EU and US Agricultural Trade Talks - Removing the Barriers Not Easy

Currently, the EU has a trade surplus for agricultural goods.   The US would like to improve on this by getting more US food into the EU, but trade barriers, both tariffs by the EU on imported goods and regulatory barriers hamper this.

In a report published in the EU,  RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE EU AGRI-FOOD SECTOR IN A POSSIBLE EU-US TRADE AGREEMENT, many of these issues are laid out.  A few items that pop out is the impact from US meat production, as a low cost provider, the use of surface wash treatments used in US to meet requirements of the Pathogen Reduction Act, and the use of GMO materials.

NY Cheese Company Recalls Cotija Cheese (Queso Cotija) After State Lab Tests Show E. coli (STEC)

Quesos La Ricura LTD. of Hicksville, NY, is recalling 12 oz. packages of Cotija Cheese (Queso Cotija) after the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services discovered that a sample of the product was contaminated with Shiga toxin producing E. coli.  No injuries have been reported.  Product was distributed through retail stores in NY, NC, PA, GA, FL.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/quesos-la-ricura-ltd-recalls-cotija-cheese-queso-cotija-because-possible-health-risk
Quesos La Ricura LTD. Recalls Cotija Cheese (Queso Cotija) Because Of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date: January 24, 2020
FDA Publish Date: January 24, 2020
Product Type: Food & Beverages Cheese/Cheese Product
Reason for Announcement: May be contaminated with Shiga toxin producing E. coli
Company Name: Quesos La Ricura
Brand Name: Quesos La Ricura
Product Description: Cheese

Novel Coronavirus Attracting Attention, Risk Considered Low

A lot of news coverage on the new, or novel, Coronavirus that originated in China.  Coronaviruses are a large family of virus that cause respiratory illness including the common cold with symptoms that are typically mild to moderate.

Novel forms of this virus can originate from time to time, strains evolving from animals and adapting to humans(this one may have originated in snakes),  Because the virus is new, it can take longer for the body to get it under control, and with that, it becomes more of a health issue.  But along with that, another factor is how quickly it spreads..how easily is it transmitted from person to person.

There is limited information on this current virus so far.  There have been approximately 830 cases reported so far, with 26 deaths.  Is it a huge risk...according to CDC, transmission has not been overly efficient, so the risk of a world wide pandemic is low....despite how much the main stream new media makes it seem.

My rendition of the corona virus.  The symptoms are dose dependent.

Oh, it's coronavirus, not corona virus.

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2020/p0124-second-travel-coronavirus.html
Second Travel-related Case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus Detected in United States
Press Release
For Immediate Release: Friday, January 24, 2020
Contact: Media Relations
 (404) 639-3286

Two Importers Issued Warning Letters for Not Having FSVP

Two importers were issued Warning Letters by FDA for not having FSVP programs.  FDA is focusing more enforcement attention on food importers with the requirement for having a foreign supplier verification program (FSVP) as required as part of the FSMA regulation, specifically  21 CFR part 1 subpart.

Swagath Home Foods LLC of WA did not have FSVPs for for Black Pepper Powder imported from Subhash Masala Co. Pvt. Ltd., Spiced Chutney Powder imported from MTR Foods Pvt. Ltd., and Potato Chips imported from Pepsico India Holding Pvt.

Dinamix Distribution, LLC, was TX was not in compliance with the requirements of 21 CFR part 1 subpart L - did not have FSVPs for the following imported products: mayonnaise; tomatoes-spice flavored drink; and punch flavored soft drinks imported from (b)(4).

FDA Warning Letter
https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/swagath-home-foods-llc-594166-01072020
Swagath Home Foods LLC 
MARCS-CMS 594166 — January 07, 2020

Cornbread Dressing Product Recalled Due to Use of Recalled Eggs as Ingredient

Savannah Food Company, Inc., in a huge abundance of caution,  is recalling certain formulations of Cornbread Dressing and Bread Stuffing that included frozen diced eggs supplied to our company by Almark Foods, which were recalled due to Listeria.

With fully cook instructions on the cornbread dressing boxes, risk would be minimal.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/savannah-food-company-inc-voluntarily-recalls-cornbread-dressing-and-bread-stuffing-products-due
Savannah Food Company, Inc. Voluntarily Recalls Cornbread Dressing and Bread Stuffing Products Due to Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date: January 21, 2020
FDA Publish Date: January 23, 2020
Product Type: Food & Beverages  Prepared Food
Reason for Announcement:  Potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name: Savannah Food Company, Inc.
Brand Name:  Morrison’s, Savannah Classics, Piccadilly
Product Description:  Cornbread Dressing and Bread Stuffing

Sandwich Company Expands Recall Again

Lipari Foods is yet again expanding its recall of Premo and Fresh Grab sandwiches due to potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes.  The issue started when their supplier notified them. The initial recall was on January 6, 2020 and second on January 13, 2020 . 

This is a typical type of a scenario where a company finds that they never had Listeria under control.  They may have not had a sufficiently robust program to find it....doing testing, but not really looking for it.  Hard to say for sure what occurred, but further expansion of a recall is never what you want to see.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lipari-foods-issues-voluntary-recall-expansion-additional-sandwiches-due-potential-contamination-0
Lipari Foods Issues Voluntary Recall Expansion on Additional Sandwiches Due to Potential Contamination of Listeria Monocytogenes
Summary
Company Announcement Date: January 22, 2020 

FDA Publish Date: January 22, 2020 

Product Type:Food & Beverages Prepared Food Foodborne Illness 

Reason for Announcement:  Due to potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes

Company Name:Lipari Foods

Brand Name:  Premo, Fresh Grab

Product Description:  Sandwiches

More Tahina Recalled After Michigan Ag Finds Salmonella in Product

A Michigan company is recalling tahina (tahini) after the Michigan Dept of Ag tested and found product positive for Salmonella.  No illnesses have been reported.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/five-star-food-recalls-sham-gardens-excellent-tahina-because-possible-health-risk
Five Star Food Recalls Sham Gardens Excellent Tahina Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date: January 15, 2020 

FDA Publish Date: January 21, 2020 

Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:Foodborne Illness  Potential to be contaminated with Salmonella
Company Name: Five Star Food Inc. 

Brand Name: Sham Gardens
Product Description:  Tahina

Michigan Processor Agrees to Stop Production After Unable to Control Listeria

A Michigan food processor agreed to suspend operations after years of not being able to get compliant with regulation.   Home Style Foods of  Hamtramck, MI, a manufacturer of ready-to-eat seafood and deli salads, failed to get take sufficient corrective actions to get their Listeria monocytognes issues under control.  From the notice:

"According to the complaint filed with the consent decree, the FDA inspected the facility seven times between May 2009 and June 2018. During each inspection, the FDA investigators observed significant objectionable conditions. The FDA also found L. mono in the facility in two of the inspections, including the most recent inspection. The company was issued an FDA Form 483 after each of the seven inspections, was issued a warning letter in April 2016 and the company attended a regulatory meeting with the FDA in January 2017. The defendants repeatedly promised to take corrective actions to address the objectionable conditions. However, the FDA’s June 2018 inspection showed that the defendants have failed to take effective measures to bring Home Style Foods’ ready-to-eat food processing operations into compliance with the law."

FDA News Release
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/michigan-based-food-manufacturer-agrees-stop-production-after-repeated-food-safety-violations
Michigan-based food manufacturer agrees to stop production after repeated food safety violations
For Immediate Release:January 13, 2020

Sandwich Recall for Listeria Expanded

Lipari Foods expanded their recall of Premo and Fresh Grab sandwiches due to the potential for Listeria monocytogenes.  The recall comes after the supplier of those sandwiches, JLM Manufacturing expanded their recall.  The recall was initially made after environmental sampling returned a positive test result for Listeria monocytogenes.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lipari-foods-issues-voluntary-recall-expansion-additional-sandwiches-due-potential-contamination
Lipari Foods Issues Voluntary Recall Expansion on Additional Sandwiches Due to Potential Contamination of Listeria Monocytogenes
Summary
Company Announcement Date: January 13, 2020
FDA Publish Date: January 13, 2020
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name: Lipari Foods, LLC
Brand Name:  Premo,& Fresh Grab
Product Description:  Sandwiches