Regulations: Page 78

U.S. DOT Proposes Speed Limiters for Large Commercial Vehicles

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)

The department’s proposal would establish safety standards requiring all newly manufactured U.S. trucks, buses, and multipurpose passenger vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating more than 26,000 pounds to come equipped with speed limiting devices.

Motor carriers operating commercial vehicles in interstate commerce would be responsible for maintaining the speed limiting devices at or below the designated speed for the service life of the vehicle under the proposal. While the maximum set travel speed will be determined in the final rule, estimates included in the proposal demonstrate that limiting heavy vehicles will save lives.

Consumer Group Urges FDA to Improve Supermarket Recall Notification Rules

Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

In a letter to FDA Deputy Commissioner Stephen Ostroff, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) wrote that it is concerned by the agency’s lack of progress on this particular provision of the FSMA.

In a letter to FDA Deputy Commissioner Stephen Ostroff, CSPI wrote that it is concerned by the agency’s lack of progress on this particular provision of the FSMA.

FDA Extends Certain FSMA Compliance Dates; Issues Draft Guidance

Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

While the major provisions of the FSMA rules are being implemented as planned, the FDA issued a final rule that extends and clarifies the compliance dates for certain provisions in four of the seven foundational rules.

Fsma

FMCSA Defends 30-Minute Rest Break Rule, Nixes Proposal

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, a national association of commercial motor vehicle enforcement officials, petitioned FMCSA in November 2015 to drop the mandatory 30-minute rest break.

The CVSA petition noted roadside law enforcement officers and inspectors have no way to know for sure that truckers are actually not working during the 30-minute rest break. Along with not having any way to verify the legitimacy of the rest break, enforcement is also complicated by the exemptions to the rest break FMCSA has granted to select segments of the trucking industry, according to CVSA.

Cyclospora Outbreak Afflicts 88 in Texas

Eighty-eight cases of cyclospora infection have been reported to the Texas Department of State Health Services this year — including 28 cases reported in August and 55 cases confirmed in July.

Last year there were 316 cyclosporiasis cases reported in the state.

Risk/Compliance

Foodservice Industry Prepares for Big Challenges on Many Fronts

From the FSMA to labor regulations to changing consumer demands and more.

iStock 66677803 LARGE 57ae2927e23fe

Are You Ready for FSMA?

Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

Food and Drug Administration takes a non-prescriptive approach to improving food safety.

iStock 63898661 XLARGE 57ae2add23912

Emerging Technologies

IBM Demonstrates How Big Data Speeds Foodborne Illness Investigations

Leveraging retail scanner data with spatial information collected at any grocery store/supermarket along with the confirmed geo-coded cases reported from the public health agency makes it possible to quickly identify a small set of “suspect” products.

IBM researchers believe the availability of electronic retail scanner data with new analytics and laboratory techniques can hugely accelerate outbreak investigation and aid public health agency in that mission at the county, state, and national levels. The potential benefits of this opportunity include reducing the costs of foodborne illness (now $9 billion annually in the U.S.) and of economic losses from outbreaks and recalls.

Consumer Groups Push FDA to Ban Plastic Liners in Canned Food

Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

For years, some food can manufacturers have used linings that contain the chemical Bisphenol A, commonly known as PBA, which is linked to problems with hormone products in women and children.

Some companies that stopped using BPA have replaced it with a synthetic plastic called polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. PVC contains chemicals called phthalates.

Campbell Soup Co. Commits to Antibiotic-Free Chicken

Campbell Soup Co.

Campbell President Denise Morrison said the planned change reflects a "real food philosophy" at Campbell, which has previously vowed to remove artificial colors and flavors from North American products by year-end 2018.

Campbells Soup image 56fbeb25bcced

Bar-S Foods Recalls 372,684 Pounds of Chicken and Pork Hot Dogs and Corn Dogs

Bar-S Foods notified FSIS’ Dallas District Office on July 19, 2016, of its intention to recall five chicken and pork hot dog and corn dog products that could potentially be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The ready-to-eat, chicken and pork hot dog and corn dog items were produced on July 10, 11, 12, and 13, 2016.

ConAgra Foods Expands Recall Over Metal Fragments

The problem was first discovered on July 1 by an employee at the Russellville, Ark., ConAgra facility who observed metal fragments while dispensing sugar from a supplier for sauce formulation during processing.

The fragments range in size between 2 and 9 millimeters (mm) in diameter, and are curled, malleable and shiny. The metal fragments may be embedded in the sauce contained within the frozen entrée products.

Page 78 of 110