In the fiscal year 2019 budget that sets out to cut domestic programs by almost $700 billion over 10 years, federal food safety has not only escaped the knife but made some small gains.

President Donald J. Trump’s $1.1 trillion discretionary budget proposal adds $9.4 billion to the Department of
Continue Reading It gives only a little, but Trump budget takes nothing way from food safety programs

Changes to how pork slaughter plants could be regulated are going forward after a mere 21 years in the making. President Donald Trump’s Administration has approved a final rule that had its origin during President Bill Clinton’s Administration.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) isn’t
Continue Reading OMB approves HIMP swine slaughter rule; industry pleased

For at least another three years, consumers shopping for steak and other whole cuts of beef will continue to be left in the dark about beef treated with mechanical tenderization, a processing technique that softens up meat but can drive potentially harmful pathogens below the surface. The U.S. Department of
Continue Reading Failure to Finalize Rules Delays Labels on Mechanically Tenderized Beef

The federal government could be doing more to achieve the goals of the U.S. Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and other food-safety efforts, according to a 46-page report published Thursday by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). The amount of food-safety oversight reported by the federal government varies between the
Continue Reading GAO: Federal Food-Safety Oversight Needs Better Coordination

Don’t expect comment period extensions for the reproposed rules regarding the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). That’s what Michael Taylor, the Food and Drug Administration’s deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine, told attendees Wednesday at the United Fresh Produce Association Washington Conference. He said he had hoped to be
Continue Reading Taylor: Reproposed FSMA Rules Are ‘Close’

Organizations representing workers and consumers want the Department of Agriculture to follow the Food and Drug Administration’s lead by releasing the revised poultry inspection rule for public comment. Last week, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) submitted a draft final version of its Modernization of Poultry Slaughter Inspection
Continue Reading Groups Ask OMB, USDA to Release Revised Poultry Rule for Public Comment