Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Recall

In recent food-recall news, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, a flavoring agent used in foods ranging from soups to hot dogs, is being recalled after a batch produced by Basic Food Flavors of Las Vegas tested positive for Salmonella.

Though the risk of infection is considered low (cooking is supposedly affective enough to kill the contaminants in this case), Salmonella can still cause serious illness in children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems. Better safe than sorry. The recall includes products manufactured since September 17, 2009.

For some more info, here's an article that was in today's Times.

For a list of recalled foods, visit the FDA's website.

Smart Choices Program Suspended

On Friday, the group that runs the Smart Choices labeling program announced that it will be holding off on recruiting new products as well as refrain from promoting the use of their logo while the FDA continues with its examination of the front-of-package labeling issues.

Many nutrition experts are relieved that Smart Choices, which promotes food like "better than a donut" Froot Loops as a "smart" breakfast choice with a little green check-mark on the box, is being put on hold.

You can read more about Smart Choices on Marion Nestle's blog, Food Politics.

Helping the FDA Muscle Up

The New York Times ran an interesting editorial today about the proposed Food Safety Enhancement Act.

While the FDA is in charge of protecting our country's supply, it is currently only allowed to try to convince a food manufacturing facility to voluntarily recall products after people have become ill.

The proposed legislation would help give the FDA more power and responsibility to prevent outbreaks like the Salmonella typhimurium outbreak in peanut butter and peanut-containing products in 2009.

Update: It passed! Read more here and here.