Insights

TAG perspectives and recommendations on today’s top topics in food safety and public health.

Canada
Cannabis
Communicable Disease
COVID-19
FDA Warning Letters
Food Defense
Food Recall
Food Safety
Influenza
International
Latin America
Monkeypox
Produce
Public Health
Regulations
Retail / Restaurants
Simplified
Supply Chain
Uncategorized

Sep

Farmer pouring raw milk into container with milking machine milk

Food Safety

Raw Milk: Should it be Federally Controlled rather than Outlawed?

The federal governme...

Federal Regulation, Federally, Interstate Sales, Micro Testing, Pasteurization, Raw milk

Sep

Canadian Delights: Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich

Canada

CFIA Focused on Labelling. Are You in Compliance?

Do you produce ready...

Canadian Regulation, CFIA, compliance, Food Labelling, Labelling, RTE

Sep

Communicable Disease

RSV, COVID, Flu: The When and Who of Vaccination

Respiratory viruses ...

CDC, Risk Matrix, RSV, TAG Risk Matrix, Vaccination

Sep

A crack in the monolith. Flag of California. Flag of US

Food Safety

How a Single State Regulation Can Impact the Entire Nation

California is well-k...

BVO, California, Four Additives, Potassium Bromate, Proposed Ban, Propylparaben

Sep

Cannabis

How Impactful Would Cannabis Rescheduling Really Be?

As you likely have s...

Attorney General, DEA, Federally Illegal, HashTAG, HHS, marijuana, Schedule III, US Code

Sep

Healthcare cure concept with a hand in blue medical gloves holdi

Communicable Disease

Updated COVID-19 Vaccines Approved; Available Soon

The FDA has approved...

CDC, COVID vaccine, COVID variant, infectious disease, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix, Vaccination

Sep

Healthy brain food to boost brainpower nutrition concept as a gr

Food Safety

Beyond the Norm: Taking Food Safety Training Further

Although food safety...

Food Handling, food safety culture, hygiene, microorganism, national food safety education month

Sep

Communicable Disease

Get Ready for a Fall Increase in Infectious Respiratory Diseases

Fall is just around ...

COVID variant, infectious disease, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix, Vaccination

Sep

FDA Warning Letters

Got a 483? Don’t Let it Escalate into a Warning Letter

It’s not all that ...

FDA, food business, Food Manufacturing, infant formula, Inspection, Warning Letter

Aug

Simplified

Should – or shouldn’t – I wash food before eating it?!

I’m confused! I kn...

food safety, foodborne illness, pathogens, raw meat, RTE

Aug

Set of Mosquito Silhouette vector illustration, Close Up Mosquito Silhouette

Communicable Disease

What Do I Do if an Employee Is Diagnosed with Dengue?

The summer may be wi...

dengue, infectious disease, mosquito, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix

Aug

Tornado struck on agricultural fields at sunset

Food Safety

How to Weather Continuing Food Industry Pressures

There’s no questio...

Environmental Impacts, food industry, food safety, GAO, Inflation, Labor, Proactive, quality, supply chain, Weather Impacts

Aug

Air conditioning of buildings. Background of ventilation pipes. Laying of engineering networks.

Communicable Disease

ASHRAE Standard Forges New Infectious Disease Controls for Ventilation Systems

The more that has be...

ASHRAE, CDC, COVID variant, infectious disease, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix

Aug

Ingredients for mimosa salad: tuna, herbs, sesame seeds, mayonna

Food Safety

FDA Updating SOIs – Are Your Products Impacted?

What do canned tuna,...

FDA, Modernization, PHO, SOI, Standards of Identity, Updates

Aug

Canada

U.S. Romaine Importers: Prepare Now for Fall

In June, the CFIA an...

California, CFIA, importers, pathogen testing, romaine lettuce, salinas valley

Aug

Communicable Disease

What is Wastewater Surveillance Data Showing?

In last week’s art...

Aug

Food Recall

Plastic, Pens & Rocks in Food? How to Reduce the Risk

Recalls due to the p...

food industry, food safety culture, foreign material, preventive, sanitation, supply chain

Aug

Cannabis

What the Latest Cannabis Industry Finance Challenges Tell Us

The lack of clear ca...

cannabis industry, federal law, legalization, marijuana, schedule I drug

Aug

service engineer checking on waste water treatment plant with p

Communicable Disease

Wastewater Surveillance Gaining Ground in Virus Detection

In last week’s art...

CDC, COVID variant, infectious disease, TAG Risk Matrix, wastewater, wastewater surveillance

Aug

Contaminated food concept and tainted meal poisoning symbol resu

Food Safety

Foodborne Illnesses Increase Post-Pandemic

While the phrase, �...

CDC, food net, foodborne illnesses, leafy greens, poultry, US

Aug

Simplified

GMO Safety

I hear so many diffe...

bioengineered, food safety, GMO, regulations

Aug

Serious guy, young man on airplane in glasses and medical protective sterile mask on his face sitting on plane, traveling. Coronavirus, virus concept. Pandemic covid-19. Evacuation of tourists

Communicable Disease

A Return to COVID?

While COVID numbers ...

CDC, infectious disease, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix

Aug

Unhappy client rates 1 star on social media using a smartphone

Food Safety

Quality Slipping? Watch Out for Food Safety Issues!

If your food quality...

food chain, food facility, production, quality, safe handling, safety

Jul

Picnic basket next to small grill and wooden box

Public Health

Food Safety Hazards Aren’t Always Straightforward

The changing climate...

climate change, food industry, food safety, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix

Jul

Chemical powder on a wooden spoon aspartame E951 over a bowl

Food Safety

The Facts about Aspartame

With last week’s r...

aspartame, FDA, Health Canada, IARC, JECFA, processed foods, WHO

Jul

Portland, Oregon, USA – Oct 1, 2019: Marijuana illustration on t

Cannabis

How Safe is Legal Marijuana, Really?

State investigators ...

Colorado MED, legal marijuana, marijuana, testing

Jul

people throwing mask, no more pandemic concept – vector illustration

Communicable Disease

Statistics Show Pandemic “finally over”

While TAG’s recent...

CDC, infectious disease, Measles, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix

Jul

Food allergy concept. Fortune cookie with text ‘may contain nuts

Food Safety

Is “May Contain” a Trigger for Inspections and Audits?

A “May Contain” ...

FDA, food facility, may contain, risks in food

Jul

Canada

Health Canada Regulatory Targets Modernization and CFIA Food Waste

With regulatory mode...

CFIA, Food waste, Health Canada, Modernization, Packaging materials, SFCR

Jul

Communicable Disease

Pertussis Cases Whoop to Worst Outbreak in Decades

Pertussis Cases Whoo...

infectious disease, pertussis, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix

Jul

Smart farmer using smart tablet with artificial intelligence or

Food Recall

Tools to Aid the Trek to Food Traceability

Tools to Aid the Tre...

FAQ, FDA, food industry, ToolKit, Traceability Plan

Jul

Simplified

Rare Steaks & Burgers

I love rare to mediu...

e. coli, FDA Food Code, ground beef, rare steak

Jul

Communicable Disease

Infectious Diseases Thrive through Travel

In last week’s pub...

infectious disease, Measles, Risk Matrix, RSV, TAG Risk Matrix

Jul

broccoli isolated on white without shadow

Food Safety

Cyclospora: What It Is and How to Mitigate the Risks

With nationwide outb...

CDC, cyclospora, food business, foodborne illness

Jun

measles mumps and rubella vaccination concept with syringe in va

Communicable Disease

Measles Increasing Due to International Travel and Reduced Vaccination Rates

While the global nat...

CDC, infectious disease, Measles, MMR, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix, Vaccination

Jun

Portrait of male deli owner holding food in restaurant

Food Safety

Highest Rates of Foodborne Illness Associated with Restaurants: The Causes and Cures

With more than half ...

best practices, FDA, FSIS, poor hygiene, restaurant, risk factors

Jun

Cannabis

Unique Challenges Continue for State-Legalized Cannabis

With the Governor of...

ATF, Federal Laws, Minnesota, New York, US

Jun

Communicable Disease

FDA Recommends Monovalent XBB.1.5 Vaccine for Fall 2023

Based on the current...

COVID variant, infectious disease, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix, Vaccination

Jun

Family shopping. Young interracial couple choosing milk in supermarket near the refrigerator

Regulations

FDA Furthers its Focus on Chemicals in Food

Europe has focused o...

assessment, chemical safety, FDA, food supply, post market activity, regulatory action

Jun

Percent of foods sampled by CFIA found to be unadulterated

Canada

Fighting Food Fraud with a United Front

Percent of foods sam...

adulteration, CFIA, false claims, Food fraud, food policy

Jun

Coronavirus map Australia, pandemic, epidemic

Communicable Disease

Australia’s Infectious Diseases Trends May Portend Ours

As noted in our Key ...

infectious disease, Risk Matrix, RSV, TAG Risk Matrix

Jun

keep moving forward text engraved in wooden signpost outdoors in

Food Safety

Moving Food Safety Day Forward

Last week, we celebr...

environmental monitoring program, food industry, traceability, traceability rule, World Food Safety Day

Jun

Medicine doctor holding electronic medical record on tablet. DNA

Communicable Disease

AI Potential for Foodborne Illness Outbreak Source ID

When an outbreak has...

AI, contact tracing, whole genome sequencing

Jun

Food Safety

Go Above and Beyond to Celebrate World Food Safety Day

Today, June 7, we ce...

FAO, food industry, Food Standards Save Lives, Management, World Food Safety Day

Jun

Food Safety

Picnic Safety

I took pasta salad t...

Listeria, pasta salad, perishable food, picnic safety, salmonella

May

Small businesses during the pandemic. A tired female worker in a medical mask and rubber gloves working behind the counter in a grocery store. Concept of protection against coronavirus

Communicable Disease

Infectious Disease Can Put Your Business at Risk

A California norovir...

CDC, hepatitis a, norovirus, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix

May

Electronic inventory management concept. logistics tech. RFID. B

Food Recall

“Small Entity” Traceability Guide Just as Applicable to Large Entities

Although FDA titled ...

CTE, FDA, Food Traceability Rule, FTL, KDE, Traceability Plan

May

Cannabis

New Cannabis Report Provides Further Impetus for Federal Food Safety Regulation for Edibles

The use and legality...

edibles, federal legalization, THC, THC labeling

May

Covid-19 XBB.1.16 variant causing itchy conjunctivitis and fever

Communicable Disease

New Conjunctivitis-Causing COVID Strain Elicits Advisory for “Same Sensible COVID Precautions”

A new COVID Omicron ...

CDC, COVID variant, infectious disease, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix, XBB.1.16

May

Food Defense

FDA Looking More Closely at Allergen Controls … including Sesame

If you have – or h...

Allergen control, CPG, FDA, FDA inspection, Food allergen, Sesame

May

Woman selling Meze appetizers in delicatessen shop

Canada

Listeria: Health Canada Updates RTE Policy

As a widespread path...

Environmental Sampling, food industry, foodborne illness, Health Canada, Listeria, regulation, RTE

May

Doctor is reading pandemic plan for preparedness.

Communicable Disease

Study showed HHS is not prepared – Are you?

A new Government Acc...

CDC, GAO, HHS, infectious disease, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix

May

Buffet trays with a various delicious appetizers close-up. Break

Canada

Listeria: A Global Issue with Varied Regulatory Controls

One of the top patho...

Food Adulteration, food industry, Listeria, regulation, RTE

May

Concept of public health emergency due to coronavirus or covid-19 pandemic or outbreak.

Communicable Disease

COVID Emergency Ending Brings Changes and Opportunities

With the US declarin...

CDC, infectious disease, public health emergency, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix

May

Food Safety

Warning Letters Provide Lessons Learned for Others

Receiving an FDA War...

FDA, food industry, hazard analysis, warning letters

May

Communicable Disease

An Event a Half a World Away Can Impact Your Business

When events occur ha...

CDC, food supply chain, foodborne pathogens, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix

May

Waiter taking order from woman at restaurant

COVID-19

Can Diners Determine Calories and Nutrition on Your Menu? FDA Flexibility is Ending

Consumers often rely...

calories, consumer information, FDA, menu labeling, nutrition

Apr

woman putting with metal can near fridge

Simplified

Testing the Sniff Test

I’ve used the “s...

food safety, food storage, foodborne illlness

Apr

Pandemic concept. Coronavirus outbreak in Australia. Many viruse

Communicable Disease

Southern Hemisphere Flu Emergence Can Be Predictive for Northern Hemisphere

With the seasonal we...

Australia, Risk Matrix, Southern Hemisphere, TAG Risk Matrix

Apr

Asian man shopping orange juice using phone

Food Safety

FDA’s “Healthy” Label Proposal Continues to Stir Debate

Defining “healthy ...

CBA, FDA, FMI, food industry, healthy food

Apr

Cannabis

Cannabis Packaging and Labeling: Staying Current

CBD and THC beverage...

CBD, dispensaries, labeling, packaging, THC

Apr

Canada

CFIA Update For Operators Of Establishments That Export “Medium-Risk” Products To China

Canadian establishme...

CFIA, CFIA Update, CIFER

Apr

vial, covid-19, coronavirus vaccine ampoule, bottle for injectio

Communicable Disease

FDA Updates COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations

On Tuesday, April 18...

CDC, COVID vaccine, infectious disease, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix

Apr

Food Safety

FDA Puts Onus on Food Industry to Reduce Consumer Salt Intake

While renowned chefs...

FDA, FDA guidance, food industry, salt, sodium

Apr

A worker writes documents in a huge distribution warehouse

Canada

Best Practices for the SFCR-Required Recall Simulation

While most Canadian ...

CFIA, Food producers, Recall simulation, SFCR

Apr

Communicable Disease

Was the Pandemic a Cause for Today’s Rise in TB?

With rising incidenc...

CDC, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix, TB

Apr

COVID-19

End of Public Health Emergency Winds Down FDA Flexibility

While COVID may ling...

compliance, FDA, food industry, labeling, public health emergency

Apr

Marburg virus disease concept, virus illustration idea. Generati

Communicable Disease

The Facts about Marburg and Candida auris

Two emerging infecti...

candida auris, CDC, infectious disease, marburg virus, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix

Apr

Compliance Agreement Acceptance Strategy Business Concept

Food Safety

The Never-Ending Saga of Chemical Reduction

PFAS, and other chem...

arsenic, FDA petitions, heavy metals, PFAS, USEPA

Mar

Produce

Fresh, Frozen, or Canned?

Question: I always p...

canned produce, fresh produce, frozen produce

Mar

Communicable Disease

Wastewater Testing Initiatives Showing Emerging Disease

In September 2020, C...

CDC, infectious disease, marburg virus, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix, wastewater, wastewater testing, WHO

Mar

Food Safety

Infant Formula Concerns Again Spurring Industry Impact

Infant formula is, o...

dry production, FDA, FDA budget, infant formula

Mar

Composition with CBD oil and hemp leaves on wooden table

Cannabis

Too High or Not High Enough: Cannabis Mislabeling Causes Recalls & Lawsuits

Across the U.S. and ...

dispensaries, lawsuits, manufacturers, mislabeling, recalls, THC limits

Mar

Hands of kid holding globe COVID-19 pandemic infection disease c

Communicable Disease

The “Next Pandemic” – Everything Old is New Again

The summary of the N...

botulism, CDC, infectious disease, Measles, pandemic, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix

Mar

Food Safety

FDA Allocates One-Third of Budget Request to Food & Nutrition

It’s budgeting tim...

2024, budget summary, chemical, FDA, food safety, labeling, nutrition programs, promote health

Mar

Canada

Mexico Organic Equivalency Increases Shopper Options and Industry Markets

If you are a certifi...

CMOEA, equivalency, livestock, organic, plant origin

Mar

close up hands of children or Pupils At preschool Washing hands

Communicable Disease

As Tracked Diseases Wane, Protections Shouldn’t

The US is currently ...

CDC, COVID Protections, infectious disease, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix

Mar

Close up eye level view of a herd of grazing livestock on a catt

Food Safety

Meat & Poultry “Made in the US” Labeling Likely to See New Limits

Last week, USDA prop...

egg allergies, Made in the USA, meat, poultry, Product of USA, USDA

Mar

Communicable Disease

The Facts about Avian Influenza

The approach of spri...

avian flu, bird migration, CDC, infectious disease, poultry

Mar

Food Safety

What Does FDA’s Priority Guidance List Tell Us about 2023?

With FDA’s release...

FDA, FDA guidance, Foods Program, FSMA, labeling, level 1 guidance

Mar

Simplified

Red Dye

Question: It seems t...

FDA, food industry, red dye, synthetic color additives

Mar

Communicable Disease

Do Masks Aid in Respiratory Protection?

The conclusions of a...

CDC, COVID Protections, Face Masks, infectious disease, Respiratory Illness, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix

Feb

Food Safety

Import Alert Removal: A Costly and Complex Process

U.S. Food and Drug A...

DWPE, FDA, food industry, import alert, import alert petition

Feb

Communicable Disease

Norovirus and COVID: Different Viruses with Different Controls

Norovirus is continu...

CDC, COVID Protections, norovirus, norovirus protections, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix

Feb

Massive freight train derailed along the tracks. Tracks, freight

Food Safety

The Ohio Train Derailment: Updates and Lessons for Food Businesses

The February 3 derai...

East Palestine Ohio, EPA, hazardous material, Ohio train derailment, train derailment

Feb

Canada

What the US Traceability Rule Means for Canada

While both Canada an...

CFIA, FDA, food traceability list, labeling, traceability

Feb

Promising Covid-19 Vaccine concept. Hand of a researcher take a

Communicable Disease

COVID Single-Shot Vaccine Could Be Just Around the Corner

In late January, the...

CDC, COVID vaccine, FDA, Measles, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix

Feb

Food Safety

Noncompliance with “Nonbinding” Guidance Could Lead to Enforcement Action

Continuing its Close...

baby food, closer to zero, FDA, food industry, lead in food

Feb

businessman looking out of window with city view, successful con

Cannabis

CBD Legalization: Each Small Step Forward Countered with Giant Steps Back

Reminiscent of the c...

CBD, CBD Legalization, FDA

Feb

Communicable Disease

Norovirus Trends Upward with Peak Expected by March

We are continuing to...

CDC, norovirus, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix, Vaccination

Feb

FDA concept. Magnifier glass with text on the white background in sunlight.

Food Safety

Will “Reimagined” FDA Unification Move the Agency Forward?

It may not be quite ...

FDA, FDA unification, food industry

Feb

charming boy in nature drinking Apple juice

Simplified

Heavy Metals

Q. I’ve been seein...

baby food, Baby Food Heavy Metals, heavy metals

Feb

Business woman hands sanitizer, covid hygiene and office protocol for healthcare safety, corona virus protection and cleaning compliance. Responsible work disinfection of germs, bacteria or flu risk

Communicable Disease

Continued Protections Help Reduce Transmission of Infectious Disease

As we, once again, s...

CDC, H5N1, infectious disease, norovirus, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix

Jan

Organic produce vegetable fruits aisle with signage word in supe

Food Safety

USDA’s Organic Final Rule: Annual Inspections and Traceability Requirements

With USDA’s declar...

food industry, national organic program, organic, organic enforcement final rule, USDA

Jan

Communicable Disease

Respiratory Viruses Decline, Norovirus Intensifies

The good news: we ar...

CDC, infectious disease, norovirus, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix

Jan

The process of washing apples in a fruit production plant

Food Safety

PSR Harvest/Post-Harvest Ag Water Requirements Come Due

In July 2022, the FD...

agricultural water, FDA, FSMA Produce Safety Rule, post-harvest

Jan

farmer-controlling-quality-of-blooming-marijuana-2022-10-20-20-59-43-utc

Cannabis

Cannabis Quality Key Factor in Consumer Purchasing

We often write about...

dispensaries, edibles, HashTAG, marijuana

Jan

Coronavirus COVID-19 – Arrière-plan de virus flottant – Virolog

Communicable Disease

COVID Now Being Seen as Regional vs. Seasonal Disease

While COVID appears ...

CDC, COVID variant, Ebola, regional transmission, Risk Matrix, TAG Risk Matrix

Jan

Food Safety

Will GRAS Panel Guidance Allay Concerns of Bias?

In the spring of 202...

FDA, food additive, GRAS, GRAS Panel

Jan

combine-harvesting-wheat-2022-11-16-00-04-44-utc

Canada

Canada’s Labour Shortage Having Significant Agribusiness Impact

Labour shortages are...

Agriculture, CFIB, food safety, labour shortage