EdNet

May 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.

If you have questions or comments about this issue of EdNet, send e-mail to the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FDA).

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In this issue:

Advisories, Alerts, and Warnings

• FDA Warns Consumers about Potential Health Risk with Juices Incorporated Juice Products
• Food Safety Tips for Areas Affected by Severe Storms and Tornadoes

Resources for Educators

• HHS AND USDA Announce the Appointment of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee
• FSIS: Remember Food Safety During Memorial Day Cookouts
• FDA Releases New Tool to Help Prevent Intentional Food Contamination
• Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Unveils Vision for U.S. Organic Agriculture 
• New Study by USDA, FDA Aims to Enhance Food Safety in Retail Delis
• Keep Listeria Out of Your Kitchen (FDA)
• Blog by: Ted Elkin and Julia Guenther, Regarding, Food Defense – What’s Your Plan?
• USDA Funds Major Research Initiatives to Study the Effects of Weather and Climatic Variability on Beef and Dairy Cattle 
• Blog by: Michael R. Taylor, Deputy Commissioner for Foods and Veterinary Medicine, Regarding, Let’s Keep Talking—and Listening—About Food Safety
• FDA Announces Availability of Updated Guide Designed to Help Ensure That Oysters, Clams, Mussels, and Scallops are Safe to Eat
• USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline
• FoodSafety.gov
• Blog: USDA Meets Digital Government Strategy Milestone with Mobile and Open Data Solutions
• APHIS: Agricultural Information for International Travelers (USDA) 
• ARS’ Food Surveys Research Group (USDA)

Meetings, Conferences, and Workshops

• Draft Interagency Risk Assessment—Listeria monocytogenes in Retail Delicatessens (May 2013)
• A Tri-Agency Webinar: Foodborne Illness and Vulnerable Populations 

• NACMCF Holds Public Meeting in June (FSIS)

People in the News 

• Faces of Food Safety

Industry

• FDA Seeks Preliminary Injunction Against New York Fish Manufacturer
• FDA Seeks Stakeholder Comments on Dairy Groups’ Petition to Change Labeling Rules for Flavored Milk Products
• FDA Announces the 3rd Annual Reportable Food Registry Report
• FSIS Policy Updates 

Advisories, Alerts, and Warnings

FDA Warns Consumers about Potential Health Risk with Juices Incorporated Juice Products

The FDA is warning consumers not to consume any juice products or other beverages from Juices Incorporated (aka Juices International and Juices Enterprises) of Brooklyn, N.Y. The company's carrot and beet juice products have the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause botulism, a serious and potentially fatal foodborne illness. Consumers are warned not to consume these products even if they do not look or smell spoiled. Botulism can cause the following symptoms: general weakness; dizziness; double-vision; and trouble with speaking or swallowing. Difficulty in breathing, weakness of other muscles, abdominal distension and constipation may also be common symptoms. People experiencing these symptoms after consuming carrot or beet juice products from Juices Incorporated should seek immediate medical attention.

To read this FDA warning in its entirety, go to:

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm351754.htm

Safety Tips for Areas Affected by Severe Storms and Tornadoes

In the wake of recent tragedy and destruction in Kansas and Oklahoma, FSIS is issuing recommendations to help affected residents minimize the potential for foodborne illnesses as a result of long term power outages and compromised food storage. Residents with questions about the safety of their food as a result of weather damage and power outages are encouraged to call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline (888-MPHotline or 888-674-6854), available in English and Spanish from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. CDT weekdays. Ask Karen, FSIS's virtual food safety expert, is available in English and Spanish 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with answers to nearly 1,500 food safety questions. Ask Karen can be downloaded for free for iOS and Android devices.

To help determine if food is safe and learn how to minimize the risk of foodborne illness, residents also can reference the publication A Consumer's Guide to Food Safety: Severe Storms and Hurricanes:

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Severe_Storms_and_Hurricanes_Guide/index.asp

Resources for Educators

HHS AND USDA Announce the Appointment of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee

On May 31, 2013, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the appointment of 15 nationally recognized experts to serve on the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. The Committee's recommendations and rationale will serve as a basis for the eighth edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Read this news release:

http://www.usda.gov/2013/05/0108.xml

FSIS: Remember Food Safety During Memorial Day Cookouts

On May 21, 2013, FSIS issued a news release titled Remember Food Safety During Memorial Day Cookouts, offering helpful tips to reduce foodborne illness, especially among at-risk groups. 

Read this news release:

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_052113_01/index.asp

FDA Releases New Tool to Help Prevent Intentional Food Contamination

The FDA has released a new tool to help bolster the food industry’s defense measures against an act of intentional food contamination. The Food Defense Plan Builder is a comprehensive, easy-to-use software program designed to help owners and operators of food facilities—ranging from primary production and manufacturing to retail and transportation—develop customized plans to minimize the risk of intentional contamination at their individual food facilities. The FDA does not require food facilities to implement food defense plans, but many facilities have voluntarily put such plans into place to safeguard their products.

Read more of this Constituent Update at:

http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ConstituentUpdates/ucm352322.htm

More information on FDA’s Food Defense Plan Builder is available on the Agency Web site and in a related blog entitled, Track Our Success as We Implement New Law at:

https://blogs.fda.gov/fdavoice/

To download the tool free of charge, visit:

http://www.fda.gov/food/fooddefense/

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Unveils Vision for U.S. Organic Agriculture

On May 14, 2013, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack discussed his vision for U.S. organic agriculture and USDA efforts to ensure its continued success during remarks to the Organic Trade Association. Vilsack announced a number of changes and new initiatives to support the continued growth of organic agriculture, including that the USDA's Risk Management Agency's (RMA) federal crop insurance program will increase coverage options for organic producers this year and provide even more options in 2014, including a contract price addendum as well as new premium price elections for organic crops. Additionally, RMA will remove the current five-percent organic rate surcharge on all future crop insurance policies beginning in 2014.

Read this news release:

http://www.usda.gov/2013/05/0096.xml

New Study by USDA, FDA Aims to Enhance Food Safety in Retail Delis

On May 10, 2013, FSIS issued a news release to announce the agency and the FDA have conducted a major study to better understand the risk of foodborne illness associated with eating certain foods prepared in retail delicatessens and developed recommendations for changes in current practices that may improve the safety of those products.

Read this news release:

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_051013_01/index.asp

Keep Listeria Out of Your Kitchen

If you eat food contaminated with bacteria called Listeria, you could get so sick that you have to be hospitalized. And for certain vulnerable people, the illness could be fatal. Contaminated food can bring Listeria into the home. Unlike most bacteria, Listeria germs can grow and spread in the refrigerator. So if you unknowingly refrigerate Listeria-contaminated food, the germs not only multiply at the cool temperature, they could contaminate your refrigerator and spread to other foods there, increasing the likelihood that you and your family will become sick.

This Consumer Update can be found at: http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm274114.htm

Blog by: Ted Elkin and Julia Guenther, Regarding, Food Defense – What’s Your Plan?

While food safety—preventing unintentional contamination from sources likely to be found in the food chain—is a priority for FDA, so is food defense—protecting our food from intentional contamination by saboteurs, terrorists or other criminals. Such an incident, should it occur, could have widespread public health and economic consequences. Therefore we work hard every day to minimize such risk.

Read the entire blog on FDA Voice at:

http://blogs.fda.gov/fdavoice/index.php/2013/05/food-defense-whats-your-plan/

USDA Funds Major Research Initiatives to Study the Effects of Weather and Climatic Variability on Beef and Dairy Cattle

On May 7, 2013, the USDA awarded $19.5 million to support research, education and Extension activities associated with climate solutions in agriculture aimed at the impacts of climate variability and change on dairy and beef cattle. USDA remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty. This announcement is one part of the Department's efforts to strengthen the rural economy.

Read this news release:

http://www.usda.gov/2013/05/0089.xml

Blog by: Michael R. Taylor, Deputy Commissioner for Foods and Veterinary Medicine, Regarding, Let’s Keep Talking—and Listening—About Food Safety

Everyone has a stake in the rules that FDA is proposing to strengthen the food safety net in this country. We have reached out far and wide to engage in conversations about the first two proposed rules mandated by the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. The produce safety rule would set standards for production and harvesting of fruits and vegetables. The preventive controls rule for human food would set safety requirements for food facilities. Since these rules were proposed in January 2013 and published in the Federal Register for public comment, my colleagues and I have been engaged in an ongoing dialogue with a range of consumers, farmers, manufacturers and others who are affected by the proposals.

Read the entire blog on FDA Voice at:

http://blogs.fda.gov/fdavoice/index.php/2013/05/lets-keep-talking-and-listening-about-food-safety/

FDA Announces Availability of Updated Guide Designed to Help Ensure That Oysters, Clams, Mussels, and Scallops are Safe to Eat

FDA is announcing the availability of an updated guide designed to help ensure that raw oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops offered in the U.S. market are safe to eat. The guide, entitled the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) Guide for the Control of Molluscan Shellfish: 2011 Revision, was developed by the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC) with FDA concurrence, and is intended for use by federal, state, and international shellfish control authorities and the shellfish industry.

Read more of this Constituent Update at:

http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ConstituentUpdates/ucm350414.htm

USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline

The USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline personally answers consumers’ food safety questions weekdays, year-round. The Hotline operates Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. Speak with a food safety specialist — in English or Spanish—or listen to recorded messages 24/7. 1-888-MPHOTLINE (1-888-674-6854).

Ask Karen: Consumers can also Ask Karen, FSIS’ virtual representative, food safety questions – in English or Spanish – 24 hours a day. Live chat is also available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Eastern Time. Visit Ask Karen at AskKaren.gov, or Spanish, PregunteleaKaren.gov

Read more about the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at: 

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Food_Safety_Education/usda_meat_&_poultry_hotline/index.asp

FoodSafety.gov

FoodSafety.gov is the gateway to food safety information provided by government agencies

to better communicate information to the public and include an improved individual alert system allowing consumers to receive food safety information, such as notification of recalls. Agencies also use social media to expand public communications. FSIS, the FDA, and the CDC serve important roles in ensuring food safety in the United States.

Find out more about the government’s role in food safety and about foodsafety.gov at:

http://www.foodsafety.gov/

Blog: USDA Meets Digital Government Strategy Milestone with Mobile and Open Data Solutions

As part of the Department’s 12-month Digital Government Strategy deliverables USDA is sharing several new mobile and open data projects that help deliver 21st century service to customers and stakeholders. These new tools and open data efforts will enable USDA customers, to more easily access critical programs and services anywhere, any time and on any device, in addition to stimulating further innovations:

Read this blog:http://blogs.usda.gov/2013/05/23/usda-meets-digital-government-strategy-milestone-with-mobile-and-open-data-solutions/

APHIS: Agricultural Information for International Travelers

 Whether you're a U.S. resident returning from abroad or a foreign visitor traveling to the United States, USDA wishes you a safe and enjoyable trip. Before you depart, you should be aware of USDA's guidelines for bringing agricultural items into the United States.  USDA restricts or prohibits many of these items from entering the country because they could carry pests or diseases that could threaten human health or devastate the environment, crops, agricultural animals, ornamental plants, and community landscapes.

Find out more at APHIS’ Travel Information page:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/travel/

ARS’ Food Surveys Research Group

The Food Surveys Research Group, with USDA’s Agriculture Research Group (ARS) monitors and assesses food consumption and related behavior of the U.S. population by conducting surveys and providing the resulting information for food and nutrition-related programs and public policy decisions.

Find out more about the ARS’ Food Surveys Research Group:

http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=12-35-50-00

Meetings, Conferences, and Workshops

Draft Interagency Risk Assessment—Listeria monocytogenes in Retail Delicatessens (May 2013)

The Interagency Risk Assessment - Listeria monocytogenes in Retail Delicatessens provides a scientific assessment of the risk of foodborne illness associated with consumption of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods commonly prepared and sold in the delicatessen (deli) of a retail food store and examines how that risk may be impacted by changes to common or recommended practices. This quantitative risk assessment (QRA) was conducted collaboratively by the FDA and FSIS, in consultation with the CDC and input from industry, academic institutions, and consumer advocacy group stakeholders. The President’s Food Safety Working Group identified this risk assessment as a priority. It provides information useful to those responsible for implementing policies, programs and practices that target the prevention of listeriosis in the population.

Find out more about this Interagency Risk Assessment:

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/Risk_Assessments/index.asp#RTE

A Tri-Agency Webinar: Foodborne Illness and Vulnerable Populations

On June 4, 2013, from 3-4 p.m., subject matter experts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration are conducting a webcast entitled, Foodborne Illness and Vulnerable Populations. The 1-hour webcast will raise awareness about the chronic health and economic consequences foodborne illness has on at-risk groups. Specialists from each agency have knowledge of foodborne illnesses and their relationship to vulnerable populations, such as older adults, pregnant women, and organ transplant recipients; people with diabetes, cancer, or HIV/AIDS.

To learn more about the webcast or to register, please visit http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Reg_Vulnerable_Populations/index.asp

NACMCF Holds Public Meeting in June

On May 20, 2013, FSIS issued a news release to announce a public meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) on June 4-6, 2013, in Washington, D.C. The meeting will focus on ways to control and reduce foodborne illness produced by Norovirus infections, as well as on how to use microbiological indicators during production to identify lapses in the process and sanitary conditions.

To read this news release and for more information, go to:

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_052013_01/index.asp

People in the News

Faces of Food Safety

FDA Seeks Preliminary Injunction Against New York Fish Manufacturer

The U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the FDA, is seeking a preliminary injunction in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York against New York City Fish, Inc., and several key employees for manufacturing and distributing ready-to-eat fish products under insanitary conditions causing them to become adulterated. The defendants process smoked and cured fish products, including salmon and mackerel, and sell their food to stores in Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. The injunction is intended to restrain the parties from distributing these products into interstate commerce until they comply with the requirements of the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act.  

To read this FDA News Release in its entirety, go to:

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm352874.htm

FDA Seeks Stakeholder Comments on Dairy Groups’ Petition to Change Labeling Rules for Flavored Milk Products

The FDA wants to hear from consumers, industry and other stakeholders about a citizen petition submitted by two dairy groups to change labeling rules for flavored milk products sweetened with non-nutritive (artificial) sweeteners. Currently, FDA’s standard of identity regulations require that flavored milk products like chocolate milk that are sweetened with non-nutritive sweeteners include a nutrient content claim (e.g. reduced calories or low sugar) as part of the product name on the label. For example, the replacement of nutritive sweeteners (such as sugar) with non-nutritive sweeteners in chocolate milk would reduce the product’s calorie count. Because of the replacement, such a product could be called reduced calorie chocolate milk.  In addition, FDA regulations require that the specific name of the non-nutritive sweetener must be included in the list of ingredients.

For detailed information about the petition which was submitted by the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), go to:

http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ConstituentUpdates/ucm350495.htm

A request for data and comments on the IDFA’s and NMPF’s petition was published in the Federal Register by the FDA on February 20, 2013, and can be found at:

http://www.regulations.gov/

FDA Announces the 3rd Annual Reportable Food Registry Report

On May 2, 2013, the FDA made available the 3rd Annual Reportable Food Registry (RFR) Report. The report summarizes the Registry’s third year of operation (September 8, 2011 – September 7, 2012) and finds that it logged 224 primary reports—initial reports about a safety concern with a food or animal feed (including food ingredients); 609 subsequent reports from suppliers or recipients of a food or feed for which a primary report had been submitted; and 262 amended reports to correct or add information to previously submitted reports. Reports were received from both domestic and foreign sources. This year’s report features new data elements that are intended to improve the quality of information received and increase FDA’s ability to track patterns of adulteration in human food and animal feed (including pet food).

To read more about the 3^rd Annual Reportable Food Registry Report, visit:

http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ConstituentUpdates/ucm350347.htm

FSIS Policy Updates 

FSIS issues Notices and Directives to protect public health. The following policy updates were recently issued:

• Docket No. FSIS-2013-0016: Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection: Public Health Information System--Animal Disposition Reporting
• Docket No. FSIS-2012-0041: Availability of Compliance Guide for Residue Prevention and Response to Comments

• Docket No. FSIS-2009-0019: HACCP Systems Validation

• Docket No. FSIS-2013-0019: Draft Interagency Risk Assessment—‘Listeria monocytogenes’ in Retail Delicatessens: Notice of Availability of Documents and Request for Comment
• Notice 36-13, Responsibilities Related to Receiving Notification of Adulterated or Misbranded Product and Verifying Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Reassessment
• FSIS Notice 35-13: Not Ready-To-Eat Comminuted Poultry Exploratory Sampling Project
• FSIS Notice 34-13: Verifying Written Recall Procedures and Food Defense Plans At Small and Very Small Establishments
• Notice 31-13, Instructions for Verifying All Steps in the Processing of Ready-To-Eat Meat and Poultry Products
• Notice 30-13, Verification and Enforcement Activities Related to Export Certification Reimbursable Services
• Notice 29-13, Targeted Verification of Product Formulation and Labeling for the Eight Most Common (‘BIG’) Food Allergens

All Notices and Directives are available at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/index.asp