THIS SECTION IS FOR NEWS AND INTERESTING STORIES RELATED TO FOOD, NUTRITION AND FOOD PROCESSING. THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY RELATED TO KOSHER BUT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO THE KOSHER CONSUMER, MANUFACTURER OR MASHGIACH.
June 21, 2023 - from the CNN Business:
"Cultivated meat, also known as lab-grown meat, has been cleared for sale in the United States.
"Upside Foods and Good Meat, two companies that make what they call “cultivated chicken,” said Wednesday that they have gotten approval from the US Department of Agriculture to start producing their cell-based proteins.
"Good Meat, which is owned by plant-based egg substitute maker Eat Just, said that production is starting immediately. Cultivated or lab-grown meat is grown in a giant vat, much like what you’d find at a beer brewery.
"Last week, Good Meat and Upside said they had received approval for labels for its product from the USDA. In March, Good said it had received a so-called “no questions” letter from the Food and Drug Administration. That letter states that the administration is satisfied that the product is safe to sell in the United States. The FDA issued a similar letter Upside Foods in November.
" Good Meat, which has been selling its products in Singapore, advertises its product as “meat without slaughter,” a more humane approach to eating meat. Supporters hope that cultured meat will help fight climate change by reducing the need for traditional animal agriculture, which emits greenhouse gases.
"The company had previously announced that it was partnering with chef and restaurateur José Andrés to bring the item to a Washington, DC restaurant. It is working with his team on a launch but doesn’t have specific information on timing at this point, according to a company spokesperson. As production ramps up, Good Meat may consider partnering with other restaurants or launching in retail, he added."
June 14, 2023 - from the PR News:
" UPSIDE Foods, the leading cultivated meat, poultry and seafood company, announced today that it obtained label approval for its cultivated chicken from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). With an approved label in hand, UPSIDE Foods is now working with USDA to obtain a Grant of Inspection (GOI) for its Engineering, Production, and Innovation Center (EPIC), the last remaining item in the pre-market regulatory process before the company can commercially produce and sell its cultivated chicken in the United States. The label uses the term 'cell-cultivated chicken.'
"As a cultivated meat product grown directly from real animal cells, UPSIDE's Chicken is subject to the same labeling requirements as conventionally-produced meat products. UPSIDE Foods has now demonstrated full compliance with all pre-market requirements for labeling and can begin commercial production and sales as soon as it obtains a GOI from USDA. UPSIDE's chicken will proudly bear the USDA mark of inspection on its packaging after it passes USDA inspection.
"After completing the next and final regulatory step, UPSIDE's cultivated chicken will be launched in limited quantities through select restaurant partners.
" In addition, UPSIDE will continue its work with FDA and USDA to bring its next consumer products to market, including sausages, nuggets, and dumplings."
November 16, 2022 - from the FDA:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) completed its first pre-market consultation for a human food made from cultured animal cells. We evaluated the information UPSIDE Foods submitted to the agency and have no further questions at this time about the firm’s safety conclusion. The firm will use animal cell culture technology to take living cells from chickens and grow the cells in a controlled environment to make the cultured animal cell food.
The FDA's pre-market consultation with the firm included an evaluation of the firm’s production process and the cultured cell material made by the production process, including the establishment of cell lines and cell banks, manufacturing controls, and all components and inputs. The voluntary pre-market consultation is not an approval process. Instead, it means that after our careful evaluation of the data and information shared by the firm, we have no further questions at this time about the firm’s safety conclusion.
More information is here
November 16, 2022 - from the FoodDive:
"Upside Foods and the U.S. have both reached a milestone with this approval. Not only is Upside Foods a step closer to selling cultivated chicken, but the U.S. could soon have a new kind of meat available for consumers to choose.
"Upside Foods, founded in 2016 as Memphis Meats, was one of the first companies in the cultivated meat space.
"It also is the one that’s closest to being able to produce meat at scale. Just over a year ago, Upside opened a 53,000-square-foot facility in the San Francisco Bay Area that will be able to make 400,000 pounds of meat a year — enough to serve some restaurant customers.
"Through this approval, the FDA is showing its commitment to supporting innovation in the food supply. The statement stressed that the FDA’s first priority is safety. Food made with cultured animal cells, the agency wrote, must meet the same stringent requirements as other food regulated by the FDA.
"For meat and poultry products, the FDA ensures products are produced in a safe manner. After the meat is harvested from the bioreactor, it enters the USDA’s jurisdiction — just like any animal meat product."
June 12, 2023 - from Anash.org
"A free service by the Association of Kashrus Organizations (AKO) will assess a camp’s kashrus infrastructure and guide camps in maintaining proper kashrus standards throughout the summer.
"Summer camps play a critical role in our children’s chinuch, and the food services provided at camps are a major part of the summer experience. While camps strive to ensure that the level of kashrus provided matches the camp’s standard, maintaining proper kashrus in such a large operation can indeed be challenging.
"To this end, the Association of Kashrus Organizations (AKO) created a free initiative to help camps implement proper standards at no cost. Bringing together a team of leading experts from the most respected agencies, they will analyze and assess a camp’s kashrus infrastructure and provide guidance to ensure that the level of kashrus is maintained throughout the summer.
Common questions include:
"The process is simple: camps fill out a short questionnaire, schedule a virtual consultation with an AKO kashrus professional, receive an initial assessment, schedule an onsite visit from a kashrus professional, and receive a follow-up assessment. If applicable, they will also receive training sessions for camp kitchen personnel.
"The AKO organization itself does not give any kosher certification or endorsements; however, the Camp Kashrus Initiative provides invaluable assistance to maintain proper kashrus in summer camps. There is no charge for this service. Camps have the option of obtaining follow-up visits from an AKO kashrus professional during the camp season and a kashrus workshop for the staff and/or campers for a fee.
"For more information or to begin the process, interested camps can email AKO at camps@akokosher.org or call/text (617) 651-1584.
June 1, 2023 - from Bloomberg Law
"Inorganic arsenic in apple juices shouldn’t exceed 10 parts per billion under guidance finalized by the FDA Thursday—nearly a decade after the agency first proposed the limit.
"The final guidance contains nonbinding recommendations for juice manufacturers. It is another step in the Food and Drug Administration’s “Closer to Zero” action plan, which includes planned goals to help lower early childhood exposure to toxic heavy metals as much as possible.
"he agency has prioritized apple juice, baby foods, and other products commonly consumed by young children, due to studies that have linked early heavy metal consumption to slowed development and other serious health issues.
"Food safety analysts have identified inorganic arsenic, a particular form of arsenic, as one of the greatest concerns in baby foods, and a 2019 review of 14 studies on inorganic arsenic published in Chemical Research in Toxicology found consistent evidence demonstrating a link between early exposure to the heavy metal and an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis.
May 25, 2023 - from Food and Beverage Insider
"Bills introduced to the New York State Assembly and the Senate (A06424 and S06055-A) intend to prohibit five commonly used food additives. The move by the New York legislature follows a proposed ban of ingredients in California. Lawmakers in both states have arbitrarily decided that brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propyl paraben, red dye No. 3 and titanium dioxide are unsafe.
"If the bill passes in either state, enforcement will begin on January 1, 2025. The impact on food manufacturers will be felt nationally as reformulation and relabeling will be needed if any product could potentially enter a state where this law is in effect.
"NY A06424 makes the argument, “The science behind the health effects of increased consumption of such additives is shedding new light on just how dangerous some of them can be. This legislation protects New Yorkers from five of the most pervasive and harmful food additives … The recognition by the federal Food and Drug Administration of any of these substances as safe may not be alleged as a defense.”
"Industry maintains that scientific oversight has ensured the safety of these ingredients. In a letter written in opposition to California Assembly Bill 418 (AB 418) on March 13, 2023, a coalition of industry members voiced strong opposition to the bill. 'The United States Federal Government has a comprehensive food safety process that reviews food additives,” they wrote. “All five of these additives have been thoroughly reviewed by the federal and state systems and many international scientific bodies and continue to be deemed safe.'
Both bills in New York have been referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
"California bill, AB 418, is advancing through the state Senate where it has been referred to the Assembly Health Committee."
May 30, 2023 - from New Hope Network
"Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently signed a bill requiring clear labeling of analogs of meat, poultry, seafood and eggs, as well as cultivated meat.
"The law, which takes effect Sept. 1, requires plant-based or fermented analogs of meat, poultry, seafood and eggs to have a prominent label with type at least the same size as the text around it labeling products as “analogue,” “meatless,” “plant-based,” “made from plants” or with similar clarifying language. A similar requirement in the state law for cultivated meat requires that any food product made from harvesting animal cells replicated to produce tissue have a similar label. The bill suggests the label say “cell-cultured,” “lab-grown” or similar language.
"What happens when Texas’s law takes effect on Sept. 1 is an open question. It seems many companies are already complying with the new law. Meat, dairy and egg analog companies already include labeling that specifically says their products are made from plants or another substance. These companies have said they want consumers to know their products are not meat, an attribute that is a selling point for some shoppers.
"As some of these laws started to take effect, advocacy groups including the Good Food Institute, legal organizations such as the Animal Legal Defense Fund and plant-based meat companies including Tofurky, have fought back in the courtroom. So far, litigation in Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas has yielded favorable decisions for meat alternative companies, while cases in Missouri and Oklahoma are pending.
"In the cases that have ended in decisions, courts have ruled the laws do not apply to any current company making meat analogs. The products on the market today have clear labeling, rulings have found. In Arkansas, the court found the law infringes on plant-based meat companies’ First Amendment rights “to convey meaningful, helpful information to consumers about the products they are purchasing.”
May 22, 2023 - from Reuters
"Farmers in Kansas, the biggest U.S. producer of wheat used to make bread, are abandoning their crops after a severe drought and damaging cold ravaged farms.
"They are intentionally spraying wheat fields with crop-killing chemicals and claiming insurance payouts more than normal, betting the grain is not worth harvesting, Reuters found on a three-day tour of the state. Other growers are turning over dismal-looking fields to cattle for grazing.
"Abandoning fields will lead to a smaller U.S. wheat supply in the world's No. 5 wheat exporter, with stocks seen falling to a 16-year low. High rates of abandonment deal an economic blow to farm towns and force wheat buyers to adjust procurement plans by buying the staple grain elsewhere.
"Nationally, winter-wheat farmers plan to abandon 33% of the acres they planted, the highest percentage since World War I, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a May 12 report.
"Kansas farmers are expected to abandon about 19% of the acres planted last autumn, up from 10% last year and 4% in 2021, according to the report. But farmers, grain traders and representatives of major food companies who traversed the state on an annual crop tour last week warn of an even greater percentage of unharvested acres.
"Crop conditions point toward an outcome similar to 1989, when farmers did not harvest 28% of the wheat they planted, said Justin Gilpin, chief executive of the Kansas Wheat Commission and a tour leader.
"Soaring prices for hay also pressure wheat farmers not to harvest their fields for grain so they can be fed to cattle,
"Kansas farmers are expected to produce just 191.4 million bushels of wheat this year, the smallest since 1963, according to the latest monthly government forecast. Participants on the Wheat Quality Council tour projected an even smaller harvest of 178 million bushels.
"Farmers who pull the trigger on terminating their crops do so after watching fields struggle throughout the months-long growing season.
"Parts of Oklahoma are suffering too. In six northern counties, an estimated 65% to 70% of the crop will not be harvested, said Mike Schulte, executive director of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission."
May 31, 2023 - from Kosherfest.com
From Diversified Communications who have been running Kosherfest: "We have made the difficult decision to discontinue Kosherfest. Due to today’s changing supermarket category manager buying responsibilities and the elimination of the kosher buyer in many major supermarket chains, exhibitors feel Kosherfest has run its course and there is no longer significant ROI to justify exhibiting at the show."
"All exhibit space deposits received, will be refunded within the next 2 - 3 weeks."
May 21, 2023 - from the Jewish Press:
"Park Place Kosher has announced it will close its doors on Sunday night, June 4, after serving chicken, burgers, shwarma and more to customers for the past 16 years.
"No explanation for the decision was given.
"'We are not in a position to say anything at this time, but hopefully a new kosher meat restaurant will be taking over our space in the near future,' the restaurant owners wrote in a Facebook post".
May 18, 2023 from the CPSC in conjunction with Heathy Canadians:
PowerXL Stuffed Wafflizer waffle makers have been recalled because hot pieces of the waffle or stuffing can be expelled from the waffle maker during use or upon opening the product, posing a burn risk to consumers.
Consumer Contact: Empower Brands toll-free at 866-276-0063 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday, email at wafflizerrecall@brandprotectplus.com or online at www.prodprotect.com/recall/wafflizer or https://powerxlproducts.com and click on “Safety Recalls” at the top of the page for more information.
This recall involves PowerXL Model ESWM02 (five inch) and Model ESWM03 (seven inch) Stuffed Wafflizer waffle makers. The waffle makers were sold in 11 colors including black, white, red, cinnamon, gray, lavender, lemon, ocean, slate, seafoam and sage. The PowerXL logo is located on top of the waffle maker. The product measures approximately 5 inches in diameter (Model ESWM02), or 7 inches in diameter (Model ESWM03). The model numbers and date codes are printed on a tag attached to the power cord, with all date codes included in this recall.
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled PowerXL Model ESWM02 (five inch) and Model ESWM03 (seven inch) Stuffed Wafflizer waffle makers and contact Empower Brands to receive a free latch adaptor part and written instructions to complete the repair.
Sold At: Walmart, Kohls, Big Lots, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Best Buy, The Home Depot, Target, Sam’s Club and other home goods stores nationwide and online at www.QVC.com, www.walmart.com, www.kohls.com and other websites from July 2021 through October 2022 for between $30 and $60.
May 18, 2023 from the CPSC :
Personal Chiller Mini Fridge Gamer Beverage Refrigerators with LED Lights have been recalled because the refrigerator’s power cord can overheat, posing a burn hazard.
Consumer Contact: Kell Electronic USA Inc. toll-free at 888-860-9989 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, email at recall@kellelectronic.com or online at https://www.personalchiller.com/recall or https://www.personalchiller.com/ and click on “Recall” located at the top of the page.
This recall involves Personal Chiller Mini Fridge Gamer Beverage Refrigerators with LED Lights. They have a matte black finish exterior, lighted LED door and a remote control that has mood lighting effects. The LED lights were sold in red and blue colors. Model number K1000BK is on the back of the refrigerator. The refrigerators are 15.7 inches tall, 11.7 inches deep and 8.5 inches wide.
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled refrigerator and contact Kell Electronic to receive a full refund or a replacement cord. Once unplugged, the firm is asking consumers to use scissors to cut the cord, take a photo of the cut cord then throw the cord away. Consumers will need to submit the photo to the firm to receive the full refund or replacement cord.
Sold At: Walmart stores nationwide and online at Walmart.com as well as secondhand stores and websites from September 2022 through January 2023 for about $60.
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