A report on how the department of health in an Australian state handles food safety has found several shortcomings.
Findings from the Western Australian Auditor General included overdue inspections and lack of timely follow up, poor recordkeeping, inefficient reporting practices, and a lack of up-to-date guidance material at the health
Continue Reading Audit finds gaps in health agency’s food safety role
The World Health Organization (WHO) and other agencies are calling on countries to suspend the sale of certain live caught wild animals in food markets.
WHO, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) issued guidance for national food safety authorities to make traditional markets
Continue Reading WHO appeals for pause on sale of live wild animals in markets
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has allowed some pet food to be made in the same plant as food for human consumption.
In 2018, the FSA ran a public consultation on the subject with three potential scenarios. Based on responses, the agency went ahead with one of them. Manufacturing of
Continue Reading FSA allows co-location of pet and human food production
Food safety advice for pregnant women has been updated in New Zealand including changes to fish, certain cheeses and pasteurized dairy products.
The focus is Listeria monocytogenes, Toxoplasma gondii, methylmercury and caffeine, as these hazards have known specific impacts on the fetus. For Salmonella and Campylobacter, associated with adverse outcomes
Continue Reading Research shows need to update food safety guidance for pregnant women
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has moved away from a one size fits all approach on shelf life guidance for meat.
The revised guidance covers vacuum packed and modified atmosphere packed (VP/MAP) chilled fresh beef, lamb and pork. It does not apply to meats subject to further processing such as
Continue Reading FSA changes blanket guidance on meat shelf life
The FDA is out with “final guidance” for industry and agency staff for the release of retailers that receive recalled foods so they might be more easily identified by consumers.
Current FDA policy prohibits the release of such retailer lists to protect the disclosure of “confidential” business ties. USDA’s Food
Continue Reading FDA policy change on retail lists takes final step
A new guide published by the FAO was created to help countries more effectively inform domestic food safety priorities.
Risk ranking helps to identify which food safety issues have the greatest public health impact by taking into account the likelihood and severity, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of
Continue Reading FAO guide helps national agencies rank food safety risks
The European Commission has published guidance on food safety management systems (FSMS) for small retailers and donated food.
It aims to support small businesses such as butchers, bakeries, grocers, and ice cream shops in implementing EU rules to ensure safe production of food sold to consumers and is based on
Continue Reading EU guidance covers food safety in small firms and for food donations
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has developed a guidance document for producers of raw drinking milk in England and Wales.
The guidance has been produced in response to increasing sales and outbreaks related to unpasteurized milk. Between 2015 and 2017 there were five outbreaks linked to raw milk. These included
Continue Reading FSA outlines controls for producers in raw milk guidance
The Fresh Produce Safety Centre Australia and New Zealand has published updated food safety guidelines for the industry.
The group is an industry-led organization established in 2013.
The guidelines are designed to achieve greater consistency in the development, implementation and auditing of fresh produce food safety programs. It provides an
Continue Reading Australia and New Zealand get revised produce safety guidelines
