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.
