FDA allows antimicrobial agent on poultry

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has amended the food additive regulations to provide for the safe use of anti-microbial agent on poultry carcasses, parts and organs. The anti-microbial agent is a mixture of peroxyacetic acid, octanoic acid, acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, peroxyoctanoic acid, and 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid. The action is in response to a petition filed by Ecolab, Inc. on March 30, 2001, which proposed to amend the food additives regulations in part 173 Secondary Direct Food Additives Permitted in Food for Human Consumption to provide for the safe use of the above-noted anti-microbial agent. This rule is effective September 19, 2001. Written objections and requests for a hearing should be sent before October 19, 2001 to the FDA. The FDA​ has evaluated data in the petition and other relevant material. Based on this information, the agency concludes that the proposed use of the additive is safe and the additive will achieve its intended technical effect as an anti-microbial agent on poultry carcasses, poultry parts, and organs. The agency has carefully considered the potential environmental effects of this action. FDA has concluded that the action will not have a significant impact on the human environment, and that an environmental impact statement is not required.