EdNet
March 2013
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.
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.In this issue:
Advisories, Alerts, and Warnings
- Bumble Bee Foods Issues Voluntary Recall On Specific Codes Of 5-Ounce Chunk White Albacore And Chunk Light Tuna Products Due To Loose Seals
- Tri-Union Seafood Issues Voluntary Recall on Select 5-Ounce Chunk White Albacore Tuna in Water
- FDA Warns Consumers Not to Eat Certain ProtiDiet High Protein Chocolate Dream Bars Manufactured by Pro-Amino International, Inc., Quebec, Canada
- USDA Offers Tips to Keep Food Safe as Late Winter Storm Impacts Midwest and Northeast
Resources for Educators
- CFSAN Reorganizes Foods Sections of FDA Website to Improve Usability
- Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Outlines USDA Efforts to Raise a Healthier Generation of Americans; Affirms Need for Generational Change
- FDA Believes Current Regulation Protects the Public from BSE but Reopens Comment Period Due to New Studies
- FDA Seeks Comments on IFT Report on Product Tracing Pilots
- Agricultural Research Magazine, March 2013 - Vol. 61, No. 3
Meetings, Conferences, and Workshops
- Blog by: Michael R. Taylor, J.D., Deputy Commissioner for Foods and Veterinary Medicine, FDA, Regarding, Public Meeting on Food Safety Highlights First Two Proposed Rules
- Codex Public Meeting on Food Labeling
People in the News
Industry
- FSIS Solicits Feedback on askFSIS
- Guidance for Industry: What You Need To Know About Administrative Detention of Foods; Small Entity Compliance Guide
- Federal Judge Approves Consent Decree with New Jersey Bakery
- FDA Issues Environmental Assessment Report Following Outbreaks Linked to Cantaloupe
- FDA Issues International Food Safety Capacity-Building Plan under the Food Safety Modernization Act
- Get Answers at askFSIS
- FSIS Begins Industry Implementation of PHIS
- FSIS Policy Updates
Advisories, Alerts, and Warnings
Bumble Bee Foods Issues Voluntary Recall On Specific Codes Of 5-Ounce Chunk White Albacore And Chunk Light Tuna Products Due To Loose Seals
On March 6, 2013, Bumble Bee Foods, LLC, issued a voluntary recall on specific codes of
5-ounce Chunk White Albacore and Chunk Light Tuna products. The recall has been issued because the products do not meet the company’s standards for seal tightness. Loose seals or seams could result in product contamination by spoilage organisms or pathogens and lead to illness if consumed. There have been no reports to date of any illness associated with these products.
For detailed information about products subject to recall, visit:
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm342592.htm
Updates: Bumble Bee Foods Expands Voluntary Recall on Specific Codes of 5-Ounce Chunk White Albacore and Chunk Light Tuna Products Due to Loose Seals
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm342851.htm
Tri-Union Seafood Issues Voluntary Recall on Select 5-Ounce Chunk White Albacore Tuna in Water
On March 6, 2013, Tri-Union Seafoods, LLC, voluntarily recalled a limited amount of Chicken of the Sea brand 5-ounce cans of chunk white albacore tuna in water. The seams on the lids of the cans do not meet the standard for seam quality. Cans that do not meet seam standards could result in product contamination by spoilage organisms or by pathogens, which could lead to illness if consumed. There have been no reported illnesses to date, and Tri-Union Seafoods is issuing this voluntary recall to ensure the highest margin of safety and quality.
For more information about the specific products being recalled, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm342650.htm
Updates: Tri-union Seafoods Expands Recall to Include Chunk Light Tuna In Oil Products
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm342911.htm
FDA Warns Consumers Not to Eat Certain ProtiDiet High Protein Chocolate Dream Bars Manufactured by Pro-Amino International, Inc., Quebec, Canada
Pro-Amino International Inc. is recalling protein bars which may contain Salmonella. The product is the ProtiDiet High Protein Chocolate Dream Bar, sold in 210 gram (7.4 oz.) packages, 7 bars per package, bearing UPC 6 21498 42238 1, lot code CR 18 13B, and Best Before date of 2015-08. The FDA, along with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Pro-Amino International are warning people not to consume these high protein bars, which may contain Salmonella.
To read this FDA News Release in its entirety, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm344306.htm
USDA Offers Tips to Keep Food Safe as Late Winter Storm Impacts Midwest and Northeast
On March 6, 2013, the USDA issued recommendations to help minimize the potential for foodborne illnesses in the event that a late winter storm leaves communities in the Midwest and Northeast without electricity.
Read the news release:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_030513_01/index.asp
Read the news release in Spanish:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/RC_022-2013_SP.pdf
Resources for Educators
CFSAN Reorganizes Foods Section of FDA Website to Improve Usability
The FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) has reorganized the content of its portion of the FDA website to make it easier for consumers and other stakeholders to navigate throughout the site and to find the information they are looking for about foods and cosmetics.
Read more of this Constituent Update at:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ConstituentUpdates/ucm344545.htm
Learn About the Changes to FDA.gov/Food:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ucm1236341.htm
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Outlines USDA Efforts to Raise a Healthier Generation of Americans; Affirms Need for Generational Change
On March 14, 2013, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack outlined the need for a generational commitment to improve childhood nutrition, which will lead to a healthier generation of Americans. While health and nutrition are complex topics, Vilsack noted USDA has made significant focus on improving consumers' access to information and helping consumers have better access to food, which together will ensure progress as the nation battles both childhood obesity and malnutrition.
Read this News Release:
http://www.usda.gov/2013/03/0046.xml
FDA Believes Current Regulation Protects the Public from BSE but Reopens Comment Period Due to New Studies
The FDA is reopening the comment period for the interim final rule entitled, Use of Materials Derived From Cattle in Human Food and Cosmetics. The interim final rule protects consumers from exposure to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) by prohibiting the use of certain cattle parts in human food, including dietary supplements, and cosmetics.
Read More of this Constituent Update at:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ConstituentUpdates/ucm341951.htm
FDA Seeks Comments on IFT Report on Product Tracing Pilots
FDA is seeking public comment on a report from the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) entitled, Pilot Projects for Improving Product Tracing along the Food Supply System. Section 204 of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requires FDA, among other things, to establish product tracing pilot projects. In September 2011, FDA asked IFT to carry out the pilot projects under an existing contract.
Read the entire Constituent Update:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ConstituentUpdates/ucm342068.htm
Agricultural Research Magazine, March 2013 - Vol. 61, No. 3
The March 2013 issue of the Agricultural Research Magazine from USDA's Agricultural Research Service is now available.
View online:
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/mar13/
Meetings, Conferences, and Workshops
Blog by: Michael R. Taylor, J.D., Deputy Commissioner for Foods and Veterinary Medicine, FDA, Regarding, Public Meeting on Food Safety Highlights First Two Proposed Rules
FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Foods, Michael R. Taylor, blogs about the kickoff of a series of public meetings to stimulate dialogue and gain input on FDA’s first two proposed rules to implement the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act.
Read the entire blog on FDA Voice at:
http://blogs.fda.gov/fdavoice/index.php/2013/03/public-meeting-on-food-safety-highlights-first-two-proposed-rules/
Codex Public Meeting on Food Labeling
FSIS and the FDA are hosting a public meeting to receive comments and draft U.S. positions that are scheduled to be discussed at the 41st session of the Codex Committee on Food Labeling (CCFL) in Charlottetown, Canada. The public meeting is scheduled for April 17, 2013,
from 1-3 p.m., at USDA's Jamie L. Whitten Bldg., Rm. 107-A, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250. Agenda items include: implementation of the World Health Organization Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health; proposed draft revision of the guidelines on nutrition and health claims concerning non-addition of sodium salts; and guidelines for the production, processing, labeling and marketing of organically produced foods. For more information about the public meeting, contact Doreen Chen-Moulec at (202) 205-7760 or uscodex@fsis.usda.gov.
Documents and agenda items related to the 41st session of the CCFL will be available at:
http://www.codexalimentarius.org/meetings-reports/en 
People in the News
Janell Kause Named FSIS Scientific Advisor for Risk Assessment
FSIS has named Janell Kause as the Scientific Advisor for Risk Assessment in the Office of Public Health Science (OPHS). Kause will serve as the key scientific advisor on food safety matters affecting the mission of OPHS and the agency. Her primary responsibility is to provide scientific leadership, as well as direction and guidance, on the development, adaptation and application of microbial and non-microbial risk assessments to address FSIS public health and food safety goals. In this capacity, she will also assume the role of co-chair of the Interagency Risk Assessment Consortium.
Read more at FSIS’ Constituent Update:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_&_events/Const_Update_032213/index.asp
Industry
FSIS Solicits Feedback on askFSIS
FSIS launched a survey designed to enhance the usability and efficiency of askFSIS—a Web-based question-and-answer forum. The purpose of the survey is to ensure all customers have the most helpful experience possible when accessing the application. In addition, as the agency looks for ways to improve askFSIS, a new feature called the Help tab has been added. This tool allows customers to better interact with the application and manage their own askFSIS accounts. For questions regarding the survey, contact Brittini Brown at Brittini.Brown@fsis.usda.gov. For technical issues with accessing the survey, contact Yolanda Kennedy-Edwards at Yolanda.Kennedy@fsis.usda.gov. Responses are voluntary and will remain confidential.
Survey responses will be used to enhance customer service in the future and is available through April 12, 2013.
Access the survey at: http://bit.ly/165iO2Q
Guidance for Industry: What You Need To Know About Administrative Detention of Foods; Small Entity Compliance Guide
Administrative detention provides a means through which FDA can hold adulterated or misbranded food and prevent it from reaching the marketplace, thus further enhancing FDA’s ability to ensure the safety of food for U.S. consumers. This guidance document provides updated information pertaining to FDA’s authority to order the administrative detention of human or animal food under section 304(h) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) [21 U.S.C. 334(h)]. Congress originally established this authority in the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (the Bioterrorism Act) and amended it in January 2011 as part of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
To view this guidance document or to submit written comments regarding this document, go to: http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/FoodDefense/ucm342588.htm
Federal Judge Approves Consent Decree with New Jersey Bakery
The FDA announced that a federal judge has approved a consent decree of permanent injunction against Butterfly Bakery Inc., a bakery based in Clifton, NJ, and its president, Brenda Isaac, for unlawfully distributing misbranded food products, such as muffins and snack cakes. The consent decree restrains Butterfly Bakery and Brenda Isaac from processing and distributing food until the company complies with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) and applicable regulations. Under the consent decree, FDA may assess damages against the company for any future violations of the law or the consent decree. Samples tested by both FDA and state officials over several years show that Butterfly Bakery’s product labeling was false and misleading.
Read this News Release in its entirety at: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm343523.htm
FDA Issues Environmental Assessment Report Following Outbreaks Linked to Cantaloupe
FDA has released its environmental assessment inspection report on the factors that potentially contributed to the contamination of fresh whole cantaloupe linked to a multi-state outbreak of salmonellosis in the summer of 2012. According to the report, the initial contamination of the cantaloupes likely occurred in the production fields and was most likely spread by operations and practices in the packinghouse. It is also likely that the contamination proliferated during storage and transport to market. FDA recommends that fresh fruit and vegetable producers employ good agricultural and management practices recommended for the growing, harvesting, washing, sorting, packing, storing, and transporting of fruits and vegetables sold to consumers in an unprocessed or minimally processed raw form.
Read more of this Constituent Update at:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ConstituentUpdates/ucm341967.htm
The environment assessment inspection report can be found at:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/FoodborneIllness/ucm341476.htm
FDA Issues International Food Safety Capacity-Building Plan under the Food Safety Modernization Act
On February 28, 2013, the FDA issued a Constituent Update regarding the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). In 2011, Congress enacted the FDA FSMA, recognizing the unique challenges faced by FDA in the area of food safety in the 21st century. FSMA directs FDA to build a new food safety system based on the public health principle of comprehensive prevention, an enhanced focus on risk-based resource allocation, and partnerships across the public and private sectors to minimize hazards from farm to table. In addition, Section 305 of FSMA calls on FDA to develop a comprehensive plan to expand the technical, scientific, and regulatory food safety capacity of foreign governments and their respective food industries in countries that export foods to the United States (the Plan). This Plan meets the Section 305 requirement, and does so by incorporating FSMA’s principles of comprehensive prevention, risk-based resource allocation, and partnering.
To read more about this comprehensive plan, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ConstituentUpdates/ucm341446.htm
Get Answers at askFSIS
AskFSIS is a Web-based technology and policy question-and-answer forum on topics such as exporting, labeling, inspection, programs and procedures. In addition, askFSIS offers Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds that link back to the Q&As.
To view recently posted topics, visit askFSIS at:
http://askfsis.custhelp.com/
FSIS Begins Industry Implementation of PHIS
In February 2013, FSIS began implementation of the industry functionality of the Public Health Information System (PHIS) to FSIS-inspected domestic establishments and official import inspection establishments. This part of the system gives industry the ability to respond and view noncompliance records and file appeals. It also gives industry the ability to view, export to a PDF, and print reports of sampling results, noncompliance records (NR), and the establishment profile. Participation in PHIS is voluntary. Implementation for industry will be conducted in phases through a web registration process. Establishments will receive a letter with the implementation schedule, as well as instructions on the web registration process.
To see the full implementation schedule for each district, read the FSIS’ Constituent Update:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Const_Update_030813/index.asp
This information is also available at:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PHIS/index.asp
FSIS Policy Updates
FSIS issues Notices and Directives to protect public health. The following policy updates were recently issued:
- FSIS Notice 23-13: Raw Product Destined for Ready-To-Eat Product Excluded from Salmonella Testing
- FSIS Notice 22-13: Historical Salmonella Serotype Information Letters for Establishments Producing Ground Chicken and Ground Turkey
- Docket No. FSIS-2012-0007: HACCP Plan Reassessment for Not-Ready-To-Eat Comminuted Poultry Products and Related Agency Verification Procedures
- FSIS Notice 20-13: Increased Verification by Inspection Program Personnel of Sanitary Dressing at Veal Slaughter Establishments
- FSIS Notice 19-13: Sampling of Low Production Volume Raw Ground Beef Establishments for ‘Salmonella’
- FSIS Directive 8010.2: Investigative Methodology
All Notices and Directives are available at:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/index.asp
