The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has extended the comment period for its “Draft Risk Profile on Pathogens and Filth in Spices,” which was first released in October and given a Jan. 3, 2014, deadline for comments, scientific data and other information. FDA announced Tuesday that the new deadline for the profile will be March 3, 2014. The agency’s testing between 2007 and 2010 revealed that 12 percent of imported spices were contaminated with insects, excrement, hair and other materials. The draft calls attention to the most common microbial hazards and filth in spices, their prevalence, possible sources of contamination along the supply chain, and control options. FDA is looking for comments that could improve the data and information used, the analytical analyses employed, and the clarity and transparency of the draft risk profile. The agency extended the submission period in response to requests from interested parties. For resources related to the draft profile, information on how to make submissions, and links to the Federal Register notice, visit FDA’s Risk Profile: Pathogens and Filth in Spices page.
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The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC)
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