| This page provides a text alternative
for the February 2008 issue available in full-color
PDF.
Labeling for Child Nutrition Programs
By Linda B. Singletary
Did you know there is a special U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) labeling program for foods that are
marketed to school lunch programs? The Child Nutrition Labeling Program is a voluntary program run by the
USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) in cooperation with the
Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service,
and the National Marine Fisheries Service. FNS works
directly with commercial food processing firms, such as yours, so your products can be labeled for child
nutrition program needs.
Having a Child Nutrition (CN) label on your product offers greater potential for marketing to
Child Nutrition Programs. The label statement provides assurance of accurate nutrition claims and
clearly identifies the nutritional contribution of a product toward the FNS meal pattern requirements.
Upon application, FNS evaluates your product's formulation to determine its nutritional contribution to
school meals. You then may state this contribution on your label. The program also provides a warranty to
CN programs that purchase Child Nutrition-labeled products.
Main dish products that contribute to the meat component of school meals are eligible. A few examples of
meat and poultry products that are eligible include beef patties, meat pizzas, meat and bean burritos, egg rolls
and chicken nuggets.
To carry a Child Nutrition label, your product must be inspected by FSIS or your State inspection program.
In addition, your product's nutritional contribution must be determined using yields set forth in the USDA's
Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs (PDF Only).
This publication is available online at FNS' Web site at www.fns.usda.gov.
To locate the guide from the home page, use the left navigation area, type in "Food Buying Guide" in
the search area and click on "go." You may also receive further assistance by calling (703) 305-2609.
Processors frequently ask if a Child Nutrition-labeled product costs more. Tim Vazquez of the Food and
Nutrition Service explains that, "a Child Nutrition-labeled product may well cost a little more than
similar non-Child Nutrition-labeled products because of special labeling requirements, inspection costs, and
additional quality controls. But many food firms find it to be cost effective."
A Child Nutrition label is easily identified by a distinct border that includes the Child Nutrition logo,
enclosing the meal pattern contribution statement, a six-digit product identification number, the USDA/FNS
authorization statement and the month and year of approval.
Child Nutrition-labeled products are required under FNS' regulations to be produced under a partial quality
control program to monitor formulation control, raw and cooked weights and other aspects of the formulation
that affect the crediting of the product. Guidance for preparing quality control programs that meet FNS
requirements can be located online at www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/CNlabeling.
Or, for further assistance, call the Food and Nutrition Service at (703) 305-2609.
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FSIS Makes Changes to Phone System
By Ilene Arnold and Kim Butler
FSIS has made changes to the telephone system in its Omaha, Neb., offices to improve customer service and
address recent changes to the Policy Development Division, formerly known as the Technical Service Center, and
other program areas located in the facility.
Through a series of menus and submenus, callers are now informed on how to reach the most suitable contact
for their question. Callers are also advised to listen carefully to the new menu before choosing their option.
The Policy Development Division answers technical questions related to general domestic inspection policies
and on FSIS issuances, such as directives, notices and interactive knowledge exchange scenarios.
Calls related to international inspection policies, such as export-related questions, are directed to the
Office of International Affairs (OIA). OIA staff located at the Omaha facility will answer these questions and
can be reached by following the appropriate telephone menu prompts.
Callers with labeling and sampling questions should be aware of the following changes:
- The Labeling and Program Delivery Division in Washington, D.C., responds to labeling questions at (202) 205-0279.
- If you have questions on sampling, you'll need to contact the Risk Management Division in Washington, D.C. at (202) 205-0032.
You can also reach these two offices when you call the Policy Development Division at (800) 233-3935.
By following the menu options, you will automatically be forwarded to either the Labeling and Program Delivery
Division or Risk Management Division.
The Policy Development Division staff can be contacted at (402) 344-5000 or (800) 233-3935, Monday through
Friday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., central time. This office is closed on Federal holidays.
Emergency contact phone numbers for FSIS District Offices
can be found on the Agency's Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov. Click the "Contact Us" tab, then the
link to "Office Locations & Phone Numbers."
Callers can also find additional information and answers to commonly asked questions on FSIS' Web site.
The "I Want To …" box on the right side of the home page provides
quick access to frequently requested information. It also includes resources such as "Ask a Food Safety
Question" through Ask Karen (AskKaren.gov) and askFSIS
(https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090116012444/http://askfsis.custhelp.com) to ask inspection-related
questions.
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Food Safety Resources
By Mary Gioglio
The Process Validation Workshop material, which consists of three video tapes and a workbook,
is another frequently requested item from FSIS' Food Safety Resources for Small and Very Small Plants brochure.
This material covers topics ranging from meat microbiology basics to controlling Listeria monocytogenes.
The workbook is also available in Spanish.
To request this item or any other food safety resource, fax the order form found on the PDF version of the
Food Safety Resource Brochure at www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/
HACCP_Resources_Brochure.pdf
to (202) 690-6519, or complete an online version of the form found at
www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/
HACCP_Resources_Order_Form/index.asp
and send it to FoodSafetyResources@fsis.usda.gov.
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Education Sessions Well Received
By Karlease Kelly
FSIS held three Regulatory Education Sessions on the content of recently issued policies related to
E. coli O157:H7 in St. Louis, Green Bay and Philadelphia last fall. A total of 63 participants
attended the sessions. Sixty percent of the participants were from industry and States, and forty percent
were FSIS inspection personnel.
Written evaluations of the sessions indicated that participants felt they were able to ask questions
freely and get clarification on issues. Participant feedback also showed that the course instructors were
effective. Eighty percent claimed the session met their expectations, and 90 percent indicated they would
recommend the sessions to others. The questions asked at the sessions were shared with FSIS' policy
division to be included in askFSIS.
FSIS is continuing to conduct these sessions. For more information about when and where these
sessions will be held, or to pre-register to attend a session, use the following Web address:
www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/
Outreach_Sessions_SVS_Plants/index.asp.
Or call (800) 336-3747 for further assistance.
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BRIEFS
By Sheila Johnson
Public Meetings
The National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection
meeting was held on February 5-6, 2008. The Committee meets biannually to discuss food safety issues and
make recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture. Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Richard A. Raymond,
FSIS Administrator Alfred V. Almanza, and other agency leaders worked closely with the Committee during this
2-day event. Transcripts and other meeting materials
will be available on FSIS' Web site in the coming weeks. Call (202) 690-6520 for further assistance.
Communications to Congress
FSIS generates for Congress periodic and special reports and also provides testimony before
Congressional committee meetings. Visit FSIS' Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/
Communications_to_Congress/index.asp
to view testimony from agency personnel. You can click on the "Communications to Congress" highlight to
find testimonies from agency officials on issues ranging from the food safety budget to carbon monoxide in
meat packaging. You'll also find interesting information on FSIS' small and very small plant outreach efforts.
Call FSIS' Congressional and Public Affairs Office at (202) 720-9113 for further assistance in obtaining
testimonies and any other documents generated for Congress.
Feedback Requested
Suggestions, comments and feedback on Small Plant News are always appreciated. We want this publication to
serve your needs in the best possible manner. Send your comments to
SmallPlantNews@fsis.usda.gov
or call (202) 690-6520.
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Food Safety Videos Available on the Web
By Ellyn Blumberg
Have you ever wished there was a free, fast, and easy way to get copies of videos on food safety? Now there is.
FSIS has launched a new Web page that features streaming food safety videos of public service announcements,
regulatory information sessions, and
training on meat, poultry and processed egg products inspection.
By using streaming video, you do not have to wait to download large files before seeing the video. Instead,
the videos are sent in a continuous stream and are played as they arrive. Access the food safety videos at
www.fsis.usda.gov/news_&_events/
Food_Safety_Videos/index.asp.
"Approximately 90 percent of the federally inspected meat, poultry and processed egg product plants in the
United States are considered 'small' or 'very small plants'," said Karlease Kelly, Assistant Administrator
for the Office of Outreach, Employee Education and Training. "This new resource helps ensure that
training and access to food safety information are available in a format that's uniform, easily accessible and
consistent. The Web page provides a wide range of subject matter, ranging from information on safe cooking
temperatures, inspection procedures, to programs on compliance guidelines."
The meat, poultry and processed egg products videos targeted to plants, employees and other food handlers cover
topics such as control of Listeria monocytogenes in retail establishments, food safety at pow wows,
the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point System, food defense, post-packaging heat treatment, new FSIS
food inspector orientation and new plant orientation and new plant owner/operator orientation. Many of these
videos were developed through cooperative agreements with universities and State agriculture departments.
Copies of the meat, poultry and processed egg products inspection videos can also be ordered from the agency's
Food Safety Resources for Small and Very Small Plants brochure at
www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/
HACCP_Resources_Brochure/index.asp.
There are also regulatory education session videos that feature programs to promote uniform understanding
of the regulations. These sessions cover topics such as avian influenza, compliance guidelines for
E. coli O157:H7 verification, in-plant risk management practices for controlling Salmonella in
poultry and E. coli O157:H7 in beef slaughter, compliance guidelines for production of safe meat
and poultry jerky products and raw products, and compliance guidelines for controlling Listeria monocytogenes
in ready-to-eat products.
FSIS hopes that you find this resource helpful and encourages your feedback. Call (202) 690-6520 or send an
email to SmallPlantNews@fsis.usda.gov
with your feedback and suggestions.
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Commonly Asked Questions & Answers
Q. . Do the positive results of E. coli O157:H7 samples that are
collected and analyzed by a State public health laboratory trigger follow-up sampling the same as if
FSIS collected and analyzed the sample?
A. Yes, according to FSIS Notice 66-07 (PDF Only),
FSIS will conduct follow-up testing on the basis of this finding the same as an FSIS result, as long as the
State laboratory's result is one that the agency would use under FSIS Directive 10,000.1 (see FSIS Notice 64-07) (PDF Only).
Q. Do antimicrobial solutions need to be declared on the label?
A. When approved antimicrobial agents are used in meat or poultry processing for the
momentary reduction of microorganisms, and are determined by FSIS to be consistent with the Food and Drug
Administration's definition of an incidental additive (21 CFR 101.100(a)(3)), they do not require labeling.
The treatment of meat or poultry with an approved antimicrobial agent in water should not result in the
product retaining any water. Therefore, as long as an establishment can demonstrate that no water is absorbed
during, prior, or subsequent to processing steps, such as chilling, a meat or poultry product's labeling
would not need to bear a retained water statement.
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Small Plant NEWS
Editor: Keith Payne
Production: Jeff Tarrant, LCDR, U.S. Public Health Service
Design: Rowena M. Becknel
Contact: Small Plant News, USDA/FSIS, Aerospace Building,
3rd Floor-Room 405, 14th and Independence Ave., SW, Washington,
DC 20250. (202) 690-6520
E-mail: SmallPlantNews@fsis.usda.gov |
