FY 2016 Budget Request for Food Safety

Statement Before the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. House of Representatives
Introduction
Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Farr, and members of the Subcommittee, my name is Al Almanza, Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). With me is Michael Young, USDA’s Budget Officer. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the status of the agency's programs and policies.

FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ready-To-Eat Meat and Poultry Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry bowl products, due to concerns that the products may be contaminated with extraneous material, specifically glass. FSIS is issuing this public health alert out of the utmost of caution to ensure that consumers are aware that these products should not be consumed.  A recall was not requested because it is believed that the products are no longer available for consumers to purchase.

Constituent Update February 12, 2021

Tips for a Faster Label Approval Process
Labels are currently taking about 3-5 business days to evaluate.
TIP: Egg product labels are now eligible for generic approval if the label does not meet any of the conditions that require label approval in 9 CFR 412.1.

Constituent Update - January 29, 2021

Tips for Faster Label Approval Process
Labels are currently taking about 3-5 business days to evaluate. 
TIP: The appeal function in the Label Submission and Approval System (LSAS) should be used only when the establishment and FSIS cannot come to a consensus on a label modification or return. 

Constituent Update - July 2, 2020

Fourth of July Food Safety Tips
Many Americans will be celebrating the Fourth of July this year – a little differently – with backyard barbecues and picnics, and maybe only with their immediate households. As you are celebrating, FSIS encourages you to make food safety and other public health recommendations a part of your holiday weekend.
Follow these tips from USDA to ensure a food safe Fourth of July:
Don’t Cross-Contaminate

Food Safety and Inspection Service: Our Mission and Our People (Mission Area Overview Hearing)

Statement Before the House Committee on Agriculture
Introduction
Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Peterson, and members of the Committee, my name is Al Almanza, Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Thank you for the opportunity to come before you today to discuss the Food Safety and Inspection Service, our mission, and our people.

FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Chicken and Beef Samosa Products Containing Pastry Ingredients That Have Been Recalled Due to Misbranding

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for chicken and beef samosa products containing spring roll pastries that have been recalled by the manufacturer, Tee Yih Jia (TYJ) Food Manufacturing, due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen. The products may contain milk, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product labels.

FSIS Announces Four Food Safety Fellows

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Food Safety (OFS) and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) have selected four Food Safety Fellows through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) program. The fellows are students currently working toward their doctoral degrees and have an interest in improving food safety and public health. During their fellowships they will learn how to apply their scientific and technical knowledge to inform FSIS decision making and improve the safety of the food supply.

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