Food Logistics serves the entire Printing Industry with targeted content for the large commercial print segment.
Issue link: https://foodlogistics.epubxp.com/i/295107
SUPPLY SCAN 10 A P R I L 2014 ❯❯ FO O D LO G I S T I C S W W W . F O O D L O G I S T I C S . C O M N E W S F R O M A C R O S S T H E F O O D S U P P LY C H A I N commodity, cleanliness, absence of cross-contamination and bacterial growth outside of the norm, proper handling of pest control, chemical storage, and labeling. CrowleyFresh also scored high on its recordkeeping procedures. Under current requirements, records must be kept for 12 months detailing the precise tem- peratures of each of the warehouse's multiple cooling chambers. Crow- leyFresh was easily able to supply these records along with informa- tion on how the company tracks recalls, conducts independent lab tests, and more. "We are proud of this accom- plishment," said Eduardo Campos, CrowleyFresh director. "Achieving perfection is not very common in the industry, as per Primus Labs, only two percent of the industry has achieved it. Our stellar results are a testament to our entire team's commitment to reinforce proce- dures in order to supply our cus- tomers with trustworthy cold chain solutions ensuring the integrity of their products." CrowleyFresh's state-of-the-art facility features high-tech cool- ing and monitoring equipment, including forced air precooling, which can be adjusted to meet and maintain various temperature requirements and is open 24/7 to store and handle perishables arriv- ing from Latin and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and the Far East to South Florida for import and export. FDA Claims User Fees Necessary to Implement FSMA The U.S. FDA is again asking for new user fees to help it imple- ment the Food Safety Moderniza- tion Act. In President Obama's budget for fiscal year 2015, the FDA has proposed new user fees that would provide roughly $229 million in funding for the food import program as well as the food facility registration and inspection program. "More funding has to come down the line, but this funding we've asked for will help start the program and roll it out," explained an FDA official during a press conference last month. "We hope to work with Congress and help it pass." According to blog post on Law360.com, the FDA's proposed new user fees for the food import program would help the agency modernize the import system, while the food facility fees would help modernize the food safety sys- tem and create more resources for preventing food illness outbreaks. FDA official Michael Taylor reaffirmed the agency's need for user fee funding in February, tell- ing a House Energy & Commerce Committee panel at the time that the agency does not have the resources to fully implement cer- tain aspects of FSMA, including the mandate to prevent the impor- tation of contaminated food. The US-based industry group Grocery Manufacturers Association says it supports the FDA's proposed new user fees and would do its part to work with Congress to help the FDA get the funding it needs to implement the FSMA. "GMA recognizes that for the FDA to effectively implement and enforce the food safety mandates set forth in FSMA, it must be appropriately resourced," GMA spokeswoman Ginny Smith said in the statement. "The food and beverage industry is committed to working with Congress, the Obama Administration and other stakeholders to ensure that FDA has the resources it needs to fully implement FSMA and continually improve food safety." Invisible Sentinel Gets AOAC Certification For Salmonella Rapid Test Philadelphia-based Invisible Sen- tinel Inc., a life-sciences company that develops rapid diagnostics tests for the detection of food- borne pathogens, announced in March their rapid diagnostic for the detection of Salmonella spe- cies received certification from the Association of Analytical Commu- nities (AOAC). The company's Veriflow Salmo- nella species assay (Veriflow SS) has been approved to detect bacterial contamination by Salmonella in multiple food types, including ready-to-eat foods, deli meat, and dairy products, as well as various surfaces with which food is in contact during preparation and packaging. The AOAC is a global standard- ization organization that validates analytical test methods for the food industry. The AOAC Performance Tested Methods designation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and many global regulatory agencies. With the certification of Veri- flow SS, Invisible Sentinel has now achieved AOAC approvals for multiple assays designed to protect against illness due to contaminated food. The Veriflow Listeria species assay (Veriflow LS) was approved earlier this year, and the Veriflow Campylobacter assay (Veriflow CA) and Veriflow Listeria monocyto- genes assay (Veriflow LM) received approvals last year. "Achieving additional AOAC certifications for the growing number of assays in our Veriflow product line remains a primary initiative, and we're excited to have built a comprehensive suite of nov- el and exceptional AOAC-approved pathogen diagnostics for the food and beverage industries," said Nick Siciliano, chief executive officer and co-founder of Invisible Sentinel. CFIA Wants Power To Fine Meat Facilities For Food Safety Problems The Canadian federal govern- ment is proposing to give itself the power to fine meat-processing plants that break hygiene and other operating rules meant to protect human health. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) says the regulatory change would give it another enforcement tool to help protect consumers. "These proposed new fines demonstrate our commitment to ensuring that Canada's stringent food safety requirements are being followed," said CFIA spokeswoman Lisa Murphy. "AMPs (administra- tive monetary penalties) will help the CFIA better protect consumers from food producers that fail to comply with federal food safety requirements." Canadian inspectors already have the power to issue written warnings to companies when problems at meat plants are found, and in serious cases the CFIA can suspend a plant's license and shut it down. The CFIA said the proposed fines range from C$2,000 to C$15,000 for violations. They could be imposed on a company that was regularly identified for not following food safety rules. The Canadian Meat Council (CMC), who represents federally inspected meatpacking and process- ing companies, argue that such fines are not needed. "The meat industry does not believe there is a necessity for yet another enforcement tool," said the group's spokesman, Ron Davidson. The CMC has also wondered why the federal government isn't seeking to apply such fines to the entire food-processing sector. The meat industry wants assur- ances about how fines would be imposed and what steps would be taken to ensure they would be applied in a consistent manner throughout Canada. "We are not pleased at all that this is being imposed on us ahead of the other sectors," said David- son. "Every inspector is going to have the opportunity to impose fines." FLOG_8-11_0414 SupplyScan.indd 10 4/3/14 5:19 PM