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FSIS Seeks Comments for the 31st
Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
This week, the Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety announced
a public meeting for stakeholders to provide information, receive
comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed
at the 31st Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) held
in Geneva, Switzerland on June 30 through July 4.
The public meeting will be held on June 4 from 1 to 4 p.m. in Room
107-A of the Jamie L. Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W.,
Washington, D.C.
Agenda
items and documents relating to the 31st Session of the CAC will
be accessible prior to the meeting. Individuals are invited to submit
comments by electronic mail to USCODEX@fsis.usda.gov.
To view the related press release, visit www.fsis.usda.gov/
News_&_Events/NR_052808_01/index.asp
and for further information contact Barbara McNiff, senior advisor,
U.S. Codex Office at (202) 690-4719.
FSIS Posts
Salmonella Serotype Data
Today, FSIS posted to its Web site the third and fourth quarter serotype
profile data for Salmonella isolates from meat and poultry
products from July 1 through December 2007.
Salmonella
testing and serotype data are a resource for comparison with future
post-Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point data collection. Along
with complementary data from molecular and phenotypic analyses, it
also provides an opportunity to examine the association among serotypes
isolated on-farm, from meat and poultry products and from human cases
of salmonellosis.
FSIS keeps abreast with serotypes of emerging concern to human health.
Historic U.S. human health surveillance data revealed that Salmonella
serotypes Typhimurium, Enteritidis, Newport, Javiana and Heidelberg
are the most commonly identified serotypes causing human infection
in the United States.
The serotype data can be viewed on FSIS' Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/
Quarterly_Salmonella_Serotype_Results/index.asp.
Outbreak
Summit Opens Eyes for Better Outcomes
FSIS co-hosted a two-day summit in St. Louis, Missouri titled, "Better
Communications, Better Public Health Outcomes: Strategies for Improved
Coordination During Foodborne Outbreaks" on May 15 and 16
to bring together industry, consumer groups, and local, state and
federal public health and regulatory agencies to discuss outbreaks
that cross jurisdictional lines.
Over 160 attendees learned how various participants in investigations
of foodborne outbreaks operate, how they function and what their responsibilities
and limitations are. "The presenters were very open and honest
about what they can do as well as frustrations they encounter,"
said Dr. Elisabeth Hagen, executive associate for public health at
FSIS and the meeting's moderator. "They gave us a great perspective
on what they deal with and how varied the experiences are."
FSIS will post a transcript of the May 15 public meeting on FSIS'
Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov/
News_&_Events/past_events/index.asp.
A report that summarizes the May 16 group discussions will also be
provided to participants, to include proposed action items and next
steps.
Export Requirement Updates
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes
in export requirements for the following:
Complete information can be found at www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Export_Information/index.asp.
FSIS to Hold Regulatory
Education Workshop in Houston
FSIS will hold regulatory education workshops for owners and operators
of small and very small plants in Texas on June 10.
The workshops will cover a variety of topics and prerequisite programs,
including hazard analysis and critical control points, sanitation
performance standards, sanitation standard operating procedures, rules
of practice, food defense strategies, E. coli O157:H7 workshops,
and the following notices:
- 65-07, Notice of Reassessment for Escherichia coli O157:H7
Control and Completion of a Checklist for all Beef Operations;
- 66-07, Multiple Follow-Up Sampling After FSIS Positive Escherichia
coli O157:H7 Results; and
- 68-07, Routine Sampling and Testing of Raw Ground Beef Components
Other Than Trim and Imported Raw Ground Beef Components for Escherichia
coli O157:H7.
The June 10 session will be held at the Intercontinental Hotel - Houston,
2222 West Loop, Houston, Texas from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
To register by phone, call (800) 336-3747. Online registration forms
and information about upcoming sessions can be found at www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/
Outreach_Sessions_SVS_Plants/index.asp. Pre-registration is encouraged,
but not required.
Food Defense Plans
FSIS will conduct a survey on August 1 to determine how many FSIS-regulated
slaughter and processing plants have voluntarily adopted functional
food defense plans. To assist plants in developing and using food
defense plans, common Q&As have been posted to askFSIS on
the Agency's Web site. Visit https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081010225729/http://askfsis.custhelp.com
and select "Food Defense Plans in FSIS Inspected Facilitates".
Visit FSIS' Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov/Food_Defense_&_Emergency_Response/
Guidance_Materials/index.asp to review guidelines for completing
a functional defense plan.
FSIS Offers the Policy
Development Division as a Resource to Develop Food Defense Plans
FSIS has provided several resources to assist FSIS-regulated slaughter
and processing plants in developing food defense plans.
Common Q&As have been posted to askFSIS
as well as guidance material titled Developing a Food Defense
Plan for Meat and Poultry Slaughter and Processing Plants. Both
resources are available for review on the Agency's Web site.
FSIS now encourages individuals to contact the Policy Development
Division (formerly known as the FSIS Technical Center) in Omaha, Nebraska.
Customers may call (800) 233-3935 and speak to food safety experts
who are prepared to provide guidance and assist with questions that
may support in the development of a sound food defense plan.
Additional FSIS Podcasts Now Live
The Agency recently launched a series: Food Safety at Home
of podcasts that offers consumers and other stakeholders another method
of obtaining food safety information.
To sign up for a free subscription, visit www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/podcasts/index.asp.
For assistance or details concerning FSIS podcasts, send an e-mail
to podcast@fsis.usda.gov.
The Agency also features its podcast at the Apple iTunes store. Users
can subscribe to free podcasts through direct subscription by typing
"Food Safety and Inspection Service podcast" in the search
engine of the iTunes store. Customers can also go directly to https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081010225729/http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/
MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=279346056
to access the podcast.
The following podcasts are available to review:
- May 28, Safe Storage of Food
This episode features a discussion on the safe storage of food
which is essential in the prevention of foodborne illness.
- May 21, Food Safety During a Power Outage
Learn helpful tips on what you can do to keep your food safe during
a power outage.
- May 14, Questions from the Hotline: Spoilage Bacteria
This episode provides information on different types of spoilage
bacteria that affect food.
- May 7, Is It Done Yet?
Learn about the Is It Done Yet? food safety education
campaign to promote the use of food thermometers when cooking
meat and poultry.
To review these podcasts, visit www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/
Food_Safety_at_Home_Podcasts/index.asp.
April and May FSIS Podcasts Now Live
FSIS also has a series titled Food Safety of Meat, Poultry and
Processed Egg Product Inspection available on its Web site. Listed
below are feature podcasts:
- May 28, Developing a Recall Plan
- May 21, Preventing Recalls
- May 14, Generic Labeling
- May 7, Features of a Label Sketch
- April30, Federal Grant of Inspection Guide
- April 23, Food Safety Resources and Where to Find Them
- April 23, Small Plant News
- April 23, askFSIS
To review these podcasts, visit www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/
Food_Safety_Inspection_Podcasts/index.asp.
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Last Modified:
May 30, 2008 |
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