WASHINGTON NEWS

Government Web site addresses bioterrorism
The Food and Drug Administration and other food and public health–related agencies have established a Web site called “Countering Bioterrorism and Other Threats to the Food Supply.” The site, www.FoodSafety.gov, features links to sites in government agencies, including FDA’s Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, and other federal, state and local government agencies.

Fumonisin guidance document available
FDA has announcing the availability of “Guidance for Industry: Fumonisin Levels in Human Foods and Animal Feeds,” which identifies fumonisin levels that FDA considers adequate to protect human and animal health and that are achievable in human foods and animal feeds with the use of good agricultural and good manufacturing practices. The guidance document and supporting documents are available at www.cfsan.fda.gov or www.fda.gov/cvm. Details are in the Federal Register of October 31 (66 FR 54912-54916). For more information, contact Henry Kim at FDA, 200 C St., S.W., Washington, DC 20204 (phone 202-260-0631).

Enzyme use in formed products approved
FSIS is allowing use of transglutaminase and pork collagen in limited amounts as binders in certain standardized meat food products, and use of the enzyme as a binder in certain standardized poultry products. When the enzyme is used to fabricate or reform cuts of meat or poultry, the resulting product must be labeled to indicate whether it has been formed from pieces of whole muscle meat or reformed from a single cut. Details are in the Federal Register of November 9 (66 FR 56688-56689). For more information, contact Robert C. Post at USDA/FSIS, Washington, DC 20250-3700 (phone 202-205-0279).

Comments on E. coli risk requested
FSIS is seeking comments on its draft risk assessment for Escherichia coli O157:H7 in ground beef. The agency is also seeking scientific peer review of the draft risk assessment from the National Academies of Science and will revise the document accordingly. Deadline for comments is January 4. Details are in the Federal Register of November 5 (66 FR 55912-55913). For more information, contact Annette Reid at USDA/FSIS, Washington, DC 20250 (phone 202-690-6409).

Apple juice compliance guide available
FDA is announcing the availability of a compliance policy guide entitled “Apple Juice, Apple Juice Concentrates, and Apple Juice Products—Adulteration with Patulin.” Patulin is a mold toxin that has been found to occur at high levels in some apple juice products. The guide is available at www.fda.gov/ora under “Compliance References.’’ Details are in the Federal Register of October 31 (66 FR 55000-55001). For more information, contact Michael E. Kashtock at FDA, 200 C St., S.W., Washington, DC 20204 (phone 202-205-5321).

Tomato color use sought
LycoRed Natural Products Industries has asked FDA to allow use of tomato lycopene extract to color foods. Details are in the Federal Register of October 30 (66 FR 54773). For more information, contact Aydin Orstan at FDA, 200 C St., S.W., Washington, DC 20204 (phone 202-418-3076).

Pizza standards removal proposed
FSIS is proposing to amend the meat inspection regulations to remove the standards of identity for “pizza with meat” and “pizza with sausage,” since these standards prescribe required amounts of meat and cheese and may inhibit manufacturers from producing and marketing pizza with lower cholesterol and saturated fat content. Deadline for comments is January 2. Details are in the Federal Register of November 2 (66 FR 55601-55603). For more information, contact Robert C. Post at USDA/FSIS, Washington, DC 20250-3700 (phone 202-205-0279).

Pea grade standards revised
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service is revising the grade standards for frozen field peas and frozen black-eye peas. Details are in the Federal Register of November 13 (66 FR 56795-56796). For more information, contact Randle A. Macon at USDA/AMS, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20250-0247 (phone 202-720-5021).

New apple juice standards proposed
AMS is proposing to create new grade standards for apple juice from concentrate that will include a description of the product, style, grades, ascertaining the grade by sample, and ascertaining the grade by lot. Deadline for comments is January 22. Details are in the Federal Register of November 21 (66 FR 58430-58431). For more information, contact Lydia E. Berry at USDA/AMS, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20250-0247 (phone 202-720-5021).

by NEIL H. MERMELSTEIN
Editor