top of page
Please sign up to receive email updates of new content (your email will be kept private and not sold). If you do sign up, you will get an email to confirm your email address that may end up in your junk mail folder. Email updates will not start till you confirm your email.
If you have issues or thoughts on topics that should address, click here to send them.
Note: This website is intended to provide general information about legal issues, crop insurance, farm policy, and other risk management issues and should not be construed as providing legal advice. It should not be cited or relied upon as legal authority. For advice about how the issues discussed here might apply to your individual situation, you should consult an attorney.
Welcome to the Maryland Risk Management Education Blog, provided by the University of Maryland Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. This blog provides readers with information on risk management issues important to Maryland agriculture, upcoming events, and new materials that may interest readers.
Search
Federal Liability Protections for Donating Food
By Sarah Everhart Disposing of consumable food is an unfortunate reality on many farms and in many food businesses. Sometimes food that...
Sarah Everhart
Jan 10, 20172 min read
Labeling Guidance for Animal Raising Claims: What’s New?
By Ashley Ellixson This article was published in the December 3rd Edition of the Lancaster Farmer. Have you seen labels on your food or...
Admin
Jan 3, 20172 min read
Food Labeling Continues: Allergen Warnings
By Ashley Ellixson It’s been quite a while since I addressed food labels, so today I am jumping back in and talking about allergen...
Admin
Nov 8, 20162 min read
FDA Issues Final Rule on Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food
By Ashley Ellixson This article first appeared in the April 26th Edition of the Delmarva Farmer. If you have not heard of the Food Safety...
Admin
May 4, 20163 min read
Two More New England States Look at GMO Labeling
By Ashley Ellixson If you read last week’s post on Vermont’s genetically modified organisms (GMO) labeling bill, you should be up to...
Admin
Mar 15, 20162 min read
Vermont’s Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) Labeling Law: UPDATED!
By Ashley Ellixson Not too long ago, I gave an overview of genetically modified organisms and labeling laws in respect to them. To...
Admin
Feb 23, 20162 min read
Weekly News Roundup: February 19th Edition
By Mayhah Suri Reminder CSA Membership Agreement Samples Available Many of you running CSAs will soon be signing members up for the new...
msuri1
Feb 19, 20163 min read
Frequently Asked Questions: Which Address Do I Place On My Food Label When I Make Food At Community
By Ashley Ellixson The question of business address on a food label is really quite common. You might be wondering, why would someone...
Admin
Feb 2, 20163 min read
Food Law: The Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA)
By Ashley Ellixson Today we are jumping into the world of food law and taking a look of what is know as PACA, or the Perishable...
Admin
Dec 8, 20152 min read
FSMA Final Rule On Produce Safety Is Released
By Rohan V. Tikekar, Ph.D The final rule on fresh produce safety has been released by the US FDA on November 13, 2015. The new rule...
Admin
Nov 19, 20152 min read
Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015: GMO Discussion Continues
By Ashley Ellixson Remember when I said that there is no current Federal genetically modified foods (GMO) labeling law? And recall a few...
Admin
Jun 17, 20153 min read
The Food Safety Modernization Act: Response and Enhanced Relationships
By Ashley Ellixson Today we will complete our look at the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) with a more detailed explanation of the...
Admin
Apr 7, 20152 min read
The Food Safety Modernization Act: Inspection and Compliance
By Ashley Ellixson Our Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) overview continues today with a look at the inspection and compliance section. Not only does FSMA outline rules for farms and facilities but it also lays out the role of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in carrying out FSMA rules and ensuring compliance. This section is referred to as inspection and compliance and can be broken down into four main areas: 1) records and records access, 2) recalls, 3) registrat
Admin
Mar 31, 20153 min read
Food Safety Modernization Act: The Produce Safety Rule
By Ashley Ellixson Today I am continuing our overview of the FSMA with a more detailed look at the Produce Safety Rule (Produce Rule). Feel free to reference my first two posts here and here where I explain briefly what the FSMA is and give a detailed look at the Preventive Controls Rule. The Produce Safety Rule The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released proposed revisions to the Produce Rule (Section 105) of FSMA on September 19, 2014 with a comment period that ended D
-
Mar 24, 20154 min read
Food Safety Modernization Act: The Preventive Controls Rule
By Ashley Ellixson As promised, I will continue the series on the Food Modernization Act (FSMA) today with a closer look at whom FSMA applies to and to what extent it affects those impacted. If you would like a quick overview or missed my first post on FSMA, you can read it here. I will be focusing on the five key areas I discussed in that blog post from here on out. Today I am going to look more closely at the Preventive Controls (aka Preventive Rule). This rule is a big p
Admin
Mar 17, 20155 min read
Introduction to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
By Ashley Ellixson The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated in 2011 that 48 million people (or 1 in 6 Americans) get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die each year of foodborne diseases. While these are startling numbers, this is a largely preventable issue according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As a result of this issue, Congress passed the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) in December 2010. What is FSMA? In short, it is legi
Admin
Mar 10, 20152 min read
Food Labeling Continues: COOL Regulations
By Ashley Ellixson Have you looked at the packaging on your meat lately? Have you ever asked the question, “Why is that label there? Why must it say that?” Today, I am going to walk you through what is known as the country-of-origin labeling (COOL) regulations on meat and other covered commodities. Also, if you’re in the business of selling these products, you should make sure you’re in compliance if the regulation applies to your business. History The provisions of the COOL
Admin
Feb 18, 20153 min read
Food Labeling Continues: Let’s Talk About GMOs
Many of you have asked us to discuss genetically modified organism (GMO) labeling. This post will inform you of the present issues and the state of current regulations regarding genetically modified crops and foods. Right now there is no Federal law requiring a label stating that a product contains genetically modified products. It is also important to note there is no Federal definition of genetically modified. To clarify, let’s highlight a few definitions of GMO: Merriam
Admin
Jan 21, 20153 min read
What is the Hubbub about Food Hubs?
By Sarah Everhart What is a food hub? In general, food hubs help farmers get their products from the field to the consumer. According to USDA’s definition, a regional food hub is “a business or organization that actively manages the aggregation, distribution and marketing of source-identified food products, primarily from local and regional producers to strengthen their ability to satisfy wholesale, retail and institutional demand.” Although there has been a lot of recent m
Sarah Everhart
Dec 22, 20143 min read
FDA’s Final Rules: Calorie Counts On Your Favorite Fast Foods?
By Ashley Ellixson On November 25, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration finalized two rules requiring that calorie information be listed on menus in chain restaurants and similar food establishments, as well as vending machines with 20 or more locations. The rules are required by the 2010 Patent Protection and Affordable Care Act. The reasoning behind the rules is the idea that consumers need the information in order to make informed choices for themselves and their
Admin
Dec 1, 20142 min read
bottom of page