The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published the 2022 Pesticide Data Program (PDP) Annual Summary, which shows that over 99% of the samples tested had pesticide residues below benchmark levels established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The tests were conducted on 10,665 samples from 23 commodities including fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, dairy, nuts and grains. The PDP …
State Ag Departments Want FDA Help for Hemp Industry
Federal agencies are continuing to work on filing a new regulatory process for hemp products. In the meantime, state departments of agriculture officials are asking the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to create a clear regulatory framework for hemp products as quickly as possible. The ag departments sent a series of comments to the FDA, saying that they have an …
USDA and FDA Announce a Formal Agreement to Regulate Cell-Cultured Food Products from Cell Lines of Livestock and Poultry
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a formal agreement to jointly oversee the production of human food products derived from the cells of livestock and poultry. FSIS and FDA released a formal agreement to address the regulatory oversight …
Florida-Grown Romaine Cleared as FDA Continues E. coli Outbreak Investigation
Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have cleared Florida-grown romaine lettuce. Their ongoing investigation into the multi-state E. coli outbreak has determined that the implicated romaine comes from areas of California. On Nov. 20, the CDC advised the public not to eat any romaine …
Lettuce Lessons – An AgNet Media Commentary
Florida growers of romaine lettuce are losing millions of dollars at the start of their season, even though harvest dates should clear the Florida crop in the present recall. By Gary Cooper The E. coli romaine lettuce scare coming out of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) last Tuesday effectively shut down the movement of this lettuce variety throughout nearly the …
NMPF Thanks FDA for Extending Milk Labeling Comment Period
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) thanked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its announcement that it will extend by 60 days, until Jan. 25, the public comment period during which the agency is seeking information on the proper names for plant-based beverages. The original deadline was Nov. 27. “It is crucial that all interested parties have adequate time …
NCBA Efforts on Fake Meat Continue
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) recently took part in a two-day public meeting about fake meat. The event, hosted jointly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), covered a wide range of topics for consideration, including potential production hazards, food labeling, and marketing claims. NCBA’s Danielle Beck explains where things go from …
ASTA Statement on FDA Plant and Animal Biotechnology Innovation Action Plan
The following is a statement from American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) President & CEO Andrew LaVigne regarding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new Action Plan on biotechnology innovation: “We’re encouraged by FDA’s announcement that the agency is moving forward on a plan to provide clarity and foster future innovation around evolving plant breeding methods. “ASTA submitted detailed comments on this topic to …
FDA Gottlieb, Abram on FDA’s New Plan to Advance Plant, Animal Biotechnology Innovation
Innovations in plant and animal biotechnology offer tremendous opportunities for advancing public health. Promising new technologies that can edit animal and plant genomes have the potential to improve human and animal health, animal well-being, food productivity and food security. New forms of biotechnology allow modification of living organisms, such as plants or animals, in order to produce a new product, …
Cell-based Meat Summit Leading to Joint Regulatory Action
The Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration is inching towards a joint regulatory approach for cell-cultured, or so-called lab-grown meats. Agri-Pulse reports Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb “drew no lines in the sand” throughout a two-day meeting on the subject. Gottlieb told reporters that FDA and USDA have worked together in the past, …