Laws and Regulations Committee Update – January 25 – 31, 2018

January 25, 2018

• National Frozen Foods Corporation Recalls Frozen Green Beans and Frozen Mixed Vegetables Because of Possible Health Risk http://dlvr.it/QCfYmY 
• Don’t eat raw sprouts served at Jimmy John’s restaurants in Illinois and Wisconsin – the sprouts have been linked to a Salmonella outbreak. http://bit.ly/2DwqvJ2 
• #FSMA Constituent Update: Draft guidance has been issued on Foreign Supplier Verification Program #FSVP rule for food importers & producers http://go.usa.gov/xnfkC  #foodsafety
• Reducing the # of Americans addicted to opioids & cutting the rate of new addiction is one of FDA’s highest priorities. FDA & @FTC have taken action against unscrupulous vendors capitalizing on the epidemic by selling products with baseless claims. https://go.usa.gov/xnf8C 
• 5 guidance documents issued with the latest steps FDA is taking to help food #importers & producers understand & effectively implement key safety provisions in  #FSMA regulations http://go.usa.gov/xnfkC 
• @US_FDA, @FTC Warn Companies Over Illegal Opioid Cessation Products #Regulatory  Focus  http://bit.ly/2Dyfp3c  #FDA#warning #opioids
• Trying to lose weight this New Year? Some bee pollen products marketed as #dietarysupplements for #weightloss can be tainted w/drugs. #FDAORA has received 50+ adverse event reports associated w/the use of these products. LEARN MORE:  https://go.usa.gov/xnNcs  #healthfraud

FSIS

FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Chicken and Pork Products Produced without the Benefit of Inspection

Recalls

askFSIS

Clarification on FSIS Directive 6100.3, Section VII, Verification of Good Commercial Practices for Poultry

AMS

USDA Seeks Nominees for National Blueberry Promotion Board

FNS

FNS Releases First Mobile App with Food Buying Guide, Takes Leap Forward in Customer Service

Providing Child Nutrition Program Benefits to Disaster Survivor Evacuees

FTC

Marketer That Deceptively Advertised Bed Bug Treatment Admits Violating FTC Order; Will Be Barred from Bed Bug Product Sales and Pay $224,356 for Consumer Refunds

FTC, FDA Warn Companies about Marketing and Selling Opioid Cessation Products

NAD

NAD Recommends Chattem Discontinue ‘Smart’ Design, Formulation Claims for Xyzal Allergy Medication

CSPI

Philadelphia Menu Sodium Warning Bill Makes Sense, Says CSPI

FDA, FTC Warn Companies Marketing Supplements as Opioid Addiction Withdrawal Aids

January 26, 2018

• #FDAORA issues advisory letter to Chill6 for making false claims on website that unapproved product prevents or treats withdrawal symptoms associated with benzodiazepine dependence, PTSD, alcoholism, & more: https://go.usa.gov/xnpzn #healthfraud
• #FDA & CDC believe E. coli outbreak likely linked to leafy greens to be over. We are confident any suspected leafy green is no longer on market or in consumers’ homes. FDA will continue traceback efforts to try to determine cause. See latest update:  http://go.usa.gov/xnfAt 

FSIS

Recalls

AMS

USDA Seeks Organizations to Nominate Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board Nominees

USDA Seeks Organizations to Nominate United Sorghum Checkoff Program Board Nominees

USDA Seeks Organizations to Nominate American Lamb Board Nominees

FTC

Statement of Acting FTC Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen on the Announcement of New FTC Nominations

National Academies

Exploring Partnership Governance in Global Health

Global Harmonization of Methodological Approaches to Nutrient Intake Recommendations: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief

CSPI

European Union Opinion on Gene Editing: Insightful or Missed Opportunity?

January 29, 2018

• Bulletproof 360, Inc. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Collagen Protein Dietary Supplement http://dlvr.it/QCmz7z 
• #IFSAC has posted materials from Updated #Foodborne Illness Source Attribution Estimates report Dec 12 webinar. Incl presentations, transcription & recording  #foodsafety @USDAFoodSafety @CDCgov http://go.usa.gov/xn9pk 
• #FDAORA issues advisory letter to Chill6 for making false claims on website that unapproved product prevents or treats withdrawal symptoms associated with benzodiazepine dependence, PTSD, alcoholism, & more: https://go.usa.gov/xnpzn  #healthfraud
• OEHHA intends to list TRIM® VX as known to the state to cause cancer via the authoritative bodies mechanism. OEHHA is providing this opportunity to comment as to whether the chemical meets the requirements for listing as causing cancer.
• The proposed change would establish a Proposition 65 Maximum Allowable Dose Level (MADL) for exposure to metham sodium of 290 micrograms per day.
• This proposition would define certain terms and establish a procedure for the registration and deregistration of medical supervisors for the California Medical Supervision Program (CMSP).

NIH-DDK

NIDDK Recent Advances & Emerging Opportunities 2018

CSPI

Stonyfield Slammed for Using Children to Scare Consumers About “Monstrous” Technology

January 30, 2018

• @USDA @SecretarySonny & @US_FDA @SGottliebFDA just signed an MOU for an enhanced regulatory partnership between the two agencies. State and local partnership a core principle. #agpartnerships #wpc2018
• Important milestone as @SecretarySonny and I sign a detailed @FDA @USDA partnership agreement to strengthen, streamline, enhance our areas of shared jurisdiction on food safety to better achieve our mission in most efficient way possible; and be good stewards for American people
• Signing an MOU on  #FSMA  between  @US_FDA  &  @USDA at #WPC2018 #ruralprosperity – at The White House
• Panera Bread Preemptively Recalls All 2 oz. and 8 oz. Cream Cheese Products http://dlvr.it/QD8QCY 
• Are you #diabetic? Beware of illegally marketed  #diabetes  treatments. #FDAORA advises consumers not to use these products. MORE: https://go.usa.gov/xnjph  #FDAconsumerupdate

GAO

U.S. Agencies Support Oversight Mechanisms but Could Enhance Their Monitoring of U.S. Assistance Agreements 

NAD

NAD Recommends Charter Discontinue One Version of ‘Monsters’ Commercial Following DirecTV Challenge and Modify Another; Company to Appeal

CSPI

U.S. “Roundtable” for Sustainable Beef has No Seat for Consumer Groups

80,000 Urge Trump Administration Not to Roll Back Progress on School Nutrition

January 31, 2018

• Primus Announces a Voluntary Nationwide Recall of All Lots Within Expiry of Prescription Medical Food Limbrel® Due to Rare But Serious and Reversible Adverse Events While Seeking FDA’s Cooperation to Restore Access for Patients with Medical Necessity http://dlvr.it/QDBFHR 
• #FDA Law Blog on Joint Action by #FDA and #FTC Against Companies Marketing Unapproved Opioid Cessation Products – http://tinyurl.com/yczcx2ay 
• Are you #diabetic? Beware of illegally marketed  #diabetes  treatments. #FDAORA advises consumers not to use these products. MORE: https://go.usa.gov/xnjph  #FDAconsumerupdate
• Status of chemicals considered by OEHHA for addition to the Proposition 65 list under the authoritative bodies mechanism

NAD

NAD Examines Revised Claims for Olivet Pet Food Storage Containers Following Challenge by Van Ness Plastic Molding

NAD Recommends Charter Discontinue One Version of ‘Monsters’ Commercial Following DirecTV Challenge and Modify Another; Company to Appeal

News & Water Watch

Maine Hands Nestlé a Seat on State Environmental Board

Trump Wants to Sell Our Water to Wall Street