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The USDA has published new rules for a proposed program, under which select State-inspected establishments (with 25 or fewer employees) will be eligible to ship meat and poultry products in interstate commerce. Click on the following link to view the Proposed Rule.

The new program was created as part of the 2008 Farm Bill to supplement the existing Federal-State cooperative inspection program to allow State-inspected plants with 25 or fewer employees to ship products across State lines. This announcement is part of the USDA's new Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative, which seeks to better connect consumers with local producers to help develop local and regional food systems to spur economic opportunity.

"This new cooperative interstate shipment program will provide new economic opportunities for many small and very small meat and poultry establishments, whose markets are currently limited," said USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety Jerold Mande. "We can provide new markets for these establishments, while maintaining the integrity of the Federal mark of inspection."

Currently, 27 states operate State Inspection Programs for meat and poultry, and FSIS verifies that the State programs are implementing requirements that are "at least equal to" those imposed under the Federal meat and poultry products inspection acts. Click on the following link to view the Current List of Qualifying States. For these programs, FSIS provides up to 50 percent of the State's operating funds and provides oversight and enforcement of the program.

Under the proposed rule, selected establishments will receive inspection services from federally trained and/or supervised State inspection personnel who will verify that the establishments meet all Federal food safety requirements. Meat and poultry products produced under the voluntary cooperative program will bear an official USDA mark of inspection, thereby enabling interstate shipment of the products.

State-inspected establishments that are not selected for the voluntary cooperative program, including state-inspected establishments with more than 25 employees, are only eligible to sell and ship their products within their State.

Comments must be received on or before Monday, November 16, 2009, through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov, by mail to: FSIS Docket Room, USDA, FSIS, OPPD, Docket Clearance Unit, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Stop 5272, Beltsville, MD 20705.

All comments must identify FSIS and the docket number FSIS-2008-0039. Once received and published, interested parties will be able to View All Comments Online.

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According to the FDA, Quesos Mi Pueblito has announced a voluntary recall of certian cheese products because they may have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Click on the following link to view the FDA Recall Reslease.

The specific products affected by the recall, with "sell by dates" from February 2, 2009 to the present, are as follows:

• LA FE OAXACA STRING CHEESE: [USP: 0 23545 40115 6] 14 oz. pack (plastic package);

• EL VIEJITO OAXACA CHEESE: [USP: 7 18122 18071 4] 14 oz. pack, 10 lb. ball (plastic package);

• MI PUEBLITO COTIJA/AñEJO: [USP: 0 24077 10221 4] vacuum packed in plastic wrap by specific weight (plastic wrapped);

• MI PUEBLITO CUAJADA FRESCA: [USP: 0 24077 10216 0] 14 oz. pack (plastic wrapped);

• MI PUEBLITO QUESO COLOMBIANO DE ARRIERO: [USP: 0 24077 10219] 1 / 8 oz. pack (plastic package);

• MI PUEBLITO QUESO MOLIDO: [USP: 0 24077 10211 5] 14 oz. pack (plastic package);

• MI PUEBLITO QUESO COTIJA TRIANGULO: [USP: 0 24077 10220 7] 14 oz. pack (plastic package);

• MI PUEBLITO QUESO FRESCO: [USP: 0 24077 100258] 14 oz. pack, 10 lb. ball (plastic package);

• MI PUEBLITO QUESO FRESCO DE RANCHO: [USP: 0 24077 10215 3] 14 oz. pack (plastic clam shell container, plastic wrap);

• MI PUEBLITO QUESO CASERO: [USP: 0 24077 10222 1] 14 oz. pack (plastic clam shell container, plastic wrap);

• MI PUEBLITO QUESO OAXACA: [USP: 0 24077 10224 5] 14 oz. pack (plastic package);

• MI PUEBLITO REQUESON: [USP: 0 24077 10200 9] 15 oz. pack (plastic package); and

• MI PUEBLITO SERRANO: [USP: 0 24007 10200 0] 16 oz. pack (plastic package).

The recalled products (produced by the company in Passaic, New Jersey) were distributed through Puebla Foods, Inc. to retail stores and wholesalers in New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. Click on the following link to view the affected Product Labels. The potential problem was discovered through routine sampling and analyses conducted by the New Jersey Department of Health.

It is also important to note that, to date, no illnesses have been associated with the consumption of these products. Nevertheless, consumers who have purchased these products are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

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