|
Script: Food Safety Resources and Where to Find
Them |
 |
Intro:
Welcome to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection
Service podcast. Each episode will bring you cutting edge
news and information about how FSIS is working to ensure
public health protection through food safety. While we’re on
the job, you can rest assured that your meat, poultry, and
processed egg products are safe, wholesome, properly labeled,
and packaged correctly. So turn up your volume and listen in.
Host:
Hello and welcome. This is Mary Gioglio from the Food Safety
and Inspection Service. Joining me today is Jeff Tarrant to
talk about some of the resources that FSIS offers to help
plant owners and managers comply with federal regulations to
keep our food safe.
Running a business is hard work and keeping up with the
latest Food Safety regulations can be overwhelming. Jeff,
where can a plant owner begin to find answers to comply with
federal regulations?
Guest:
Hello Mary, one of the best places to begin is our web site
at
www.fsis.usda.gov. And for businesses we’ve even made it
easier by creating a business and partners section. To locate
the information from the home page, just use the left
navigation area and select “Browse by Audience – Business and
Partners”. Located here are the federal laws that govern our
actions, locations of our district offices, guidelines and
reference materials to help plants meet and stay in
compliance with the regulations, and resources for developing
and implementing a hazard analysis and critical control point
plan, also known as HACCP.
Host:
That sounds easy to do. Is there a specific site that
addresses small and very small plant needs?
Guest:
Good question. We have a special section that small plant
owners can use to find information about compliance
assistance, meetings nearby where you can learn more about
regulatory compliance, FSIS policies, directives and notices.
A new feature highlights commonly asked questions from small
and very small plants and the corresponding answers from
FSIS. As part of our outreach to small and very small
businesses our web site also includes a downloadable “Guidebook
for the Preparation of HACCP Plans” as well as generic
HACCP models for various processes and products.
Host:
Are there any state or local resources available where plant
owners can also get technical advice?
Guest:
Yes. There is a network of state HACCP contacts and
coordinators that provide technical advice and resources, and
conduct activities to support HACCP implementation in small
and very small plants. The HACCP contact is generally the
state meat and poultry program director. Coordinators are
affiliated with universities and provide additional
one-on-one assistance to small and very small plants.
Information on each state is available on the FSIS web site.
Also, folks can call FSIS at (800) 233-3935 for technical
assistance.
Host:
That sounds like a great source of information for small and
very small plants! I’m wondering where a plant owner might go
for information if they do not have access to the internet.
Guest:
We realize that some plants may not have access to the
internet. Nevertheless, we are committed to providing
information to all plants. We also have HACCP and food safety
materials in printed form. Our food safety resources brochure
is a list of guidance and resource materials that are offered
to the public free of charge. Most resource materials are
offered in both English and Spanish.
Host:
That’s great! How can a small plant owner or operator get one
of these brochures?
Guest:
They can order the brochure by calling 202-720-9113. Again,
that is (202) 720-9113 or they can visit the FSIS Web site
for an on-line version of the brochure. The Website address
is www.fsis.usda.gov.
Host:
Thanks, Jeff! We hope that now you know more about some of
the many resources FSIS offers to small and very small plant
operators. Thanks for tuning in.
Outro:
Well, that’s all for this episode. We’d like your
feedback on our podcast. Or if you have ideas for future
podcasts, send us an e-mail at podcast@fsis.usda.gov. To
learn more about food safety, try our web site at
www.fsis.usda.gov. Thanks for tuning in.
|
