In mid-December, U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) introduced a bill that would move the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its seafood inspections to the U.S. Department of the Interior. More broadly, the act transfers all functions of the U.S. Departments of Labor and Commerce to a newly established Department of Commerce and the Workforce. In doing so, a handful of offices would be moved elsewhere, including NOAA (currently under Commerce) to Interior. Burr said that the consolidation of “duplicative programs” would reduce spending. “The president has proposed merging and consolidating federal agencies several times over his two terms, and this bill advances that proposal,” Burr said in a statement. NOAA’s fee-for-service Seafood Inspection Program offers inspections for businesses to demonstrate food regulation compliance and become eligible for stamping with official marks, such as U.S. Grade A, Processed Under Federal Inspection and Lot Inspection. In January 2012, the director of the Office of Management and Budget said that if Congress were to grant President Obama the power to consolidate federal agencies, the White House would want to merge food safety agencies into one. The president’s first plan to merge six business-oriented and trade agencies also included a plan to move NOAA to the Department of the Interior.
The News Desk team at Food Safety News covers breaking developments, regulatory updates, recalls, and key topics shaping food safety today. These articles are produced collaboratively by our editorial staff.
Brashears fills a 333-day vacancy in the nation’s top food safety position that has been open since Dr. Jose Emilio Esteban left the job at the end of the Biden administration.
The Food and Drug Administration has released additional information on several foodborne illness outbreaks in Executive Incident Summary Abstracts. Portions of the reports were redacted.
For an outbreak of Salmonella
New Zealand is planning to change the import requirements for several products, including stricter measures on tahini and sesame paste.
A comment period covers dried spices (chili, pepper, and paprika)
James Skinner LLC is recalling of a lot of Publix Maple Walnut Coffee Cake because the wrong ingredient label was applied to the packaging on certain units.
The product may
Primavera Nueva Inc. is voluntarily recalling certain lots of its 4-count tamales because the products have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
Product was distributed by Primavera Nueva
A food business in England has been fined for causing a Salmonella outbreak in 2024.
Palm by H2O Limited in Coventry and company official Mohammed Naveed pleaded guilty at Coventry
South Asian Food Inc. of Maspeth, Queens, NY, is recalling Bengal King Jhal Chanachur food treats because they may contain undeclared peanuts. People who have allergies to peanuts run the
