Food Alerts October 8 – 9, 2026
USDA Announces Record Payments of $13.8 Billion for 2025 Crop Year Revenue and Price Safety Net Programs
Farm Service Agency’s Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) will generate approximately $13.8 billion in gross payments to eligible agricultural producers for the 2025 crop year; the largest annual payout by far since these key safety net programs were established in the 2014 Farm Bill. https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2026/10/07/usda-announces-record-payments-138-billion-2025-crop-year-revenue-and-price-safety-net-programs
Food Traceability: FDA Issues Draft Enforcement Discretion Policy for Certain Small Retailers and Restaurants and Announces Public Meeting
Under the draft policy, the FDA does not intend to enforce any of the requirements of the Food Traceability Rule for RFEs and restaurants whose average monetary value of food sold or provided during the previous three-year period is greater than $250,000 but not more than $1million, adjusted for inflation using 2020 as the baseline year for calculating the adjustment.
FDA plans to offer additional flexibilities for complying with the Food Traceability Rule, beyond this draft enforcement policy for small RFEs and restaurants. Towards that end, the FDA will hold a public meeting on November 6, 2026 Food Traceability: FDA Issues Draft Enforcement Discretion Policy for Certain Small Retailers and Restaurants and Announces Public Meeting | FDA
FDA Issues Final Rule on Salt Substitutes in Standardized Foods
The FDA has issued a final rule to permit the use of salt substitutes in foods with standards of identity (SOI) that specify salt (sodium chloride) as a required or optional ingredient. Today’s final rule gives manufacturers of foods subject to a SOI regulation the flexibility to reduce sodium, enabling innovation and the production of healthier standardized foods. FDA Issues Final Rule on Salt Substitutes in Standardized Foods | FDA
More Products Added to the Ongoing Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella on Sprouts from September 2026
- Recalled Gardeners Basics Waltham 29 Broccoli Sprouting Seeds, packaged in a white and green resealable pouch, net weight 1 pound (454 g), with UPC 848137042889. The bag is marked “Packed for 2027.”
- Recalled Eden Brothers calabrese broccoli seeds in packets and in 1-oz and 1-lb sizes (Eden Brothers lots 1022067 and 1022068; supplier lot W4105).
- Recalled Home Grown green sprouting calabrese broccoli seeds, 8-oz, heirloom sold on Amazon, with lot code AUG172026 embossed on the top seal.
- Recalled broccoli sprouts grown by Evergreen Fresh Sprouts, LLC are past expiration and no longer available for sale. Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Sprouts (September 2026) | FDA
