California’s Central Valley Meat Co. has been indefinitely closed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for failing to meet cleanliness standards. “FSIS withdrew our inspectors and suspended operations due to insanitary conditions at the establishment,” the agency said in an emailed statement to Food Safety News. “The plant’s suspension will be lifted once we receive adequate assurances of corrective action.” The USDA previously shut down Central Valley in 2012 for inhumane handling of animals after an undercover video showed alleged violations of humane slaughter laws taking place there. Central Valley employees were caught on camera torturing cattle with prods and subjecting them to other inhumane treatment. No recall has been initiated in the latest closure, suggesting that federal authorities are not treating this as a food safety issue. Central Valley, located 30 miles from Fresno, supplies beef to the National School Lunch Program. In 2012, Food Safety News reported that Central Valley beef had accounted for roughly 16 percent of beef purchases made by USDA during the 2010-2011 school year.
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.
A dozen new issues have been discussed at the latest World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting on food safety.
Attendees at the March meeting of the WTO Committee on Sanitary and
The Dutch food agency has been advised to do a survey on biocide residues in food, focusing on frequently consumed processed items.
The Office of Risk Assessment and Research (BuRO)
The Food and Drug Administration uses import alerts to enforce U.S. food safety regulations for food from foreign countries. The agency updates and modifies the alerts as needed.
Recent
Lidl US is recalling all lots of their Favorina Chocolate Ladybugs - German-Style Nougat 3.52 oz box UPC 20304492 because of undeclared hazelnut.
People who have allergies to hazelnuts
Costco is recalling select sell by dates of Item #30783 Meatloaf with Mashed Yukon Potatoes and Glaze because an ingredient supplier, Griffith Foods Inc., has announced the recall of an