Keep Foodborne Illness Away from Your Super Bowl End Zone

(Washington, D.C., February 3, 2021) – Score a touchdown this year with your Super Bowl LV snacks by keeping bacteria out of the end zone. While your Super Bowl traditions may look different this year given COVID-19 and the need to maintain social distancing, your plans probably still involve food. Whether you are cooking your favorite munchies from scratch or ordering from a nearby restaurant, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) wants you to remember to follow safe food handling rules.

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.

FSIS 101: Mission of the Food Safety and Inspection Service

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 again to come before you today to discuss the Food Safety and Inspection Service. I appreciate this chance to highlight our mission and our people.

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. 

USDA Shares Easy At-Home Advice for Handling Food Safely This Thanksgiving

(Washington, D.C., November 23, 2020) – This week, Americans will enjoy a delicious meal on Thanksgiving Day with family and friends – either in person or virtually. Taking the necessary steps toward safe food handling and sanitation will help protect you and your loved ones this year. To make sure your Thanksgiving meal is prepared safely, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering food safety advice to reduce foodborne illness, including on Thanksgiving Day.

Sustained cold temperatures drive the second largest net withdrawal from working gas stocks in the Lower 48 states

(Tue, 02 Mar 2021) Working gas operators reported the second-largest weekly net withdrawals for the Lower 48 states following a week characterized by widespread extreme cold throughout most of the country, which increased heating demand for natural gas. Net withdrawals from underground natural gas storage facilities totaled 338 billion cubic feet (Bcf) for the week ending February 19, which was 218 Bcf more than the five-year average net withdrawals for the week and only 21 Bcf less than the all-time weekly record withdrawal (359 Bcf reported for the week ending January 5, 2018).

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