The Codex Alimentarius Commission, a joint initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), met from November 27–December 2, 2023 for its 46^th session in Rome, Italy to adopt new food safety and quality standards. Some of the standards that were adopted included:

• Guidelines for the Control of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in Raw Beef, Fresh Leafy Vegetables, Raw Milk and Raw Milk Cheeses, and Sprouts: These guidelines will help risk managers and food business operators in their efforts to reduce foodborne disease by providing science-based advice and a practical guidance on the control of STEC in raw beef, raw milk, and raw milk cheeses.
• Guidelines for the Safe Use and Reuse of Water in Food Production and Processing: These guidelines offer advice on the types of water that are suitable for different areas of food production and processing.
• Revisions to the Standard for Follow-Up Formula (CXS 156-1986): As part of the revisions to this text, the title has been changed from "Standard for Follow-up Formula" to "Standard for Follow-up Formula for Older Infants and Product for Young Children" to reflect the two distinct sections into which the standard is now divided.
• General Standard for Food Additives: Inclusion of the Provision for Trisodium Citrate in Fluid Milk (Plain): Trisodium citrate is a stabilizer used in the processing of milk and, in particular, Ultra Heat Treated (UHT) bovine milk, in some countries. The adopted provision is restrictive in the use of trisodium citrate and imposes a numerical use level that will limit its application to sterilized and UHT milk from bovine species.
• Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for Zilpaterol Hydrochloride in Cattle Kidney, Liver, and Muscle: Voluntary MRLs for zilpaterol hydrochloride, a growth promoter, have been adopted, informed by risk assessment work undertaken by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA).
• Code of Practice for the Prevention and Reduction of Mycotoxin Contamination in Cassava and Cassava-Based Products: This new code provides governments and food businesses, growers, processors, and distributors with knowledge about factors that may lead to mycotoxin contamination in cassava and cassava-based products, as well as ways to detect, reduce, or prevent such contamination.
• Principles and Guidelines on the Use of Remote Audit and Inspection in Regulatory Frameworks: New guidelines on the use of remote audits are intended to be applied in conjunction with other Codex texts and provide guidance on ensuring food safety oversight by national authorities, while also taking advantage of opportunities offered by modern information and communication technologies. The text outlines seven principles that should form the basis of remote audit and inspection in regulatory frameworks, and guidance on planning and implementation.
• Revisions to General Guidelines on Sampling (CXG 50-2004): The Codex Guidelines on Sampling provide those responsible for the development of sampling plans for product acceptance or food import or export acceptance with guidance on the design of such sampling plans.
• Revision of Classification of Food and Feed (CXA 4-1989): The Classification of Food and Feed is intended to ensure the use of uniform nomenclature and classification of foods into groups or subgroups for the purposes of establishing maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides in food and feed individually, or by covering groups of commodities with similar characteristics and residue potential. The updated standard includes the revision of Class B and E—primary food commodities of animal origin and processed foods of animal origin, respectively. With the completion of these two classes, the revision of the Classification will enable the establishment of MRLs for wider commodity groups that are or have the potential to be marketed in international trade. 

Adoption of New Food Safety Standards by Codex Alimentarius Commission

FAO/WHO Assess Safety of Titanium Dioxide, 21 Other Food Additives

At the 97^th meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), which took place October 31–November 9 in Rome, Italy, JECFA reaffirmed a "not specified" acceptable daily intake (ADI) for titanium dioxide. It also concluded that there are no safety concerns for and established specifications for 21 flavoring agents.

Titanium Dioxide

Titanium dioxide is a white food coloring agent often used in bakery decorations, soups, broths, sauces, spreads, creamers, candy, and chewing gum. JECFA previously assessed titanium dioxide at its 13^th meeting, at which time the expert committee assigned a "not specified" ADI for the additive due to an absence of significant absorption and a lack of toxicological effects in the available experimental animal and human studies. Since its original evaluation by JECFA, titanium dioxide has become a public point of contention, with its ban being introduced (and then subsequently withdrawn) in California legislation in 2023, a legal battle playing out in the EU over the additive's ban and classification as a carcinogen in 2022, and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) calling titanium dioxide unsafe. However, supporters of titanium dioxide say that claims about its dangers are founded in unreliable studies, and some recent research has supported its safety as a food additive.

At the recent JECFA meeting, the committee considered additional toxicological studies relevant to the safety assessment of the chemical that investigated its toxicokinetics, acute toxicity, short-term toxicity, long-term toxicity and carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, and reproductive and developmental toxicity, as well as special studies addressing its short-term initiation/promotion potential for colon cancer. From the studies deemed relevant, the experts found that titanium dioxide as a food additive is poorly absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract of mice and rats, with no adverse effects observed in short-term studies in rodents receiving titanium dioxide in their diets. No observed adverse effect levels (NOAELs) of 15,000 milligrams per kilogram of bodyweight (mg/kg BW) per day and 5,000 mg/kg BW per day—the highest doses tested—were established for mice and rats, respectively.

Available studies in humans and postmortem analysis of tissues suggested that the oral bioavailability of titanium dioxide in humans is very low. JECFA noted that there are currently no epidemiological studies that allow any conclusions to be drawn with respect to an association between dietary exposure titanium dioxide and human health effects.

Flavoring Agents

Regarding flavoring substances, JECFA concluded that there are no safety concerns and established specifications for 21 agents across three classes: aliphatic primary alcohols, aldehydes, carboxylic acids, acetals, and esters containing additional oxygenated functional groups; linear and branched-chain aliphatic, unsaturated and unconjugated alcohols, aldehydes, acids, and related esters; and saturated aliphatic acyclic linear primary alcohols, aldehydes, and acids.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer agency of the WHO, has evaluated the carcinogenicity of two types of per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS)—perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)—and classified them as "carcinogenic to humans" (Group 1) and "possibly carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2B), respectively.

In recent years, the pervasiveness of PFAS in drinking water has been noted by experts in the UK, the U.S., and globally, and the body of evidence regarding their harms to human health has grown. PFAS, including PFOS and PFOA, have been used in nonstick and stain-resistant consumer products, such as cookware, as well as in food packaging. However, some state and national governments are beginning to restrict or ban the use of certain PFAS, and some companies are beginning to voluntarily phase them out from products.

PFOA is carcinogenic to humans on the basis of sufficient evidence for cancer in experimental animals and strong mechanistic evidence (for epigenetic alterations and immunosuppression) in exposed humans. There was also limited evidence for cancer in humans (renal cell carcinoma and testicular cancer) and strong mechanistic evidence in human primary cells and experimental systems (for epigenetic alterations and immunosuppression, as well as several other key characteristics of carcinogens).

PFOS is possibly carcinogenic to humans on the basis of strong mechanistic evidence across test systems, including in exposed humans (for epigenetic alterations and immunosuppression, as well as several other key characteristics of carcinogens). There was also limited evidence for cancer in experimental animals and inadequate evidence regarding cancer in humans. IARC noted that the general population that does not work with PFOS and PFOA in industrial contexts are mainly exposed to the chemicals by consuming food and drinking water, and acknowledged that PFOA and PFOS are ubiquitously present in the environment, even in remote areas.

WHO Classifies Two Major PFAS as Carcinogenic to Humans

FDA Releases New Food Fraud Webpage

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a new website on economically motivated adulteration (EMA), including food fraud. The purpose of the website is to keep businesses and consumers informed on the latest food fraud developments.

The website includes links on how to report food fraud; examples of food adulteration; how food fraud is detected and monitored; enforcement and legal consequences, such as recalls, seizures, and import refusals; guidance documents to assist manufacturers and importers; and a list of import alerts.

EMA occurs when "someone intentionally leaves out, takes out, or substitutes a valuable ingredient or part of a food," according to FDA. EMA also occurs when a substance is added to a food to make it appear better or of greater value.

Food fraud is a common type of EMA that FDA investigates, but EMA also occurs with other products, including animal food and cosmetics. Some types of EMA are also misbranding violations. Estimating how frequently food fraud occurs or its exact economic impact can be challenging because food fraud is designed to avoid detection. Outside estimates by experts have found that food fraud affects 1 percent of the global food industry at a cost of approximately $10–$15 billion per year, although more recent expert estimates peg the cost as high as $40 billion per year.

Food fraud can also lead to major health issues and even death. Some examples include lead poisoning from adulterated spices and allergic reactions to a hidden or substituted ingredient that contains a small amount of just one food allergen.

Click here to visit FDA’s new EMA website.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) proposed reorganization package for a unified Human Foods Program (HFP) and new Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) model is under review at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which marks the beginning of the formal external review process. Following several remaining critical steps, the agency is hopeful that implementation of the new structure will happen sometime in 2024.

In addition to previous announcements, FDA's proposed reorganization package includes the following new updates that not only shift how the agency's foods and field work is conducted, but also impact a number of additional FDA offices outside of these programs. The proposed changes highlight the agency-wide nature of the proposed reorganization package, including:

• Making FDA's HFP and product centers solely responsible for receipt, triage, and closing consumer and whistleblower complaints, rather than this role being split between centers and field offices.
• Renaming ORA as the Office of Inspections and Investigations (OII) and solidifying its role as the frontline of FDA's field-based inspection, investigation, and import operations.
• Establishing an Office of the Chief Medical Officer (OCMO) in the Office of the Commissioner to strengthen central coordination of cross-agency medical issues, including special populations such as people with rare diseases and children.
• Merging the Office of Counterterrorism and Emerging Threats (OCET) and the Office of Regulatory Science and Innovation (ORSI) to form a new office; both offices are currently housed within the FDA's Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS). This new, merged office in OCS, proposed as the Office of Regulatory and Emerging Science, will strengthen support of regulatory science and preparedness research efforts.
• Creating an Office of Enterprise Transformation. This proposed new office in the Office of the Commissioner will work across the FDA to drive high-priority, cross-cutting, business process improvement efforts.

In addition to the HHS review, several critical steps remain before the agency can implement the proposed reorganization. These steps include review by the Office of Management and Budget, providing Congress with a 30-day notification period, issuing a Federal Register notice, and engaging in all necessary negotiations with unions representing impacted staff.

In related news, a coalition among various food safety stakeholders has been formed with the purpose of advocating for a modernized, effective Human Foods Program at FDA that is focused on preventing foodborne illness outbreaks and other food safety incidents, as well as decreasing diet-related chronic diseases. The FDA Foods Coalition will work to educate policymakers, media, and the public about improving the governance of the FDA Human Foods Program. The coalition supports FDA's proposed redesign of the Human Foods Program and looks forward to working with FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, M.D., and Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Jim Jones to implement these changes and facilitate greater transparency, accountability, and meaningful stakeholder engagement.

The diverse coalition includes Consumer Reports, the International Dairy Foods Association, the American Frozen Food Institute, the Association of Food and Drug Officials, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the Consumer Brands Association, the Consumer Federation of America, the Environmental Defense Fund, the Environmental Working Group, the International Fresh Produce Association, the Peanut and Tree Nut Processors Association, Stop Foodborne Illness, and Western Growers.

FDA's HFP/ORA Reorganization Plan Under External Review, Implementation Possible in 2024

Due to a steady increase of foodborne Cyclospora cayetanensis infections in recent years, FDA charged the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) with producing a report that provides information on the factors that contribute to the contamination of produce by the parasite, as well as recommendations for a prevention and management strategy. A copy of the report was published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA's FSIS).

A limitation to widespread C. cayetanensis research is the inability to directly culture or propagate the organism, and researchers rely solely on acquired oocysts to conduct research. Some work has been done to use surrogate organisms to mimic the lifecycle of C. cayetanensis, with limited positive results.

According to the recent NACMCF report, in 2020, CDC confirmed 1,241 cases of cyclosporiasis in people who had no history of international travel and experienced illness onset during May 1–August 31 of that year, which is the typical peak season for C. cayetanensis infections in the U.S. In 2019 and 2018, CDC reported 2,408 and 2,299 cases, respectively. Comparatively, between 2000 and 2017, the total number of cases reported for cyclosporiasis in the U.S. was 1,730.

In response to the rising trend of C. cayetanesis infections in the U.S., in 2021, FDA announced a plan to lessen the public health burden of foodborne illnesses caused by the parasite, which involved collaboration with NACMCF to provide information that would inform FDA's prioritization of Cyclospora research and propose novel food safety research projects in collaboration with stakeholders. In 2022, authors from FDA also published an article with Food Safety Magazine describing recent and recurring outbreaks of cyclosporiasis, as well as the need for a comprehensive understanding of how C. cayetanensis contaminates water and produce.

NACMCF's Recommendations
At present, within the genus Cyclospora, only C. cayetanensis is known to infect humans. However, recent advances in genomics separated the parasite into three proposed species (including C. cayetanensis), with the two new proposed species—C. ashfordi and C. henanensis—also considered parasitic to humans. Throughout the NACMCF report, to reflect the proposed status of the new nomenclature, "C. cayetanensis" was used to refer to all three species of Cyclospora that are parasitic in humans.

In the U.S., cyclosporiasis was previously associated with international travel or consumption of contaminated imported foods. However, in recent years, the U.S. has seen an increase in cases and positive samples associated with domestically grown produce, both as raw agricultural commodities and fresh-cut goods. Since 2016, the number of cyclosporiasis cases has increased approximately threefold, often linked to the consumption of leafy greens and ready-to-eat salads. Fecal contamination from symptomatic or asymptomatic carriers is the only known source of C. cayetanensis. The hypothesis that the parasite has become endemic in the production regions of the U.S. has yet to be sufficiently supported.

Efforts have been made to develop molecular detection methods for the parasite in both food and environmental samples. However, due to the high degree of genome-level conservation between C. cayetanensis and its close relatives that are not pathogenic in humans, results of some environmental surveys that relied solely on the PCR-based detection of ribosomal RNA genes likely overestimated the prevalence of C. cayetanensis.

NACMCF acknowledges the remaining knowledge and data gaps that stand in the way of foodborne cyclosporiasis mitigation, and the committee underscores the importance of understanding the factors that lead to contamination. NACMCF provided several recommendations to FDA in its report:

1. To facilitate future research (e.g., validation of surrogates, studies on environmental persistence and attachment) and identification and validation of control strategies, NACMCF urges development of a practical method to propagate C. cayetanensis oocysts under laboratory settings.
2. Due to the limited availability of C. cayetanensis oocysts, research with surrogates—especially with the close relative C. Eimeria—can be informative for identifying control strategies and learning about persistence in the production environment.
3. Method development for the detection of C. cayetanensis in food and environmental samples should include the evaluation of multiple genetic targets representing different regions of the genome. Modifications to current molecular methods for the detection of C. cayetanensis should be thoroughly validated for impacts on specificity before using modified methods on food or environmental samples. Conversely, detection methods should be designed to be robust, reproducible, and tolerant of minor modifications in the methodologies (e.g., brand of equipment or reagents, minor deviations in PCR conditions, etc.) without sacrificing specificity or sensitivity.

Given that the hypothesized likeliest source of the parasite in the food production environment (individuals with a history of recent travel to areas where infections with C. cayetanensis are common or other exposures to the parasite), preventative measures should center around clear sanitation guidelines, ensuring onsite capacity for implementing sanitation protocols (i.e., readily accessible handwashing stations with soap, etc.) and periodic training of employees.

NACMCF Report on Cyclospora Mentions Two Proposed Species that are Parasitic to Humans

With California Assembly Bill 899 being signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, any baby food products sold or made in the state require testing for arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury as of January 1, 2024. The new legislation will also require test results to be posted on the manufacturer's website, beginning January 1, 2025.

Specifically, the bill requires manufacturers of baby food for sale or distribution in California to test a representative sample of each production aggregate of the manufacturer's final baby food product, at a proficient laboratory meeting certain criteria, for toxic heavy metals at least once per month. Test results must be provided to any authorized agent of the State Department of Public Health upon its request, as specified. Finally, after January 1, 2025, manufacturers of a final baby food product that is sold, manufactured, delivered, held, or offered for sale in the state must provide specified information disclosures to consumers, including making publicly available on a website the name and level of each toxic element present in each production aggregate of the final baby food product.

Additionally, if a product is tested for a certain toxic element subject to an action level, regulatory limit, or tolerance established by FDA, manufacturers must include on the product label a QR code that links to a page on the manufacturer's internet website containing, among other information, test results for the toxic element and a link to related FDA guidance. Baby foods that contain a toxic element at levels higher than the FDA action level can still be sold in the state, but the QR code disclosure is required.

Baby food—meaning food that is marketed to children under two years of age—that does not comply with the legislation will be prohibited from sale, manufacture, delivery, holding, or offering for sale in the state. Infant formula is not included in AB 899.

The legislation is based on the recommendations of a 2021 report by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform, Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy. In the report, the Subcommittee wrote, "Commercial baby foods are tainted with significant levels of toxic heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. Exposure to toxic heavy metals causes permanent decreases in IQ, diminished future economic productivity, and increased risk of future criminal and antisocial behavior. Toxic heavy metals endanger infant neurological development and long-term brain function."

California Law Requires Testing for Heavy Metals in Baby Foods, Disclosure of Results

Campylobacter and Salmonella infections reported in the EU in 2022 remained below pre-pandemic (2018–2019) levels, according to the latest EU One Health zoonoses report, which is compiled annually by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Overall, in 2022, the number of reported foodborne illness outbreaks in the EU increased by 44 percent in comparison to 2021, from 4,005 outbreaks to 5,763 outbreaks, reaching similar levels as during the pre-pandemic years and causing the highest number of outbreak-related deaths in the past decade (64).

Deaths were primarily attributed to Listeria monocytogenes, and were associated with a wide variety of foods, including meat and dairy, fish, and vegetables. The more frequent use of whole genome sequencing (WGS) may have enhanced the sensitivity of surveillance, thereby increasing the ability to detect outbreaks in the EU. With 137,107 cases, the number of campylobacteriosis cases—the most common zoonotic disease—remained constant in 2022 when compared to the previous year. Chicken meat was the most significant vehicle of infection. Also in 2022, there were 65,208 instances of salmonellosis reported—an increase from 60,169 cases in 2021—making it the second most common zoonotic illness. However, goals for reducing the prevalence of Salmonella in poultry were successfully met by 19 Member States, the UK, and Northern Ireland.

Campylobacter, Salmonella Infections Stay Below Pre-Pandemic Levels in EU, but Foodborne Illness Outbreaks Rise Overall

After the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) finding of "no critical health concerns" for humans, animals, or the environment associated with glyphosate in July 2023, the European Commission (EC) voted in late November 2023 to renew approval of the use of the herbicide in the EU through December 15, 2033. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Monsanto-Bayer's Roundup product line, which is one of the most widely used herbicides for food crops.

Glyphosate has come under scrutiny in recent years due to concerns over its toxicity, with WHO declaring it a "probable carcinogen" in 2015. Although other national regulatory agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), have also concluded the herbicide to be safe to humans, the decision in the U.S. was also controversial, being met with a lawsuit by the Center for Food Safety in 2022 that resulted in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit overturning EPA's decision due to the agency not adequately considering the chemical's carcinogenicity. Also in the U.S. in recent years, many lawsuits have been filed against Bayer for Roundup allegedly causing cancer in its users.

Non-governmental organizations, such as Greenpeace and the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), are calling for EC to withdraw its decision to reapprove glyphosate, citing human and environmental health risks. Additionally, in October 2023, experts from Wageningen University and Research called into question EFSA's risk assessment of glyphosate that "found no critical health concerns," calling for its use to be curbed while acknowledging that completely banning the substance too early may lead to farmers using chemical alternatives that are just as harmful to human and environmental health.

EU Renews Approval of Herbicide Glyphosate for Next 10 Years, Sparking Controversy

Perdue Farms has appointed Gregg Uecker to the newly created position of Chief Supply Chain and Operations Officer, and Julie Katigan has been promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer.

Maple Leaf Foods Inc. has named David Smales as its new Chief Financial Officer. 

MycoTechnology Inc. has appointed Michael Leonard as its new CEO. Simultaneously, Alan Hahn, Co-Founder and former CEO, has taken on the role of Executive Chairman.

Batory Foods has appointed Rita Ramirez as its inaugural Chief People and Sustainability Officer.

Allegiance Retail Services LLC has named Joe Fantozzi as President and Chief Operating Officer.

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) has hired Amelia Iliohan as Associate Director of Events and Member Engagement.

Sterilex has appointed Colleen Akehurst as the company's interim CEO.

Kraft Heinz is making leadership changes in its North American business and splitting its international business into three zones. Pedro Navio became Executive Vice President of Kraft Heinz and President, North America. He succeeded Carlos Abrams-Rivera, who became CEO at Kraft Heinz on January 1, 2024.

Ruiz Foods has promoted Kimberli Carroll to President and CEO of the company.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced the selection of Michael C. Rogers as the permanent Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs in FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs. 

Namandjé N. Bumpus, Ph.D., current Chief Scientist at FDA, will become the next FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner when Janet Woodcock, M.D. retires in early 2024.

Brad Stawick has been named AOAC International's Research Institute Senior Director.

Wakefern Food Corp. has appointed Mike Stigers as its new President and Sean McMenamin as its new Chairman.

SÜDPACK has appointed Dirk Hardow as its Managing Director.

Motion Industries Inc. has named Chris Cleland to Senior Vice President of Strategy and Markets.

Sprague Pest Solutions has promoted Lindsey Marker to District Manager. 

Astanor Ventures has appointed Thomas Nagy to its team as an Operational Partner, strengthening the firm's position in the fields of life sciences and industrial biotechnology.

Astanor Ventures has appointed Thomas Nagy to its team as an Operational Partner, strengthening the firm's position in the fields of life sciences and industrial biotechnology.

ONLINE & OF NOTE

WHO has published a three-part guide describing how whole genome sequencing (WGS) can be used as a tool to strengthen foodborne illness surveillance and response. The first part covers WGS for foodborne disease surveillance and response, the second part relates to WGS for outbreak investigations, and the third part discusses WGS for routine surveillance. Often, the initial application of WGS related to foodborne illness is in the context of an outbreak investigation. WHO stresses the importance of identifying the goals and objectives of WGS use within an existing surveillance or outbreak response system. Articulating such goals and objectives makes it possible to review the options for sequencing, which include outsourcing all or parts of WGS or using a public health laboratory.

WHO WGS Guide Module 1: https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/373459/9789240021228-eng.pdf?sequence=1

WHO WGS Guide Module 2: https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/373460/9789240021242-eng.pdf?sequence=1

WHO WGS Guide Module 3: https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/373522/9789240021266-eng.pdf?sequence=1

WHO Provides Step-by-Step Guide on Use of WGS for Foodborne Illness Surveillance, Response

FDA published a new resource for industry on the new requirement for manufacturers of critical foods, such as infant formula, to develop a redundancy risk management plan. The new requirement, laid out in section 424(b) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDC Act), was established through the Food and Drug Omnibus Reform Act of 2022 (FDORA) and requires manufacturers of critical foods to develop, maintain, and implement redundancy risk management plans that identify and manage risks to the supply chain to help prevent future disruptions and shortages. To help ensure critical food manufacturers are aware of and are taking steps to implement the new requirement, FDA has shared a one-page resource for industry, which is now available on the agency's infant formula landing page, and which will be provided to critical food manufacturers during routine inspections.

https://www.fda.gov/media/173668/download?attachment

FDA Publishes Redundancy Risk Management Plan Guide for Producers of Critical Foods

CDC's Environmental Health Services released a tool to help restaurant managers asses the food safety cultures at their establishments. The tool is available for download on a CDC webpage about food safety culture. The tool enables managers to explore workers' beliefs about food safety, track progress over time, and observe how practices are strengthening or weakening a restaurant's food safety culture. The spreadsheet includes:

• A form for restaurant workers to complete
• A scoring tool for restaurant managers
• A scoring tool with automatic tallying based on workers' responses
• An example of the scoring tool with automatic tallying.

https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/ehsnet/plain_language/restaurants-and-food-safety-culture.html

CDC Offers New Retail Food Safety Culture Assessment Tool