Talking about the Food Safety Modernization Act is hard work.  It’s hard to understand, hard to pronounce, hard to summarize and even harder to have some fun with.  But it’s what we do at FDAImports.com all the time.  Although our final videos appear poignant and polished it’s not always an easy road to get there.  In this short video please enjoy a hilarious outtakes reel from our latest FSMA video shoot starring Founder and CEO, Ben England.

Outtakes: FSMA Video Shoot, January 2013

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In this new FSMA training video, Ben England, Founder and CEO of FDAImports.com, shares his unique insights into the recently released Proposed Rules for HARPC and Standards for Produce Safety under FSMA with an eye toward their impact on importers and foreign suppliers, specifically.  This video discusses some key areas of concern for importers and foreign suppliers and how to prepare for coming changes in the food import landscape.

Just for Importers and Foreign Suppliers: FSMA January 2013 Update

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As part of a new FSMA video series, Ben England, Founder and CEO of FDAImports.com, makes some valuable observations on the Proposed Rule for Standards for Produce Safety and explores some ways that industry can begin aligning themselves with FDA’s thinking.

Food Safety Modernization Act: Standards for Produce Safety Update, January 2013

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HARPC Proposed Rule

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By now the food industry should have a general grasp of the new Proposed Rules for HARPC and Standards for Produce Safety released by FDA this January 4th under FSMA.  If you are looking for an overview please read these blogs on HARPC, Produce Safety and cGMP changes first.  As part of a new FSMA video series, this new video on the Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls Proposed Rule, explores some key areas of impact that may not be immediately apparent.  Ben England, Founder and CEO of FDAImports.com, discusses HARPC as well as Standards … READ MORE

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced last week that it will not ban BPA, the on-again off-again controversial chemical used in a variety of food packaging applications.  This announcement from FDA is the most recent in a long string of protests, promises, and petitions.  This time, FDA issued a slightly anti-climactic, “it appears safe but we still don’t know.”  When BPA issues were first raised by consumers, FDA initially claimed that they could not regulate it and essentially absolved themselves from ongoing participation in the … READ MORE

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been using social media for over a year now and has expanded and built-out its channels to include Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Flickr.  Below are some statistics on the agency’s social media channels and engagement in 2011.  (As of 1.5.2012)   For more on the FDA and social media please read our other related blog, “What Does American Think of the FDA?”

 
Facebook Page
18,346 likes

101 posts in 2011

22 Average comments per post in 2011

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The FDA, like most other government agencies, has moved past its previous reticence and launched fully into the world of social media.  The FDA now has a Facebook page, multiple Twitter accounts, a YouTube channel and Flickr account, linking to each of them from every page on its voluminous website.  The fact that a government agency would embrace social networking tools created by a horde of tech-savvy 20-somethings from California is stunning in and of itself, but … READ MORE

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Why didn’t your kids get what they wanted for Christmas?
Why didn’t your tree have candy canes on it?
What happened to your toy cosmetic kits, sunglasses, chocolates and candy?

Answer: Your stuff was all detained at a U.S. port due to:

• Candy canes having undeclared Red 40 in them.

• Chocolates from China being on import alert for melamine.

• Cosmetic kits having glitter in them which FDA suddenly thinks is a color

• Sunglasses having invalid Impact Resistance Certificates

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Adults, children and regulatory compliance officers alike all reeled last week at the news of Santa Nicolas Claus’ arrest by the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  Eyewitness cell-phone video emerged immediately following the arrest but now FDAImports.com has obtained additional footage and interviews from an amateur journalist at the scene.  The following 2 video clips provide additional details into Santa’s arrest, conversations with agents, the scene of the crime and numerous interviews with bystanders including Mr. Claus’ attorney, Benjamin England.  Mr. England stated that his firm was doing everything possible to hasten the judicial … READ MORE

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We warned him. We heard the rumors this was coming and sure enough it did.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI) teamed up with Homeland Security agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and reportedly arrested Santa Claus tonight as he was out testing a new sleigh configuration in Columbia, MD.  Eyewitness accounts caught the whole event on video, even capturing the agents’ rough treatment of Santa (and his tears) as he was put into the FDA’s special enforcement SUV.  “I saw all this commotion down in the parking lot … READ MORE

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This chart illustrates the percentages of U.S. food that is imported from other countries. Based on research by FDA and The U.S. Small Business Administration, this chart demonstrates that a significant portion of the United States food supply is imported and is imported by small businesses.

For more charts, graphs and FDA statistics please visit our Flickr channel.

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