FDA Announces Industry Portal for FSVP Records Submission

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has opened the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs for Food Importers (FSVP) Records Submission Portal for importers of animal and human food into the U.S. The portal was established to serve as a dedicated, streamlined way for importers to submit FSVP records electronically to FDA if they choose.

The FDA FSVP, established by the Food Safety Modernization Act, requires importers to perform certain risk-based activities to verify that their foreign suppliers are producing food in accordance with U.S. food safety standards. FDA typically conducts inspections of FSVP records at an importer’s place of business. However, if FDA makes a written request, the FSVP regulation requires importers to provide FSVP records to the agency electronically or through another means that delivers the records promptly.

Importers with an active FDA Account ID and password can access the portal on FDA’s Unified Registration and Listing Systems (FURLS) page. An importer without an existing account can create one from the FURLS page. A user guide for the portal is available on the FURLS page.

The portal supports the goals and objectives of the FDA Strategy for the Safety of Imported Food through better records management and more efficient communication between the FSVP importer and FDA.

USDA's National Organic Program Protects the Agency’s Organic Label

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s organic label is trusted across the U.S. and beyond. The label has seen growth since 1990 when Congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act.

USDA has reported that 2021 began with 45,578 organic businesses globally, with 62 percent of those establishments located in the U.S. The USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) serves the organic market in the U.S., with sales of $55.1 billion as of 2019.

The NOP has increased its staff and funding, with more than half of its employees assigned to either the Accreditation Division or the Compliance and Enforcement Division. The annual report has been published only four times. This year’s includes:

• Domestic and Overseas Investigations and Compliance Actions

• Organic Trade Enforcement Interagency Coordination Report

• Report on Enforcement Action Taken on Organic Imports

Read more in the USDA’s Organic Oversight and Enforcement Update.

California LGMA Board Recommends Preharvest Testing to Reduce Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

The California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA) board has recommended new preharvest testing guidance in an effort to prevent foodborne illness outbreaks associated with leafy greens.

The guidance asks for preharvest testing of leafy greens products when deemed necessary by risk agreements, specifically when grown in proximity to animals.

In addition to the preharvest testing guidance document, the LGMA board announced several other updates to food safety standards currently being developed by its technical committee that are expected to become requirements in the months ahead. Projects currently under development include an adjacent land risk tool, a root-cause analysis requirement for high-risk food safety incidents, and a major revision to existing standards for soil amendments and crop inputs.

Mondelēz International to Receive the 2021 Black Pearl Award

The International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) selected Mondelēz International as the 2021 recipient of the prestigious Black Pearl Award. Sponsored by F&H Food Equipment Company, the Black Pearl Award will be presented at IAFP’s 2021 Annual Meeting in Phoenix July 18–21. This honor is given annually to one company for its efforts in advancing food safety and quality through consumer programs, employee relations, educational activities, adherence to standards, and support of the goals and objectives of IAFP.

The company’s approach to ethical standards, diversity and inclusion, and social responsibility underpins the delivery of safe and quality products as much as processes, procedures, equipment, and training. In this way, every person can achieve their potential through a combination of technical and behavioral skills development, empowering the individual to not just do the right thing but to do it in the right way—a truly cultural approach to food safety and quality.

PSSI has appointed Jeanette Bruni the new vice president of human capital.

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Dr. Jewel H. Bronaugh by voice vote to serve as deputy secretary of agriculture at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

C.H. Guenther & Son, a producer of branded and private-label food products, has announced that John D. Buckles has been named president and CEO.

The International Foodservice Distributors Association has brought in Mala Parker as vice president, government relations.

Past Food Safety Magazine authors Richard Brouillette and Melanie J. Neumann will be presented with the Sanitarian Award and the Harold Barnum Industry Award, respectively, at the upcoming annual meeting of the International Association for Food Protection July 18–21, in Phoenix. F. Tracy Schonrock will also be honored with the association’s Honorary Life Membership Award.

Michelman has hired Heather Ecke and Gianluigi Rankin to better serve its printing and packaging business segment.

Brighter Bites, a Houston-based nonprofit that delivers fresh fruits, vegetables, and nutrition education resources directly to students and their families, is pleased to announce the hiring of Amy Priebe as its new sourcing manager.

RWS Facility Services has announced the appointment of Tom LaMartina to the role of vice president of facility managed services.

Dilution Solutions LLC is excited to announce the hiring of Corey Schortzmann as a technical sales representative.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed the Shigella Prevention and Control Toolkit that is now available online. The toolkit was developed to help state and local health departments respond to suspected or confirmed cases, clusters, or outbreaks of Shigella infection. The toolkit has information on data collection; how to respond to an outbreak of Shigella infection; sanitation, hygiene, and cleaning; as well as fact sheets, palm cards, and letter templates to aid communications with the public, including materials specific to key populations.

www.cdc.gov/shigella/shigella-toolkit.html