food safety

Bitter cold weather experienced by several parts of the nation over the past two weeks that even included locales like a stretch of the Deep South where sub freezing temperatures and even snow are rare occurrences. In some cases, the power outages caused by these conditions served as a reminder in food safety...

Billions of dollars in the economy and the health of millions of people in Washington depend on safe-to-eat foods in grocery stores, farmers markets and restaurants.  Three Washington State University Extension professions are working to ensure that meals and snacks are safe to consume, locally, nationally and even internationally.  Claire ...

The Oregon Department of Agriculture and USDA have announced this year’s recipients of Specialty Crop Block Grant Program funds.  In Oregon, nearly $2 million will fund 11 projects to help boost the competitiveness of the state’s fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, nursery crops, and other specialty crops.  Winners include:  ...

It's fall and one thing that season brings is. Yes, football and some terrific tailgate parties. Some folks never make it in to see the game at all.   "Sometimes the parking lot party is the party. It can be better than the event, yeah,” said Meredith Carruthers, food safety export with the USDA’s meat and poultry hotline.  She added thos...

Yes, it's true. Over the last 20 years, the United States has seen a significant reduction in contamination of raw chicken and other poultry products by salmonella bacteria.   “However, we’ve seen no change in the amount of illness there's attributed to chicken and that's just not right,” said Doctor Emilio Esteban Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety.  He said to make it right ... Read

Backyard gardens are ready for harvest and canning season is in full swing in Oregon. But science is key to preventing food poisoning.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is now accepting applications for the specialty crop multi-state grant program.

The Department of Agriculture this week announced a $59 million investment to increase independent meat and poultry processing capacity.  The funding also seeks to expand market opportunities for farmers and create jobs in rural areas.  The investment is part of the Biden administration's Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive, and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply Chain.  The action p...

The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service released a proposed regulatory framework for a new strategy to control Salmonella contamination and reduce illnesses from poultry products.  The agency will host a virtual public meeting on November 3rd to get input from stakeholders on the framework.   The pr...

Representative Dan Newhouse, chair of the Western Caucus, recently introduced a bill aimed at preventing the Chinese government from purchasing public or private land in the U.S. The bill is called the Prohibition of Agricultural Land for the People’s Republic of China Act. The ...