ASTA's Clean, Safe Spices Guidance recommends that allspice companies develop and implement an environmental monitoring program. FSMA has underscored the need to do so. The series features Dr. James Dickson and attorney Maile Hermida for a 90-minute webinar to learn how to develop an FSMA-ready program and understand the related legal issues. Dr. Dickson provides details on what the key elements of a comprehensive environmental monitoring program are and gives advice on how to develop a program that is tailored to a spice facility. Ms. Hermida provides insight in FSMA requirements and FDA’s expectations for RTE foods, as well as the legal liability’s companies face related to environmental monitoring.

Presented at ASTA's 2024 Regulatory Workshop, this session explored the implications of FDA’s revised Appendix 1, which identifies heavy metals as a potential hazard requiring a preventive control for spices. It also explored real-life case studies and provided discussion with industry colleagues on how to best consider heavy metals in their risk management strategy.