The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015, that it has approved for the first time a genetically engineered (GE) animal intended for food. That animal is the AquAdvantage Salmon, which was developed about 25 years ago by AquaBounty Technologies Inc. of Maynard, MA, to grow
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Food Safety Groups Oppose Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership
The full text of the Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership (TPP) was released last week, and after initial reviews of the proposed treaty, concerns raised by food safety advocates during the negotiations have not been mollified. Debbie Barker, International Programs Director for the Center for Food Safety, says the predominant issues with
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FSIS Emails Reveal ‘Snapshot’ of Foster Farms Investigation
Internal emails from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) made public earlier this month tell some of the story behind the agency’s attempt to recall Foster Farms products linked to an outbreak of Salmonella Heidelberg in the months before it finally did so in July
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WTO Rejects U.S. Appeal of COOL Ruling
The World Trade Organization has rejected a U.S. appeal of its decision that country-of-origin labeling (COOL) on meat unfairly discriminates against meat imports and give the advantage to domestic meat products. The final ruling launches a WTO process to determine the level of retaliatory tariffs Canada and Mexico can impose
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USDA Approves Apples Genetically Engineered to Resist Browning
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has decided to approve new types of apples that have been genetically engineered not to brown as quickly after being cut. Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc., the company that developed the Arctic Granny and Arctic Golden varieties is currently engaging in a voluntary food safety assessment
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GE Salmon Company Fined Over Permit Problems in Panama
The government of Panama has revealed that, in July of this year, it levied a fine on AquaBounty Technologies, the Massachusetts-based company seeking government approval to bring the first genetically modified salmon to market in the U.S. AquaBounty apparently did not have the necessary water use and water discharge permits
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Reactions Vary to USDA’s Poultry Inspection Rule
The U.S. Department of Agriculture published the final rule of its Modernization of Poultry Slaughter Inspection on Thursday, requiring all poultry processing plants to engage in additional microbiological testing and establishing the New Poultry Inspection System (NPIS), which companies can choose to opt into or not. Predictably, the agency’s move
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FDA Proposes Limit for Arsenic in Apple Juice
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday proposed a limit for arsenic in apple juice, two years after testing by Dr. Oz and Consumer Reports spurred widespread consumer concern about the presence of the compound in juice products. The Environmental Protection Agency already has an arsenic limit for tap
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The Best of Food Safety: Consumer Organizations
This week, Food Safety News is acknowledging leaders who help keep our food supply safe. Today we celebrate consumer organizations. In the days ahead we’ll celebrate leaders in non-government organizations, the food industry and the news media. Of course, no list is ever complete so if you think we’ve forgotten
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Food & Water Watch Criticizes USDA on Australia's 'Privatized Meat Inspection'
Food & Water Watch is calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to review its decision to allow the newly privatized meat inspection system of Australia to be considered equivalent to U.S. inspection, according to a press release by the group.
In a letter sent to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack
Continue Reading Food & Water Watch Criticizes USDA on Australia's 'Privatized Meat Inspection'