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. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued further information and guidance regarding registration requirements for domestic and foreign manufacturers, processors, packers or holders of food for human or animal consumption based on changes made by the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Ac

Dean Foods Co. is the latest ice cream maker to recall varieties made with peanut butter. Other dairy processors that have issued voluntary recalls include Oregon Ice Cream, Clemmys, Belfonte, Smith Dairy, BGC Manufacturing, Toft Dairy, Talenti Gelato, and Rich Products Corp.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey announced Friday that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will require aflatoxin screening and testing of milk received in Iowa beginning August 31, 2012 and continuing indefinitely.

The order announced today requires milk processors to screen all Grade A and Grade B farm bulk milk pickup tankers and farm can milk loads for aflatoxin on a weekly basis.