News and Events

The USDA's Harmonized Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Plus+ audit program for specialty crops is now accepted as technically equivalent by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). Visit the USDA's website to learn more about the Harmonized GAP Plus+ Audit. Read more

New funding opportunities were announced to support New York State Grown & Certified participating farms and businesses. Read more

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University has announced a new name and fresh identity for our New York State Agricultural Experiment Station: Cornell AgriTech. The IFS@CU is proud to be part of Cornell AgriTech. Discover how Cornell AgriTech is creating future food and agriculture systems. Grow with us. Read more

The “sell-by” dates on milk cartons may become more accurate, as Cornell food scientists have created a predictive model that examines spore-forming bacteria, according to the Journal of Dairy Science. Read more

The Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) is offering an optional training to provide stakeholders with more information about the FDA's Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Final Rule on Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration (21 CFR Part 121). The training is free and is estimated to take 20 to 30 minutes to complete. Read more

UPDATE: The FDA issued a statement July 26, 2018 about the process they are undertaking for reviewing and modernizing the agency’s standards of identity for dairy products. Read more

How do you know if food in your refrigerator is safe after a power outage? Here are three steps that will help you plan ahead and know what actions to take. Read more

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb discussed plans that his agency will begin enforcing the FDA's standard of identity for milk during the 2018 Pro Summit held on July 17, 2018 in Washington, D.C. Although the FDA standard identifies milk as an animal product, not a plant-based food, it has not been regulated by the FDA. If plans to enforce this standard of identity unroll, it will not come without warning. Prior to enforcement, the FDA will develop guidance to notify companies of the change, ask for public comment, and then issue guidance. Watch Gottlieb's commentary where he discusses the standard that defines milk or read about it in an article published in Morning Ag Clips. Read more