News & Views

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Food Defense Kit introduced by FDA, CDC, USDA:

The FDA, CDC and USDA have jointly launched a food defense training kit for first line food industry employees.  The “FIRST” Kit has five main points that are based on the acronym.  The training focus is to prevent food contamination.

The Kit is free to employees and includes a DVD and training posters in both English and Spanish.  They may be ordered at  the FDA website: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/fooddefense,   In addition, several other useful booklets and training materials pertaining to the “ALERT” program for food industry supplies and ingredients security may be obtained, free of charge on the same site.      

Recall Summary: September 2008

There were recalls of 40 food products in September.  There were 8 candies, 5 coffee mixes, 2 tea mixes and all Chinese manufactured infant formula recalled for Melamine.  There were 13 products recalled for undeclared allergens: 1 fish, 1 wheat, 1 soy, 3 egg, 2 tree nuts, 4 milk and 3 sulfites.  (one product contained 3 undeclared allergens).   Seven candy products were recalled because of high lead content and  2 bread products were recalled because of foreign material content.  There were 3 products recalled for Salmonella contamination and 1 for Listeria monocytogenes contamination.  

For more detailed information about food recalls, go to FDA's "Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts".

A Better Method for Testing Dried Garlic

Some dried garlic coming out of Asia, where coal fired driers may be used, have been found to have high levels of sulfites, sufficiently high to require labeling. Until recently, analytical method used to test the garlic (the Monier-Williams Method) converted some of the naturally accruing Allicin in the garlic to sulfites, thus making a determination of added sulfites difficult. A newer method, now used by S&S Labs converts a much smaller amount of Allicin to Sulfites, so gives a much more accurate result for added Sulfites. The method is called Reversed-Phase Ion-Pairing Liquid Chromatography with Post-Column Detection.

S&S Labs "Test Your Taste" Coming to a Trade Show near you!

At each trade show where S&S Labs exhibits, we challenge you to "Test Your Taste" by tasting then guessing the Scoville Heat of the salsa we have that day. We do give hints, so anyone has a chance to win. The person who guesses closest to the actual laboratory result (see Scoville Heat Analysis) wins a cash prize! If you want to know who has won over about the last year, check out the very prestigious Wall of Flame"!

FDA Guidance Document: Recalls

A new guidance document is now available from the FDA regarding the use of electronic communications during a recall. The document can be found at: www.fda.gov/oc/guidance/electronic.html. In our current era, dominated by electronic communications, FDA recognized the usefulness and speed of e-communications for the delivery of safety information when a recall or withdrawal of a product is required. The document is of value for all FDA-regulated products.

Calendar for 2008:

1/22-24/08
International Poultry Expo., Atlanta, GA
In attendance: Supat Sirivicha, Dir. Operations, Ken Goldscher, Account Manager and Toni Manning, Dir. Consulting

2/24 – 2/26
International Boston Seafood Show, Boston, MA, Booth 547
In attendance: Ken Goldscher, Account Manager, Supat Sirivicha, Director of Operations, Toni Manning, Dir. Consulting

3/17 - 3/19
Food Safety & Security Summit, Washington, DC, Booth 537
In attendance: Ken Goldscher, Account Manager, Supat Sirivicha, Director of Operations, Toni Manning, Dir. Consulting

4/6 – 4/9
American Spice Trade Association Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL
n attendance: Supat Sirivicha, Director of Operations, Toni Manning, Dir. Consulting

4/7 – 4/9
PMCA Production Conference, Hershey, PA
In attendance: Ken Goldscher, Account Manager

6/10
Maryland IFT Golf Outing 2008, Bulle Rock, MD
In attendance: Ken Goldscher, Account Manager, Supat Sirivicha, Director of Operations, Toni Manning, Dir. Consulting

6/28 – 7/1/
Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting & Expo, New Orleans, LA - See us in Booth #615
In attendance: Ken Goldscher, Account Manager, Supat Sirivicha, Director of Operations, Toni Manning, Dir. Consulting

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