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Public Meeting: FSIS to Discuss the Use of Low Dose Irradiation in Beef with Stakeholders
FSIS will hold a public meeting on September 18 to communicate with stakeholders and receive public comments on what action
it should take with respect to a petition from the American Meat Institute (AMI).
The Agency received a petition from AMI in July 2005 to recognize the use of low penetration and low dose electron beam
irradiation on the surface of chilled beef carcasses as a processing aid. A copy of the petition is available on FSIS' Web site at
www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Petition_Carcass_Surface_Irrad.pdf (PDF Only).
In this petition AMI argues that research studies demonstrate low dose irradiation in beef is exceptionally effective at reducing levels of
E. coli O157:H7, does not produce significant losses of either macro- or micro-nutrients and does not have any effect
on organoleptic properties, appearance or any lasting effects on shelf life.
Based upon research and information collected, as well as a positive evaluation of the safety of irradiation by the
Food and Drug Administration, FSIS will consider data and
information contained in the petition.
The meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel, 480 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., Washington, DC
To register and review an agenda for this meeting, visit the "Meetings and Events" page of FSIS' Web site at
www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Meetings_&_Events/
index.asp.
FSIS Updates E. coli O157:H7 Reports
FSIS began testing for E. coli O157:H7 in 1994. Originally, testing at retail stores represented 70% to 80% of raw
ground beef samples. By 1998, about half of the samples were from retail stores. Retail testing was performed to
coordinate with other programs, provide a greater opportunity for detection, provide testing at the last point in the
commercial process and provide surveillance when few retail stores required testing by their suppliers.
Since then, FSIS has recognized the importance of testing to verify the effectiveness of an establishment's Hazard Analysis
and Critical Control Point system and chose to focus its sampling earlier in the process where prevention and interventions were more feasible.
Starting in 2000, FSIS directed more of its testing program to federally inspected establishments. FSIS testing of federally
inspected establishments rose from 75% in 2000 to more than 95% in 2007.
E. coli O157:H7 testing by FSIS, to include data through August 31, 2008, is summarized in the table below.
|
|
| Results
from Analysis of Raw Ground Beef and Raw Ground Beef Component Samples for E. coli
O157:H7 |
| Raw Ground Beef |
| Source |
As of Sep 2, 2007 |
As of Aug 31, 2008 |
No.
Ana- lyzed |
No. Positive |
Percent Positive |
No.
Ana- lyzed
|
No. Positive |
Percent Positive |
Federal
Plants |
8,200 |
16 |
0.20 |
7,738 |
27 |
0.35 |
| Retail Stores |
120 |
0 |
0.00 |
280 |
0 |
0.00 |
| Imports |
61 |
0 |
0.00 |
38 |
1 |
2.63 |
| Raw Ground Beef Components |
| Source |
As of Sep 2, 2007 |
As of Aug 31, 2008 |
No.
Ana- lyzed |
No. Positive |
Percent Positive |
No.
Ana- lyzed
|
No. Positive |
Percent Positive |
Federal
Plants |
365 |
2 |
0.55 |
1,438 |
9 |
0.63 |
| Imports |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
362 |
1 |
0.28 |
| The above information is based upon data in the FSIS electronic data system as of
September 3, 2008. Results are from FSIS routine and follow-up sampling programs. |
|
|
Individual positive results from the all raw ground beef sampling programs for 2008 are reported on FSIS' Web site at
www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/2008_Ecoli_Positive_Results/
index.asp.
Export Requirement Updates
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements for the following:
- Albania
- Cuba
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Mexico
Complete information can be found at www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Export_Information/index.asp.
Be Prepared, Be Food Safe
Two new videocasts in American Sign Language, titled, "Food Safety During a Power Outage" and "Be Food Safe" have
been added to the SignFSIS library.
Visit FSIS' Web site to check them out www.fsis.usda.gov/news_&_events/SignFSIS/index.asp.
NACMCF Subcommittee to Hold a Web Meeting
The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) Subcommittee on Parameters for Inoculated Pack/Challenge Study Protocols
will hold a Web conference on September 9 and September 12.
The purpose of this Web meeting is to review a draft report on recommendations for the appropriate criteria for inoculated pack/challenge
studies to determine if a food requires time/temperature control for food safety.
The web meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 9 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm EST and Friday, September 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST.
Due to limited connections, the public is invited to attend through the computer terminal that will be connected to the meetings at the
Aerospace Building, 901 D Street S.W., Room 372, Washington, DC.
To attend this meeting, contact Karen Thomas-Sharp, NACMCF advisory committee specialist at (202)690-6620 or via email at
Karen Thomas-Sharp.
All persons wishing to attend must RSVP in advance.
USDA to Host Public Meeting on Animal Raising Claims
FSIS and USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will host a public meeting on Oct. 14 to discuss
and review its policies on the use of animal raising claims in the labeling of meat and poultry products.
FSIS evaluates animal raising claims by considering information on animal production practices submitted by companies as part of their label
approval requests. However, recent events concerning labeling claims related to the use of antibiotics in the raising of poultry have
led FSIS to question its ability to verify that labels of meat and poultry products that contain animal raising claims are truthful and
not misleading. Therefore, FSIS and AMS will solicit public input and review its policies on claims related to the use of antibiotics
in poultry and on animal raising claims in general.
The meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel, 480 L'Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington, D.C. An agenda will be
available for review on FSIS' Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Meetings_&_Events/
index.asp.
FSIS Issues Notices
This week, FSIS issued the following Notices:
To review these notices in detail, visit www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
FSIS_Notices_Index/index.asp.
FSIS Extends Comment Period for Draft Compliance Guidelines for Sampling Beef Trimmings and Beef Products for Escherichia coli O157:H7
On August 15, FSIS posted on its Web site two draft compliance guideline documents on sampling with a particular focus on beef trimmings for
Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7).
FSIS provided the documents to stakeholders for review with a 30-day comment period. The Agency has decided to extend the comment period and
asks that comments to be submitted on or before November 17. All stakeholders are encouraged to submit their comments via email to the
Office of Policy and Program Development, Risk Management Division at FSISGuidanceDocumentComments@fsis.usda.gov.
FSIS plans to hold a public meeting soon that will be announced in FSIS' Constituent Update and in an upcoming Federal Register notice, for
discussion of guidance documents, comments received and final guidance to be issued.
These draft guidance documents are intended to provide information about the design of sampling and testing programs for E. coli O157:H7.
These documents are focused on manufacturers and users of boneless beef manufacturing "trimmings" and other raw ground beef components.
These draft guidance documents are intended to assist establishments in developing programs to assess the adequacy of process controls for E. coli O157:H7.
To view the Compliance Guidelines for Sampling Beef Trimmings for Escherichia coli O157:H7, visit FSIS' Web site at
www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/
Compliance_Guides_Index/index.asp#Ecoli.
Preparing for a Weather Emergency
Power outages can occur at any time of the year and it often takes from a few hours to several days for electricity to be restored to residential areas,
especially in cases of inclement weather.
Knowing how to keep food safe will help minimize the potential loss of food and reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
The guide titled, A Consumer's Guide to Food Safety: Severe Storms and Hurricanes,
provides specific food safety recommendations on what to do before, during and after tropical storms and hurricanes.
To view the consumer's guide, visit www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/
Severe_Storms_and_Hurricanes_Guide.pdf (PDF).
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Last Modified:
September 5, 2008 |
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