary Nutrient Statements; Draft Guidance for Industry” in response to requests from stakeholders to allow additional time for interested persons to develop and submit comments.
