The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing two additional public meetings on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA): Proposed Rules for Produce Safety and for the Preventive Controls for Human Food. Last week the agency announced a draft quantitative assessment of the risk of listeriosis from soft-ripened cheese consumption in the United States and Canada. The risk assessment is a joint effort between FDA and Health Canada. 

Dairy Foods announces its new role as the exclusive dairy publication serving as a media partner for the annual Food Safety Summit, the leading forum on food safety and food security, with the world's top authorities examining the most up-to-date innovations in the industry.  

Washdown areas in the dairy industry are among the most difficult areas to maintain OSHA compliance for food handling because bacteria can be found in almost any food handling scenario.  The food industry relies on chemical washdown processes to eliminate bacteria. Signs and labels communicate safe plant procedures for these requirements. Because of the harsh environment, standard signs have a tendency to bleed or simply peel right off. The International Dairy Foods Association and the National Milk Producers Federation have introduced guidelines to ensure dairy products are protected and signs, labels and tags play an important role communicating these guidelines. 

The Kroger Co. recalls select containers of Kroger Deluxe French Vanilla Ice Cream because they might contain pecans not listed on the label.

The Center for Food Safety & Regulatory Solutions (CFSRS) with Dairy Foods columnist Allen Sayler as the managing partner, is holding training workshops this month.