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Update on E. coli O157:H7 Testing
This week's update on E. coli O157:H7 testing by FSIS has been expanded to include
raw ground beef components from federal plants and from imports.
The table below reports year-to-date information for the current year and
one year prior for raw ground beef and raw ground beef components.
|
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| Results
from Analysis of Raw Ground Beef and Raw Ground Beef Component Samples for E. coli
O157:H7 |
| Raw Ground Beef |
| Source |
As of June 24, 2007 |
As of June 22, 2008 |
No.
Ana- lyzed |
No.
Positive |
Percent
Positive |
No.
Ana- lyzed
|
No.
Positive |
Percent
Positive |
Federal
Plants |
5,588 |
12 |
0.21 |
5,709 |
15 |
0.26 |
| Retail Stores |
96 |
0 |
0.00 |
213 |
0 |
0.00 |
| Raw Ground Beef Components |
| Source |
As of June 24, 2007 |
As of June 22, 2008 |
No.
Ana- lyzed |
No.
Positive |
Percent
Positive |
No.
Ana- lyzed
|
No.
Positive |
Percent
Positive |
Federal
Plants |
183 |
2 |
1.09 |
862 |
2 |
0.23 |
| Imports |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
261 |
0 |
0.00 |
|
|
As indicated, the number of samples analyzed for raw ground beef
components is greater in 2008 than in 2007. Sampling and testing of raw ground beef components is a
program that was initiated on March 19, 2007. The 2007 data reflects the first three months
of this program while the 2008 data reflects nearly six months of testing.
For more information about this program, see FSIS Notice 18-07 titled
Routine Sampling of Beef Manufacturing Trimmings Intended for Use in Raw Ground Beef.
Positive results are reported on FSIS' Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/2008_Ecoli_Positive_Results/
index.asp.
FSIS Solicits Bids for Food Safety and Defense Training for Spanish-Speaking Plant Owners and Operators
FSIS is soliciting applications for cooperative agreements for a collaborative outreach program on food safety and defense
to assist Spanish-speaking owners and operators of small and very small plants.
This program will support operations that generally have fewer technical and financial resources than large facilities
which may be exacerbated when English is not the predominant language spoken by plant owners and operators.
The Spanish-speaking training and outreach program is intended to increase the knowledge of, and compliance with,
FSIS regulations while providing specialized assistance to this market segment. This program also will provide resources
to plant operators in Spanish-speaking countries with an interest in exporting products to the United States.
Applications must be received by August 11 and can be downloaded from the Government grants Web site at www.grants.gov.
Click on "Find Grand Opportunities," then select "Basic Search" and type in "10.479" in the
search by "Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number" field. Select "Food Safety Cooperation Agreements" and
select "Application" to access the application for this announcement.
Forms may also be directed to FSIS by e-mail at mildred.rivera-betancort@fsis.usda.gov.
The application may also be mailed to Mildred Rivera-Betancourt, U.S. Department of Agriculture - FSIS, OOEET/CFL/TOB, 210 Walnut Street, Room 985,
Des Moines, Iowa 50320.
For additional information, contact Mildred Rivera-Betancourt by phone at (515) 727-8987 or by e-mail at the above address.
Export Requirement Updates
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements for the following:
- Albania
- Chile
- Mexico
- Philippines
- Thailand
Complete information can be found at www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Export_Information/index.asp.
Salmonella Results for Egg Products Posted
FSIS is posting, for the first time, results from the testing program of pasteurized egg products for Salmonella.
The responsibility for regulating pasteurized liquid, frozen or dried egg products was transferred from USDA's
Agricultural Marketing Service to FSIS in 1995.
In the first year of testing by FSIS, the prevalence of Salmonella detected in the combined results from the egg products
project was 1.63 percent. With few exceptions, the percent positive rate for Salmonella in pasteurized egg products has
dropped each year since then. This past year, results for pasteurized egg products testing show a decrease down to 0.07.
The posting also includes the serotype data, which can be viewed at
https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081106032007/http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/
Sal_Pasteurized_Egg_Products/index.asp.
The most common serotype has been Heidelberg, followed by Enteritidis.
Regulatory Workshop to be Held in NC
FSIS will hold a regulatory education workshop for owners and operators of small and very small plants in Raleigh on July 15 as part
of the Agency's outreach to these establishments.
The workshop 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 July 15 session will be held at the Holiday Inn Crabtree Valley, 4100 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, North Carolina from 6:30 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.
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.
A documented set of procedures will improve an establishment's ability
to respond quickly. A food defense plan also helps to maintain a safe
working environment for employees, provide a quality product to customers,
and will be particularly helpful during emergencies.
Also be sure to visit www.fsis.usda.gov/Food_Defense_&_Emergency_Response/
Guidance_Materials/index.asp to review guidelines for completing
a functional food defense plan.
FSIS Launches Food Safety Video-Casts
This week, FSIS launched the first in a series of SignFSIS video-casts translated into American Sign Language
(ASL) designed to educate consumers who are deaf and hard-of-hearing about food safety. Critical to summer food safety, FSIS released "Barbecue and
Food Safety" and "Food Safety During and After a Power Outage" video-casts.
FSIS developed this feature to provide consumers with an alternative vehicle of receiving food safety materials either in written English or ASL.
SignFSIS video-casts feature six Gallaudet University ASL students translating ten food safety scripts from written English to ASL,
covering a variety of topics including E. coli and Salmonella and how to handle meat and poultry properly.
FSIS partnered with the Gallaudet University Biology Department after learning that video-casts were the most effective means of
communication for deaf and hard-of-hearing ASL users across the United States.
While this service is a first for USDA, the Agency intends to continue it for consumers who are deaf and hard of hearing by recording
more ASL video-casts in the future. Users can access the video clips on FSIS' Web site at
www.fsis.usda.gov/news_&_events/
Food_Safety_Videos/index.asp.
FSIS Issues Directive
FSIS published Directive 5000.1 Revision 3, Verifying an Establishment's Food Safety System on June 24.
The purpose of this directive is to provide comprehensive direction to consumer safety inspectors of how to verify an establishment's
compliance with the pathogen reduction, sanitation and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point, or HACCP, regulations.
This document cancels FSIS Directive 5000.1 Revision 2, Verifying An Establishment's Food Safety System dated July 18, 2006.
Additionally, this directive also provides an attachment addressing the use of microbial pathogen computer modeling in HACCP plans.
To review this directive, visit www.fsis.usda.gov/
regulations_&_policies/5000_Series-Program_Services/index.asp.
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Last Modified:
June 27, 2008 |
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