A bipartisan group of 68 members of Congress wrote to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Monday, asking him to suspend action on the proposed Modernization of Poultry Slaughter Inspection rule, which
Continue Reading 68 Members of Congress Ask Vilsack to Withdraw Poultry Inspection Rule
The Hard Truth About Authentic Modernization of Poultry Inspection
A healthy progression of events is occurring in the world of food safety. There are specific issues being debated over the Modernization of Poultry Slaughter proposal. The scientific community is zeroing in on specific strains
Continue Reading The Hard Truth About Authentic Modernization of Poultry Inspection
100-Plus Groups Ask Obama to Ditch New Poultry Rules
More than 100 organizations signed a letter sent to President Obama on Thursday asking the White House to withdraw the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s proposed rule on the “Modernization of Poultry Slaughter Inspection.” The organizations
Continue Reading 100-Plus Groups Ask Obama to Ditch New Poultry Rules
Debate Grows Over Poultry Worker Safety Under Proposed HIMP Regulations
Last week, organizations representing consumers and farm workers convened in Washington, D.C., to speak with members of Congress and U.S. Department of Agriculture officials about the threat they feel new poultry plant regulations pose to
Continue Reading Debate Grows Over Poultry Worker Safety Under Proposed HIMP Regulations
Poultry Processing Line Speeds: How Fast is Too Fast?
There are many arguments, pro and con, about efforts of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to renovate its meat processing inspection process. In my last editorial, I outlined
Continue Reading Poultry Processing Line Speeds: How Fast is Too Fast?
The HACCP Inspection Models Project Has More Problems Than Solutions
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) intends to implement a sweeping and total change to its food safety program by drastically modifying carcass-by-carcass inspection and reducing the government surveillance of
Continue Reading The HACCP Inspection Models Project Has More Problems Than Solutions
FY 2014 Appropriations Bill Includes Directives for USDA, FDA
Members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees released their consolidated appropriations bill for FY 2014 on Monday night, and the House of Representatives passed it with bipartisan support on Wednesday. It is also expected
Continue Reading FY 2014 Appropriations Bill Includes Directives for USDA, FDA
HIMP Debate Sneaks Into FY 2014 Budget Negotiations for USDA, FDA
Members of the Safe Food Coalition and the Worker Health and Safety Coalition wrote to members of Congress this week, asking them not to reduce the budget for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety
Continue Reading HIMP Debate Sneaks Into FY 2014 Budget Negotiations for USDA, FDA
New Acting Food Safety Under Secretary Speaks on HIMP
Meat industry trade publication Meatingplace is publishing an interview series with Brian Ronholm, new Acting Under Secretary of Food Safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The interview focuses on the proposed poultry slaughter program
Continue Reading New Acting Food Safety Under Secretary Speaks on HIMP
FSIS Salmonella Action Plan Criticized for HIMP Emphasis
Food-safety advocates are praising the U.S. Department of Agriculture for releasing its Salmonella Action Plan while also criticizing it for not going far enough in reducing the estimated 1.3 million illnesses caused by the pathogen
Continue Reading FSIS Salmonella Action Plan Criticized for HIMP Emphasis