Olive Oil Prices Rising

Seems that prices have fallen so much and the Retailers in Europe have such stocks on hand that the EU (European Union) is jumping in to support prices...

Support Prices is euphemism for "get prices up". Does this sound like socialism?

Nope.

The impact on people is clear... Higher costs in a staple while unemployment is at high points along the Mediterranean sea!

What is a Low Acid Food - Stuffed Olives?

Are Spanish Stuffed Olives a low acid food? In my 30 plus years of importing them... No.

But being right is not necessarily the correct answer: Water activity and pH definitions be damned. An inspector says no... that's that. (and precious little real dialogue).

But hey, if the Spanish packing industry would only file low acid, I am pretty sure that FDA would reject the filing as not being low acid.

Here is an issue that should be resolved simply by food technologists. Does it or not need filing as a low acid food?

FDA has been under such duress that they are missing the big picture. I don't envy them their responsiblities. So fearful of mistakes...

Blue Planet Foods visits and inspects all of the packing partners we use across the world. We don't wait for FDA. We look to guarantee that we have sound, healthy, current practices in the manufaturing of our products.

With a bit of clarity, we want to work towards the goal of SAFE FOODS with any and all.

Meanwhile, the Stuffed Olive Saga continues.

Currency Fluctuations!

Since the start of the month, the euro has gained about 7.8 percent against the US dollar! Most all of that was in the last week!

What's next?

The European Central Bank has to do something! What a mess!

LA Produce Market

There are many links in the global food chain. Weak Produce Sales... Not the only problem.

1.23 to 1.50 euros to US$

That is the divegence that we see...
Here's a Blommberg report... Which way is up and out?

Retail Green Olive Jars

 

Whatever You May Think...

Be they soldiers of the UK or the USA or the EU or any soldiers who try to keep us safe... Thank you.

Beef Hormone Wars , Will there be a New Way Forward?

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced today it is delaying by one month the imposition of additional duties on a modified list of EU products in connection with World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement rulings in the EU - Beef Hormones dispute. Under a determination announced Jan. 15, the additional duties were to go into effect March 23. Under the delay announced today, the additional duties are scheduled to go into effect April 23.

A USTR spokesperson said the reason for the delay is that the "USTR is currently in discussions with the European Commission on a possible interim solution that would provide benefits for U.S. beef producers. These discussions have made progress, although several important issues remain to be resolved. USTR has decided to delay the trade action in order to give this process every possibility of success."

The USTR said in order to respect commercial arrangements made in the period since Jan. 15, there will be no delay in the March 23 effective date of the deletion of products from the list of products subject to additional duties.

Mishap in Santa Barbara

Seems that bad folks are everywhere or a reap sow situation at least. Santa Barbara Olive Co. is a fine old label.

Michael J. Totten: Christopher Hitchens and the Battle of Beirut

Michael J. Totten: Christopher Hitchens and the Battle of Beirut

21 st Century Communications

The President may have a Blackberry but I got this e-mail from LA's FDA offices...

"Due to heightened computer and Internet security practices currently in place, unsolicited electronic mail correspondence is no longer being accepted. Future unsolicited electronic mail transmissions, as well as e-mail transmissions containing attached files, will be immediately deleted. Requests for Compliance status information can be directed to (310) 971-2399. Other correspondence shall be forwarded via hard copy to our office for processing and review. Correspondence may also be faxed..." to one of the following product-specific numbers listed below:

BTW

And BTW, FDA at each port is quite different. In the East, through direct dialog, Product that should be released, has been released... in a timely manner...

Solid!