Q Technical Consultancy’s Post

The European Commission has amendedCommission Regulation (EU) 2073/2005 on the microbiological criteria for foods to expand the requirements for food business operators regarding Listeria monocytogenes. According to the revised regulation, the responsibility for ensuring that L. monocytogenes is not present in covered RTE foods now applies to all situations where those foods are placed on the market throughout their shelf life, and for which the producing food business operator has not been able to demonstrate that the level of L. monocytogenes will not exceed the limit of 100 cfu/g throughout its shelf life. The amendment was prompted by the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA’s) latest zoonoses report, which found that the number of listeriosis cases recorded in the EU increased by 15.9 percent between 2021 and 2022. The new requirement will take effect on July 1, 2026.

✨PFAS is gradually being phased out from food packaging in the United States🌱 🌿According to a recent announcement by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), food companies in the country have completed the voluntary phase-out of PFAS in food packaging. This substance is commonly used in fast food wrappers, popcorn bags, takeout containers, and pet food bags. ✨Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) include thousands of chemicals used in packaging due to their grease- and water-resistant properties. They are considered persistent chemicals and can accumulate in the human body, posing serious developmental risks in children and increasing the risk of certain cancers. The FDA stated that it may take approximately 18 months from the date of discontinuing the sale of PFAS-containing packaging on the market. --------------------------- If you have any questions, feel free to ask us here: https://lnkd.in/gV9vP3V9 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐁𝐚𝐠𝐬 & 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐠𝐬 - 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐉𝐒𝐂 🌐 Website: https://haplast.vn/en/ ☎ WhatsApp: +84 663 466 68 #haplast #manufacturer #PFAS #UnitedStates #popcorn #news #chemicals

⚠️ FDA determines tara flour not safe The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently determined that tara flour in human food does not meet the Generally Recognized As Safe (or GRAS) standard and is an unapproved food additive. A review of the regulatory status of this food ingredient was triggered after a 2022 outbreak investigation where leek and lentil crumble product that used tara flour was associated with roughly 400 adverse event reports. The FDA’s evaluation revealed that there is not enough data on the use of tara flour in food, or a history of its safe use, to consider it GRAS. Tara flour is a plant-based protein ingredient manufactured from the seeds or pods of the South American Tara tree (Caesalpinia spinsoa). ↪️ Read more at https://vist.ly/z8r3 #FDA #USA #GRAS #Taraflour

🔬Celebrating Our Collaboration with ALS Global🔬 We are proud to continue our partnership with ALS Global, a trusted leader in testing that upholds the highest standards of accuracy and integrity. Their accreditations, including UKAS ISO 17025 and INAB, underscore their commitment to excellence in the industry. Through their expertise in a variety of testing methods, we ensure our meat products meet rigorous safety and quality standards: ● Microbiological Testing: Detects harmful pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter, while the Total Plate Count (TPC) assesses overall microbial load to indicate hygiene and freshness. ● Shelf Life Testing: Validates how long meat remains safe and retains quality under specified storage conditions and monitors spoilage indicators like odour, texture, and colour changes over time. ● DNA Testing: Confirms species identification to ensure our products are accurately labelled, preventing any adulteration. ● Shelf Stability and Packaging Testing: Evaluates oxygen and water vapour transmission rates to ensure packaging effectively prevents spoilage, alongside Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) testing for extended shelf life. ● Nutritional Testing: Analyses macronutrient and micronutrient content to verify product labels and ensure they meet dietary claims. Here’s to many more years of collaboration as we continue to raise the bar for product assurance, safety, and innovation! #ALSGlobal #FoodSafety #QualityAssurance #MicrobiologicalTesting #DNA #NutritionalTesting #Collaboration #Innovation

The latest attack on Red 3 comes from several members of Congress in a letter to FDA asking them to ban this food dye. This letter is indicative of the increased scrutiny of chemicals in food that we are seeing from Congress, the states, plaintiff's attorneys, and the incoming Administration's political nominees for HHS and FDA. Even FDA has embarked on an initiative to reassess chemicals currently in the food supply. This means a lot of turmoil for food companies as they attempt to navigate the road ahead and lots of opportunities to make their voices heard in the process. How are you preparing? https://lnkd.in/eiVpr-vU

Effective from 1 July 2024, Regulation (EU) 2024/1038 sets forth clear guidelines for compliance with the established limits for #T2 and #HT2 #toxins. Food products legally placed on the market before this date may remain available until their shelf life or expiry date, providing a transition period for stakeholders to adapt to the new regulatory framework. As a trusted analytical laboratory, Neotron offers comprehensive support to its customers in navigating the regulatory landscape outlined in Regulation (EU) 2024/1038. #togetherforfoodsafety https://lnkd.in/d5-vy2yt

FDA, CDC Combine Two Salmonella Outbreaks Into One; WGS Suggests Cucumbers Grown With Contaminated Water By Food Safety Magazine Editorial Team August 15, 2024 Thanks to whole genome sequencing (WGS) and other investigative data, two foodborne salmonellosis outbreaks previously thought to be separate have been linked to each other and have been associated with cucumbers. An investigation of the now-singular outbreak is ongoing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The outbreak has caused 449 illnesses and 125 hospitalizations in 31 states, plus Washington D.C. Salmonella Africana and S. Braenderup are the specific serotypes behind the outbreak. https://lnkd.in/eMg2FkTU

FDA Says Tara Flour is Not GRAS Not surprising, given that it caused a number of very severe illnesses, but still, it is nice to see that the agency did take the time to make a formal decision. This reminds companies looking for that special ingredient to make their product stand out. You MUST do your homework to be sure that safety has been determined through a thorough and fully documented scientific evaluation. This is particularly important for all the new protein sources that are being developed and marketed. To learn more about GRAS and what is involved in a GRAS evaluation, please join me for an IFT Workshop in Chicago on July 13-14. If you can't make it to Chicago, DM me, and we can talk about protecting you and your consumers. #foodsafety #gras #tara #foodandbeverageindustry https://lnkd.in/eBurxNsw

Important recall notice! The Food and Drug Administration has issued a recall for all Totally Cool Inc. ice cream products due to potential Listeria contamination. Read the article to learn more and follow our page for more recall updates and safety tips! https://bit.ly/3LmbuuE

The two biggest culprits behind product recalls in 2024 so far? Microbiological contamination and allergen labelling issues. This is according to RQA Group’s Q2 Product Recall Bulletin, which gave examples including: Listeria contaminated dairy products sold under 10 different brand names in the US and Canada. Undeclared peanuts in cookies. These examples showcase the scale and potential implications of a product crisis. It’s of critical importance to have a proactive recall strategy, because when it happens, you need an action plan that helps you act fast. #productrecall #productcrisis #manufacturing.