EdNet - April 2011
EdNet, the National Food Safety Educator’s Network, is a monthly, multi-agency electronic news journal from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). EdNet provides up-to-date information about food safety and nutrition programs and activities for educators, consumer advocates, government officials, and industry representatives.
If you have questions or comments about this issue of EdNet, send an e-mail to the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FDA).
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In this issue:
Advisories, Alerts, and Warnings
- USDA Offers Food Safety Tips In Aftermath of Devastating Storms
- USDA Offers Food Safety Tips During Flooding and Power Outages in Midwest States as More Rainfall is Forecast in Tennessee and Ohio River Valleys
- USDA Offers Food Safety Tips for Flooding and Power Outages for States in the Southeast and Midwest United States
- FDA Warns Consumers to Stop Using Soladek Vitamin Solution
Resources for Educators
- USDA Announces Availability of Compliance Guide to Help Reduce Foodborne Illness
- FSIS Announces Final Rule for Interstate Shipment of State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Products; State-inspected Meat and Poultry Can Cross State Lines, Expanding Markets
- “Listeria Monocytogenes” in Ready-to-Eat Foods: Input Requested for Update of 2003 Risk Assessment
- FDA: Identifying Recalled Products
- A Fresh, New Face to USDA.gov
- USDA Announces Nutrition Education Grants to Improve the Health and Wellbeing of Tribal Members Nationwide
- USDA Official Visits Pennsylvania to Highlight New 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
- Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan Brings USDA's 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' College Tour to Maryland
- “Update on Implementation of the ‘Food Safety Modernization Act,’” by Michael R. Taylor, Deputy Commissioner for Foods, FDA
- USDA Announces Proposed Test and Hold Requirement for Meat and Poultry Products -- Will Enhance Existing Procedures, Help Reduce Foodborne Iillnesses
- FDA: Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Update
- FDA Launches Consumer-friendly Web Search for Consumers During Recalls
- Letter to Stakeholders Concerning the Implementation of the FDA “Food Safety Modernization Act” by Michael R. Taylor, FDA Deputy Commissioner for Foods
- FDA Proposes Draft Menu and Vending Machine Labeling Requirements, Invites Public to Comment on Proposals
- Joint EPA/FDA Statement: Update on Ongoing Monitoring
- “Outbreak of Invasive Listeriosis Associated with the Consumption of Hog Head Cheese --- Louisiana, 2010,” MMWR, Volume 60, Number 13
- FSIS and Twitter: Over 100K and Counting
- New Podcasts (FSIS)
Meetings, Conferences, and Workshops
- USDA Announces Public Meeting and Seeks Comments on Positions of Food Labeling
- Inspection Seminars Designed for International Government Officials
People In The News
Industry
Advisories, Alerts, and Warnings
USDA Offers Food Safety Tips In Aftermath of Devastating Storms
On April 28, 2011, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service issued recommendations for affected residents recovering from devastating storm damage throughout the nation to minimize the potential for foodborne illnesses due to power outages, flooding, and other problems associated with the powerful storm systems.
Read this news release:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_042811_01/index.asp
USDA Offers Food Safety Tips During Flooding and Power Outages in Midwest States as More Rainfall is Forecast in Tennessee and Ohio River Valleys
On April 26, 2011, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a news release reminding consumers in the affected areas that information is readily available to help them protect their food supply before and after severe weather events.
Read this news release:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_042611_01/index.asp
USDA Offers Food Safety Tips for Flooding and Power Outages for States in the Southeast and Midwest United States
On April 15, 2011, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a news release with recommendations for affected residents in the Southeast and Midwest to minimize the potential for foodborne illnesses due to flooding, power outages and other problems often associated with the powerful storm system moving through the area, and causing severe weather.
Read the news release:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_041511_01/index.asp
FDA Warns Consumers to Stop Using Soladek Vitamin Solution
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers to stop using Soladek, a vitamin-solution product marketed by Indo Pharma, S.A., of the Dominican Republic, because the product may contain dangerously high levels of vitamins A and D. The product is sold in a box labeled in Spanish and containing a vial of the solution. FDA recently received information that tested samples of Soladek contained levels of vitamin A and vitamin D that were many times the recommended daily allowances for these vitamins. Intake of excessively high levels of these vitamins poses a risk to human health.
To learn about the risk of serious health problems from using Soladek Vitamin Solution, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm248588.htm
Resources for Educators
USDA Announces Availability of Compliance Guide to Help Reduce Foodborne Illness
On April 25, 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture´s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a news release providing a set of draft guidelines to help small and very small meat and poultry manufacturers reduce harmful bacteria in ready-to-eat foods. This guide sets out standard regulatory procedures and will help establishments understand how best to operate to ensure a safer quality product.
Read this news release:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_042511_01/index.asp
FSIS Announces Final Rule for Interstate Shipment of State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Products; State-inspected Meat and Poultry Can Cross State Lines, Expanding Markets
On April 19, 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced a final Rule that will broaden the market for smaller State-inspected plants.
Read this news release:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_041911_01/index.asp
“Listeria Monocytogenes” in Ready-to-Eat Foods: Input Requested for Update of 2003 Risk Assessment
In 2003, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a quantitative assessment of the relative health risk from “Listeria monocytogenes” in 23 categories of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods. The agencies are preparing to update that risk assessment, to incorporate data and information that have emerged since then. A “Federal Register” Notice requesting input from the public, to inform this effort, has been issued. The deadline for input is July 6, 2011.
To learn how to submit information or whom to call for additional information, access the “Federal Register” Notice at:
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2011/pdf/2011-8360.pdf
To read entire Constituent Update, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ConstituentUpdates/default.htm
FDA: Identifying Recalled Products
Learn what to do if you think you may have a recalled product. There are many numbers and dates on the foods, drugs, cosmetics, and other products we use every day. Some help manufacturers track inventory, while others help retailers ensure quality. But when unsafe products must be removed from the market, these numbers and dates can also help identify them quickly.
Read this Consumer Update at:
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm248864.htm
A Fresh, New Face to USDA.gov
The Office of Communications with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the Department's newly redesigned Web site.
Read this USDA blog:
http://blogs.usda.gov/2011/04/13/redesigning-usda-online/
USDA Announces Nutrition Education Grants to Improve the Health and Wellbeing of Tribal Members Nationwide
On April 8, 2011, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that tribal nutrition education projects in 10 states have been selected to receive grants this year through USDA's Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). The grants will help develop creative, self-initiated projects designed to enhance the nutrition knowledge and to foster positive lifestyle changes of FDPIR participants in low-income households living on Indian reservations and to American Indian households residing in approved areas near reservations or in Oklahoma. Janie Hipp, Director of USDA's Office of Tribal Relations, joined Governor Bill Anoatubby and Lt. Governor Jefferson Keel of the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma to announce the grants on behalf of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
Read this news release:
http://www.usda.gov/2011/04/0159.xml
USDA Official Visits Pennsylvania to Highlight New 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
On April 8, 2011, Dr. Robert Post, Deputy Director of the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP), addressed the Penn State Symposium on nutrition policy regarding the new 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans are the Federal government's evidence-based nutritional guidance to promote health, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and reduce the prevalence of obesity through improved nutrition and physical activity.
Read the news release:
http://www.usda.gov/2011/04/0157.xml
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan Brings USDA's 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' College Tour to Maryland
On April 7, 2011, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan provided highlights of how Maryland can tap into USDA's 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative, which promotes local and regional food systems by stimulating community economic development and ensuring equitable access to affordable fresh and local food. Merrigan discussed the initiative and food systems policy with students, faculty and community leaders at the University of Maryland.
Read this news release:
http://www.usda.gov/2011/04/0156.xml
“Update on Implementation of the ‘Food Safety Modernization Act,’” by Michael R. Taylor, Deputy Commissioner for Foods, FDA
On April 7, 2011, Michael R. Taylor, Deputy Commissioner for Foods, Food and Drug Administration, gave an update on implementation of the “Food Safety Modernization Act” before the Food and Drug Law Institute, Washington, D.C.
To read this statement, visit:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/FSMA/ucm250338.htm
USDA Announces Proposed Test and Hold Requirement for Meat and Poultry Products -- Will Enhance Existing Procedures, Help Reduce Foodborne Iillnesses
On April 5, 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it is proposing a new requirement for the meat and poultry industry that, once enacted, will reduce the amount of unsafe food that reaches store shelves. With the proposed requirement, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) would be able to hold products from commerce until FSIS test results for harmful substances are received. Currently, when FSIS collects a sample for testing, the sampled products are requested but not required to be held until test results are known. FSIS believes that this requirement will substantially reduce serious recalls for meat and poultry products.
Read this announcement:
http://www.usda.gov/2011/04/0148.xml
To view the proposed requirement, visit:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FRPubs/2005-0044.pdf
FDA: Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Update
On April 7, 2011, information about Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill was updated.
To view updates, visit:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/Product-SpecificInformation/Seafood/ucm210970.htm
FDA Launches Consumer-friendly Web Search for Consumers During Recalls
Beginning April 4, 2011, consumers can search for food and other product recalls easier and quicker on FDA’s Web site than previously. The FDA “Food Safety Modernization Act” (“FSMA”) signed into law in January 2011 by President Obama called for a more consumer-friendly recall search engine. To provide greater ease of use for consumers, the search results provide data from news releases and other recall announcements in the form of a table. That table organizes information from news releases on recalls since 2009 by date, product brand name, product description, reason for the recall and the recalling firm. The table also provides a link to the news release on each recall for more detailed information. The news releases were chosen as the source of information for the table because they provide the most up-to-date and user friendly information about any recall.
To read more about recalls implemented under “FSMA” requirement, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm249437.htm
Letter to Stakeholders Concerning the Implementation of the FDA “Food Safety Modernization Act” by Michael R. Taylor, FDA Deputy Commissioner for Foods
On April 1, 2011, Michael R. Taylor, FDA Deputy Commissioner for Foods, issued a letter to stakeholders concerning the implementation of the FDA “Food Safety Modernization Act.”
To read this letter, visit:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/FSMA/ucm249616.htm
FDA Proposes Draft Menu and Vending Machine Labeling Requirements, Invites Public to Comment on Proposals
On April 1, 2011, the FDA issued two proposed regulations regarding calorie labeling on menus and menu boards in chain restaurants, retail food establishments, and vending machines. “These proposals will ensure that consumers have more information when they make their own food choices,” said Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “Giving consumers clear nutritional information makes it easier for them to choose healthier options that can help fight obesity and make us all healthier.”
For detailed information, visit:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm249471.htm
The Constituent Update regarding the two proposed regulations can be found at:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ConstituentUpdates/ucm249206.htm
The FDA invites input on the proposed regulations by visiting:
http://www.regulations.gov
Joint EPA/FDA Statement: Update on Ongoing Monitoring
In response to the ongoing situation in Japan, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken steps to increase the level of nationwide monitoring of milk, precipitation, drinking water, and other potential exposure routes. EPA conducts radiological monitoring of milk under its RADNET program, while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has jurisdiction over the safety, labeling and identity of milk and milk products in interstate commerce. States have jurisdiction over those facilities located within their territory. Results from a screening sample taken March 25, 2011, from Spokane, WA detected 0.8 pCi/L of iodine-131, which is more than 5,000 times lower than the Derived Intervention Level set by FDA. These types of findings are to be expected in the coming days and are far below levels of public health concern, including for infants and children. Iodine-131 has a very short half-life of approximately eight days, and the level detected in milk and milk products is therefore expected to drop relatively quickly.
To read this press release, visit FDA at:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm249146.htm
FDA’s Radiation Safety Updates:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm247403.htm
“Outbreak of Invasive Listeriosis Associated with the Consumption of Hog Head Cheese --- Louisiana, 2010,” MMWR, Volume 60, Number 13
During January--June 2010, a total of 14 cases of laboratory-confirmed invasive listeriosis were reported to the Louisiana Office of Public Health (OPH).
Read the report:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6013a2.htm?s_cid=mm6013a2_e&source=govdelivery
FSIS and Twitter: Over 100K and Counting
FSIS' Twitter handle, @USDAFoodSafety, has over 100,000 followers. Are you one of them? If not, sign up to find food safety information, along with tips and resources to keep consumers and other interested groups informed of the latest Agency news and events.
Receive recall notifications and updates, seasonal food safety advice and FSIS news at:
http://twitter.com/#!/USDAFoodSafety
Tweets are also available in Spanish at:
http://twitter.com/#!/USDAFoodSafe_es
New Podcasts
Tune in to podcasts on selecting, handling and preparing meat and poultry products to reduce the risk of foodborne illness. FSIS has released the following new Spanish podcast:
- Food Safety At Home:
- “Manejo y Preparación Inocua de Alimentos, Personas de Edad Avanzada” – April 25
Check out this podcasts at:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/En_Espanol/Podcasts_SP/index.asp
FSIS has also released the following videocasts:
- “Let’s Talk about Ham”
- “Let’s Talk about Safely Handling and Preparing Eggs”
- “Let’s Talk about Handling and Preparing a Beef Brisket”
Visit FSIS’ Food Safety page on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/USDAFoodSafety
For other food safety podcasts:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_&_events/Podcasts/index.asp
Videocasts in American Sign Language:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_&_events/SignFSIS/index.asp
To continue automatically receiving podcasts, renew your subscription, or for assistance, e-mail: podcast@fsis.usda.gov.
Meetings, Conferences, and Workshops
USDA Announces Public Meeting and Seeks Comments on Positions of Food Labeling
The Office of Food Safety held a public meeting of the Codex Committee on Food Labeling (CCFL) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) on April 25, 2011, at USDA headquarters, in Washington, D.C. The goal of the meeting was to provide information, receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the 39th Session of the CCFL that will be held in Quebec, Canada, May 9-13, 2011.
Documents related to the 39th Session of CCFL will be accessible at:
http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/current.jsp
To see the related news release:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_041311_01/index.asp
Inspection Seminars Designed for International Government Officials
FSIS is pleased to announce it will host the 2011 Meat and Poultry Inspection Seminars for International Officials in Mayaguez, PR, from May 16 through June 11, 2011. This seminar will be held in cooperation with the University of Puerto Rico and includes basic HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) certification. There will also be an in-depth review of FSIS verification of HACCP and sanitation requirements. Other topics and activities include import and export policies and procedures, foreign inspection program equivalence, and field visits. This seminar will be conducted in Spanish.
For more information, visit:
www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/2011_Meat_&_Poultry_Inspection_Seminars/index.asp
People in the News
Brian Ronholm Named Deputy Under Secretary For Food Safety
Brian Ronholm, who most recently served as an Agriculture Appropriations Associate for Connecticut Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, was named Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety effective April 25, 2011, Ronholm brings a wealth of food safety, nutrition and consumer protection policy experience to the position and is expected to be an invaluable asset to supporting FSIS' mission to improve public health.
Industry
Salesman Indicted for Federal Meat and Poultry Inspection Act Violations
On April 27, 2011, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), in conjunction with the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, issued a news release to announce the indictment of a Puerto Rican businessman for violations of the Federal Meat and Poultry Inspection Acts.
Read this news release:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_042711_01/index.asp
FSIS Policy Updates
FSIS issues Notices and Directives to protect public health. The following policy updates were recently issued:
- Docket No. FSIS-2010-0026: “Availability of Salmonella Compliance Guide for Small and Very Small Meat and Poultry Establishments That Produce Ready-to-Eat Products”
- Docket No. FSIS-2005-0044: “Not Applying the Mark of Inspection Pending Certain Test Results”
- FSIS Notices:
- Notice 18-11: “Managing Sample Collection When Operating the Public Health Information System (PHIS) in the Disconnected State”
- Notice 17-11: “Public Health Information System (PHIS) Transition”
- Notice 16-11: “Certification of Imported Products from Brazil”
- Notice 14-11: “Inspection Responsibilities when a Chemical Residue does not have an Established Tolerance”
- Notice 13-11: “Level of In-Plant Targeted Testing for Chemical Residues”
All Notices and Directives are available at:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/index.asp