The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released an at-a-glance summary of recent news and updates from the agency. One of the key updates is the FDA’s report on the occurrence of foodborne illness risk factors in fast food and full-service restaurants. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over half of foodborne illness outbreaks each year are linked to food from restaurants. The FDA’s report summarizes their findings from the 2017-2018 data collection as part of their ongoing 10-year study on trends in food safety and foodborne illness risk factors in food service facilities. Risk factors include inadequate cooking, poor personal hygiene, and using food from unsafe sources.
In other news, the FDA has authorized the marketing of a prescription medical device called the Invictus Medical Neoasis. This device is designed to reduce noise levels inside the Giraffe Omnibed infant incubator in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). NICUs are often high noise environments, which can potentially impact an infant’s well-being and development. The Neoasis device uses a software algorithm to detect noise levels and cancels out noise through a speaker placed inside the incubator. The software has been validated and includes important patient safety features.
The FDA’s role is to protect public health by ensuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines, and other biological products; as well as medical devices. The agency is also responsible for regulating the safety and security of the nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that emit electronic radiation, and tobacco products.
The FDA’s report on foodborne illness risk factors highlights the importance of proper food preparation practices in restaurants to prevent outbreaks of foodborne illness. This information can be used by both fast food and full-service restaurants to improve their food safety practices and minimize the risk of foodborne illnesses. It is crucial for restaurants to ensure adequate cooking, maintain good personal hygiene, and use food from safe sources.
The authorization of the Invictus Medical Neoasis device addresses the issue of high noise levels in NICUs. The device provides a way to reduce noise and allows infants to hear their caregivers’ voices through a speaker inside the incubator. High noise levels can negatively impact an infant’s well-being and development, so reducing noise in NICUs is essential. The software algorithm used by the Neoasis device detects noise levels and produces a noise cancelling effect, improving the environment for infants in NICUs.
Overall, these updates from the FDA highlight their ongoing efforts to protect public health and ensure the safety of various regulated products. By studying and addressing foodborne illness risk factors in restaurants and providing solutions for noise reduction in NICUs, the FDA is working to improve the safety and well-being of individuals across the country.
