Constituent Update February 19, 2021
FSIS Assists With Federal COVID-19 Vaccination Effort
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.
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.
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.
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 Issues Public Health Alert for Beef Stock Products Imported Without Benefit of Import Re-Inspection
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for beef stock products that were not presented for import re-inspection into the United States. A recall was not requested because it is believed that the affected product is no longer available for consumers to purchase.
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Chicken and Pork Tamales Containing FDA-Regulated Diced Tomatoes in Puree That Have Been Recalled Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 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) chicken and pork tamale products containing Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulated diced tomatoes in puree that have been recalled by the producer, due to concerns that the products may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically hard plastic. The hard plastic may pose a choking hazard or cause damage to teeth or gums.
Taher, Inc. Recalls Meat Products Produced Without Benefit of Inspection
Class I Recall
Health Risk: High
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2020 – Taher, Inc., a Plymouth, Minn. firm, is recalling approximately 22,096 pounds of meat products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
Stuffed Foods LLC Recalls Frozen Snack Products Due to Misbranding and an Undeclared Allergen
Class II Recall
Health Risk: Low
WASHINGTON, Nov. 11, 2020 – Stuffed Foods LLC, a Wilmington, Mass., establishment is recalling approximately 1,818 pounds of snack products due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product contains soy, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Spaghetti and Meatballs in Marinara Sauce Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for heat treated, not fully cooked, not shelf stable, spaghetti and meatballs in marinara sauce products due to concerns that the products may be contaminated with extraneous material, specifically metal. 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.