Letter from the COO

I came across two articles recently that reminded me how complex the science of microbiology remains, and how this complexity continues to present challenges for the food safety industry.

Produce Guidance

Data gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) between 1998 and 2008 indicated that produce (raw vegetables, leafy greens, fruit) caused up to 46% of all foodborne illnesses reported in the U. S. each year.

Recall Power Q&A

When President Obama signed the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) into law in 2011, it gave the FDA, for the first time, the power to order a recall of a food product determined to potentially present a danger to the public. Prior to FSMA, the FDA could only recommend that a manufacturer perform a voluntary recall of an adulterated or mislabeled product(s).

New Hire

Jason Brown has been named Manager of the Analytical Chemistry Department at Q Laboratories. Jason will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Chemistry Laboratory including sample flow-through, analyst training and compliance. He will also work to optimize the work flow of the laboratory to increase efficiency and minimize turn-around times for testing.

 

Jason has a B.S. in Chemistry from George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon. He previously worked as QC Laboratory Supervisor at Fujimi Corporation in Tualatin, OR.

Probiotic Measurement

On September 6, the FDA submitted for comment a Draft Guidance entitled, “ Policy Regarding Quantitative Labeling of Dietary Supplements Containing Live Microbials: Guidance for Industry.” The document addresses how to list the quantity of probiotic ingredients on dietary supplement product labels.