Fonterra Pleads Guilty to Food-Safety Violations

 

 

 

New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra pleaded guilty Thursday to four food-safety violations following a botulism scare last year.

 

Government officials earlier in the day filed charges accusing the world's largest dairy exporter of processing and exporting products in a way that didn't meet standards and then failing to notify officials quickly enough when it became aware of the lapses.

 

Maury Leyland, a Fonterra manager, said the company immediately filed guilty pleas to all charges. Fonterra faces a maximum fine of 500,000 New Zealand dollars ($426,000). The botulism scare sparked a global recall of infant formula but turned out to be a false alarm. It came after the company processed whey protein concentrate in dirty pipes in one of its factories in the North Island's Waikato district.

 

Initial tests indicated the presence of botulism bacteria in the concentrate but later tests found it to be another, less harmful bacteria. Leyland, who led an internal operational review following the incident, said the company was implementing procedures to try to prevent similar problems in the future. "It was a serious event, but it was one event," Leyland said. "It comes against a backdrop of years of supplying high-quality product and high-quality food to the world." The scare in New Zealand was treated with the urgency of a national emergency. That's because the dairy industry drives the economy and companies like Fonterra are able to command a premium in the country's biggest export market, China, because of their reputation for providing high-quality products.

 

Fonterra is a cooperative owned by 10,500 farmers that enjoys a near-monopoly on New Zealand milk. It has annual revenues of more than $15 billion. The charges and guilty pleas come the week before New Zealand Prime Minister John Key is scheduled to visit China. Part of his mission there will be to try and reassure Chinese officials about the quality of New Zealand's farm products.

 

The botulism scare didn't appear to dent China's growing appetite for New Zealand milk. Statistics New Zealand reported exports of New Zealand dairy and meat products rose by 18 percent in the December 2013 quarter when compared to the previous quarter.

FDA seeks input on environmental impact of safety rule

The Food and Drug Administration wants more input on how the Food Safety Modernization Act’s proposed produce safety rule will affect the environment.

The agency has scheduled a public meeting on April 4 in College Park, Md., to discuss the scope of the Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed rule. That FSMA segment establishes standards for growing, harvesting, packing and holding produce, according to a news release.

The agency also is extending the comment period on the environmental impact statement from March 14 to April 18. The FDA expects to publish a draft environmental impact statement this year for public comment.

The environmental impact statement is required under the National Environmental Policy Act and is different from the process FDA has announced to revise parts of the proposed rule and seek comment on the revisions.

In December, the FDA said it plans to revise parts of the proposed rule and publish it for public comment by early summer. The FDA has developed alternatives where potential environmental impacts are likely.

Specifically, the FDA said alternatives have been identified:

 

Microbial standard for agricultural water used during growing activities for covered produce (other than sprouts) using a direct water application method;

Minimum application intervals for biological soil amendments of animal origin;

Measures related to animal grazing and animal intrusion; and

Scope of the rule and implications to land use and land management.

 

The FDA also is seeking public input on other issues to consider for in-depth analysis in the Environmental Impact Statement.

Comments can be sent to http://www.regulations.gov using docket number FDA-2011-N-0921, according to the release.

G8 could open door of opportunity for food safety

World Health Organization's director of the department of Food Safety and Zoonoses, Dr. Kazuaki Miyagishima, is helping to put food safety on the G8 agenda with a rapid alert system topping the list.

The importance of rapid food safety information exchange was met with nodding approval by G8 representatives, according to Dr. Miyagishima, who participated in one of the G8 preparatory discussions hosted by the Russian Federation a few weeks ago.

But it has been a long time coming as food safety was last on the G8 agenda more than ten years ago, according to Dr. Miyagishima. Then the impact of mad cow disease, along with the issue of GMO among others, was vivid and there was "high public attention."

And yet since then, Dr. Miyagishima told Foodnavigator that the world had not become safer in this regard, with many big events such as the melamine scandal. Melamine was illegally added to Chinese infant formula in 2008, resulting in six children dying and 50,000 hospitalized.

These days the slightest fault or intentional misdeed of food producers in one country can easily impact a remote area within 24 hours. This according to Dr. Miyagishima, is why "the most important part of the food safety agenda will be the quick information exchange or rapid alert. That was the part of food safety when I saw the G8 countries nodding."

The globalization of food production and trade has increased the potential likelihood international incidents involving contaminated food. The International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) connects food safety authorities around the world to swiftly exchange information and help prevent foodbourne outbreaks spreading.

The Joint initiative between WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO) includes 181 members states. However more than two thirds of participating states are not distributing information, just receving it, according to Dr. Miyagishima, who said: "Most of thees contact points are in listening mode. i don't think they are proactive."

He said they are now awaiting an invitation to the next round of G8 discussions to further put their case for food safety. However he added: "We still don't know if we will have the G8 summit at all."

The G8 -Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the US (the G7) and the Russian Federation - meet each year to discuss global issues and this year the summit is in Russia. However, earlier this week the G7 leaders and the EU decided to suspend their "participation in activities associated with the preparation of the scheduled G8 Sumit in Sochi in June, until the environment comes back where the G8 is able to have meaningful discussion". This was in response to Russian military action in crisis-hit Ukraine following a popular uprising.

Nevertheless, if events in Ukraine do set back talks this year, Dr. Miyagishima said: "If we miss that opportunity we will try next year."

Common sense, moderation are key on food safety issues

There is often debate over whether or not certain household and food-related products are safe for consumer use or consumption. The controversy often causes media hype that can scare consumers into avoiding common and useful items.

According to Dr. Joseph Drabick, an oncologist with Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, many of these claims, cause needless worry.

Drabick said there is no known proof to support the assertion that using any plastic container in the microwave is unsafe. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires laboratory testing for plastic containers to make sure the chemicals do not leak into food to be deemed microwave safe.

"I would just use common sense and use FDA-approved containers," he said.

Tubs that margarine comes in and Styrofoam take-out containers aren't considered safe because they can melt in the microwave. Drabik said that even people who rely heavily on their microwaves do not need to be concerned. But based on the concerns that have been raised about the dangers, Dr. Matthew Kaag, a urological oncologist at Penn State Hershey, suggested erring on the side of caution and recommends using glass or ceramic containers whenever possible.

"Much has been written recently about some of the chemicals that can leach out of certain plastics," he said.

Polycarbonates may release BPA, Styrofoam may release styrene and polyvynyl chloride (PVC) may contain pthalates and dioxin. According to the FDA, the levels of these toxins released into food are not enough to harm a person in an average lifetime.

Artificial sweeteners have also been a topic of debate.
"In my opinion, the 'all things in moderation' rule is in effect," Kaag said. "All sweeteners—artificial and natural—have risks."

Empty calories from sugar contribute to weight gain, diabetes and tooth decay, while there is some evidence that artificial sweeteners may actually increase appetite and stimulate overeating. Kaag believes natural sweeteners like stevia and erythritol may represent a middle ground, but they raise questions about appetite stimulation as well. While some artificial sweeteners have been linked with health problems like cancer, available studies suggest that the amount used in foods are not enough to be harmful.

"I think in general the currently approved sweeteners are safe, but Americans as a whole would benefit from curbing our collective sweet-tooth," Kaag said.

Another food safety issue that is often debated is charred meat. There is some evidence that charring the meat—as can occur when grilling or broiling, for instance—can create cancer-causing carcinogens. But there is something simple you can do to reduce the risk.

"Studies suggest that marinating your meats prior to cooking decreases the likelihood of charring when you cook them on the grill, which reduces the level of these compounds you might ingest," Drabick said.

Drabick adds that that a diet low in animal products and high in fresh fruits and vegetables is probably optimal for health. Fresh fruits and vegetables contain many diverse and complex compounds believed to counteract cancer-causing processes.

When Can We Be Guaranteed Safe Food?

Food safety has come to the top of China's national political agenda during the annual NPC and CPPCC meetings. At today's press conference, the Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu admits that food safety issues are the result of a lack of supervision. CRI's Ding Lulu finds out what ordinary people want the government to do about this issue.

 

57 year-old retiree Li Jianhua was born and raised in the city of Jinan, capital of Shandong Province in east China. His wish to add some green to his life has turned the little hill in front of his city center apartment into a miniature farm, with peach trees, beans, and all sorts of vegetables.

"I just thought it was quite dirty over there and it's in front of my apartment, so I wanted to make it greener. I grew some vines and we can eat all the fruits when they are ripe, so I told my neighbors to help themselves and they love the produce. I turned it into a vegetable farm gradually, I bought cabbage seeds and cucumbers this year."

The popularity of Mr. Li's produce is due to it being completely organic and therefore safe. Li Jianhua only fertilizes his garden with manure which he ferments himself from animal feces. A big food safety scandal in his city two months ago still rattles people's nerves even now. Meat sold in a local Walmart store labeled as donkey meat was actually found to be fox meat. Donkey meat is a popular snack in some parts of China, but foxes are mainly raised for fur while their meat is generally considered inedible. Mr. Li is still upset about the whole scandal because it was uncovered by a customer owing to a lack of sufficient government supervision.

"With the Walmart scandal, if the consumer had not complained and had the meat tested, we would always have been kept in the dark. We ordinary people cannot tell the difference just by tasting the food. Without advanced testing equipment, how can we tell? This shows that the supervision from relevant authorities is not carried out effectively enough to cover the upstream producers."

Li Jianhua also believes food safety remains a major concern as the food sector is highly competitive but lacks proper supervision. He recalls a trip to a nearby farm, where the owner gave him some organic cucumbers together with an industry secret. 

"The farmer told me that I can't eat cucumbers sold on the market because progesterone is used in the farm. It's a type of hormone contained in contraceptive pills. Cucumbers grown using the hormone ripen within days; the flower doesn't even wither when the cucumber is 20 centimeters long. He said all the cucumbers sold on the market with flowers on it are grown using the hormone."

Food safety issues are a bitter topic in China. Poor supply chain management has frequently led to scares in products ranging from baby milk to cooking oil.

Mr. Li says he hopes during the two sessions, the government can do something significant enough to stop the constant food safety scandals.

"My expectation is that the government can strengthen supervision. If it cares about people's health, the supervision over food should be constant. Every batch of food should be checked. The current system consists of random spot-checks; I think it's wrong. The tainted meat scandal involving the big company Shuanghui was revealed by the media instead of government supervision."

Li Jianhua suggests that the current spot-check system gives producers room to maneuver as they self-select which samples to send to regulators.

The labs have already been built, the equipment has been bought, so why aren't they being used more effectively?

FDA says imported food labels must be in Mandarin

TAIPEI -- Companies that sell imported food products should make sure the ingredients are clearly labeled in Mandarin, otherwise they risk a fine of up to NT$3 million (US$99,000), health authorities said yesterday.

Hsu made the remarks at a news conference in Taipei that was called by lawmaker Lin Tsang-min of the ruling Kuomintang, who raised the issue of imported food labeling.According to the Act Governing Food Sanitation, imported food products must be labeled in Chinese, said Hsu Chin-feng, an official at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
Lin said some imported food products in supermarkets and grocery stores in Taiwan do not carry Chinese-language labels and he called for tighter inspections of such products.

Hsu, meanwhile, said the law allows a fine of NT$30,000 to NT$3 million for violations of the Chinese-language labeling regulation.

Is China Blocking FDA Inspectors?

In late 2012 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked the Chinese government about the possibility of stationing 20 inspectors in China to supplement the nine staff it already had there at the time. The request wasn't unreasonable. “The crucial ingredients for nearly all antibiotics, steroids and many other lifesaving drugs are now made exclusively in China,” noted the New York Times on Feb. 14. Yet, despite the ever-increasing volumes of exported drugs and food from China to the United States, and a mid-December 2013 agreement with the Chinese government personally brokered in Beijing by U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden, most of those added inspectors are still in the United States, awaiting visas.

FDA spokesperson Christopher Kelley declined to comment on the issuance of the visas, nor why they might have been delayed. In a Feb. 21 email, however, he noted that the FDA has 13 staff members currently based in China and the agency “continues to use its existing in-country staff and inspectors on short-term trips from the United States to ensure the safety of FDA-regulated products from China.”

Though no fault of the FDA, that’s simply not good enough. Of the 278,307 foreign food facilities registered by the FDA, 26,743 are located in China, according to Food Safety News. And those facilities export a lot: Between 2003 and 2012, Chinese exports to the U.S. grew from 2.3 billion to 4.1 billion tons.

According to a Bloomberg News report from December, the FDA can perform 20 to 25 food-related inspections per year in China at current staffing levels. The new staff -– there are to be ten drug and seven food inspectors -- would increase that number to 160, with pharmaceutical inspections receiving a similar boost. That’s a big (if hardly sufficient) improvement.

In December, Christopher Hickey, the director of the FDA’s office in Beijing, told Bloomberg News that the Chinese government had opposed visas for five FDA inspectors intended for China, and conceded that the U.S. didn't know the “full story” as to why. It’s possible that Chinese officials are keenly aware that China remains a major hub for drug counterfeiting and are reluctant to open up their factories to scrutiny. Indeed, the current FDA office in China was opened after a counterfeit blood thinner manufactured in China-caused dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries in the States.

Chinese newspapers are filled almost weekly with stories of contaminated and counterfeit food; U.S. inspectors probably wouldn't have much trouble uncovering additional cases. Nonetheless, far from being a threat, the added inspectors should be viewed as an opportunity for China's best manufacturers and food producers to earn approval -– quickly –- for the entry of their products into the U.S. market. FDA approval remains the global pharmaceutical gold standard, and the benefits of earning it aren't confined to the U.S. market alone.

Of course, it’s never comfortable to be subjected to foreign inspectors on your own soil. But long-term it’s surely worth the trouble, if only to avoid antagonizing U.S. consumers, and a U.S. Congress increasingly suspicious of China’s commitment to food and drug safety. Approving the FDA visas will benefit both countries, and it’s time that China makes good on its promise to do so.