EdNet October 2009
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 email to the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FDA).
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In this issue:
Advisories, Alerts, and Warnings
- FDA Takes Enforcement Action Against Ready-to-Eat Sandwich Manufacturer
- Consumers Warned Not to Eat Certain Imported Dried Plums
Resources for Educators
- Statement by Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., Commissioner of Food and Drugs, FDA:
“Keeping America's Families Safe: Reforming the Food Safety System” - Remarks by Joshua M. Sharfstein, M.D., Principal Deputy Commissioner, FDA:
“Safety of Dietary Supplements” - Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan Announces Public Meetings for Proposed Regulation on
Cooperative Inspection Programs on Interstate Shipment of Meat and Poultry Products - Plum Organics Voluntarily Recalls Select Batch of Apple & Carrot Portable Pouches
Due to Potential Health Risk - FDA's International Posts: Improving the Safety of Imported Food and Medical Products
- Remarks by Michael R. Taylor, Senior Advisor to the Commissioner, Food and Drug
Administration: “Measures to Eliminate Vibrio vulnificus” - FDA 101: Product Recalls - From First Alert to Effectiveness Checks
- FDA Awards $17.5 Million in Grants to Further Food and Feed Safety
- Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Launches National Institute of Food and Agriculture,
Announces Vision for Science and Research at USDA - Agriculture Secretary Vilsack, US. Trade Representative Kirk Comment on Canadian Panel
Request Regarding Country-of-Origin Labeling - Statement by Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Regarding Recent E. coli Story
- Cooperative Programs Help Keep Food Safe
- Cooperative Program Ensures Safe Shellfish
- Use FSIS Subscription Service to Get Email Updates
- New Podcasts and ASL Videocasts: Renew Your Subscription! (FSIS)
- New Holiday Food Safety Site Has Launched!
Meetings, Conferences, and Workshops
- Satellite Broadcast Announcement: Reducing Risk Factors at Retail and Food Service, (FD216)
- Egg Safety: Final Rule for Prevention of Salmonella enteritidis in Shell Eggs During
Production, Storage, and Transportation - HHS Seeks Comments on Healthy People 2010
- FSIS Hosting Web Outreach Seminars
Industry
- FDA’s Guidance for Industry: Letter Regarding Point of Purchase Food Labeling
- FSIS Issues Notices and Directives
- FSIS Releases 2008 Dioxin Survey Report
- FSIS Proposed Rule: Changes in Fees for Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Inspection Services
- Guidance for Industry: Ingredients Declared as Evaporated Cane Juice (Draft Guidance)
- USDA Joins FDA Efforts on New Food Safety Regulations; Agencies Unite on Outreach to Produce Industry
Advisories, Alerts, and Warnings
FDA Takes Enforcement Action Against Ready-to-Eat Sandwich Manufacturer
The U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the FDA, has filed a complaint for permanent injunction against Rel's Foods Inc. (Rel's), of Oakland, CA, seeking to stop the company from manufacturing, producing, and selling adulterated food products. The government's complaint alleges that Rel's has an extensive history of operating under unsanitary conditions. The complaint states that Rel's has produced and distributed ready-to-eat sandwiches contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono). In addition, the complaint alleges that FDA investigators have found L. mono inside Rel's production facility on numerous occasions since 2002.
For more information about how the company allegedly failed to correct violations, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm186093.htm
Consumers Warned Not to Eat Certain Imported Dried Plums
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is warning consumers not to eat certain imported dried plums and products containing imported dried plums because they have elevated levels of lead.
Test results from the DSHS laboratory in Austin show that the dried plum products or products containing dried plums contain lead levels ranging from 0.11 parts per million to 30.3 parts per million. Health officials say lead should not be consumed in any amount but DSHS used an FDA-established maximum of 0.1 parts per million for candy as a guide in assessing elevated lead levels in the dried plums and dried plum products.
A list of products and product photographs are available at:
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/foods/
For more detailed information, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm184811.htm
Resources for Educators
Statement by Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., Commissioner of Food and Drugs, FDA: “Keeping America's Families Safe: Reforming the Food Safety System”
On October 22, 2009, Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., Commissioner of Food and Drugs, FDA, made a statement before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions entitled “Keeping America's Families Safe: Reforming the Food Safety System.”
To read this statement, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Testimony/ucm187566.htm
Remarks by Joshua M. Sharfstein, M.D., Principal Deputy Commissioner, FDA: “Safety of Dietary Supplements”
On October 22, 2009, Joshua M. Sharfstein, M.D., Principal Deputy Commissioner, FDA, made remarks at the Council for Responsible Nutrition Annual Symposium for the Dietary Supplement Industry entitled “Safety of Dietary Supplements.”
To read his speech, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Speeches/ucm187640.htm
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan Announces Public Meetings for Proposed Regulation on Cooperative Inspection Programs on Interstate Shipment of Meat and Poultry Products
On October 20, 2009, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced that FSIS is holding two public meetings on proposed regulations to implement a new program under which state-inspected establishments with 25 or fewer employees will be eligible to ship meat and poultry products in interstate commerce. The announcement will implement a Directive of the 2008 Farm Bill and is one component of USDA's "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" initiative to help develop local and regional food systems and spur economic opportunity.
Read this announcement at:
http://www.usda.gov/2009/10/0517.xml
Plum Organics Voluntarily Recalls Select Batch of Apple & Carrot Portable Pouches Due to Potential Health Risk
On October 19, 2009, Plum Organics, located in Emeryvillle, CA, announced that it was taking the precautionary measure of voluntarily recalling one particular batch of its 4.22 oz. Apple & Carrot Portable Pouch baby food with the best-buy date of May 21, 2010. The pouch of baby food is marked with the following universal product code (UPC) #890180001221, which is located on the bottom of the package. These pouches are sold individually at Toys-R-Us and Babies-R-Us locations nationally.
For more information, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm187323.htm
FDA's International Posts: Improving the Safety of Imported Food and Medical Products
Working globally helps the FDA better accomplish its domestic mission to promote and protect the public health of the United States. The posting of FDA staff in certain overseas regions is a key part of the Agency's strategy for expanding oversight of imported food and medical products. Areas in which FDA is establishing overseas posts include China, India, the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America.
For more information about how FDA’s expanded overseas presence allows for greater access for FDA inspections and for greater engagement with foreign industry and foreign counterpart agencies, visit:
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm185769.htm
Remarks by Michael R. Taylor , Senior Advisor to the Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration: “Measures to Eliminate Vibrio vulnificus”
On October 17, 2009, Michael R. Taylor, Senior Advisor to the Commissioner, FDA, made remarks at the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC) Biennial Meeting entitled “Measures to Eliminate Vibrio vulnificus.”
To read his remarks, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Speeches/ucm187012.htm
FDA 101: Product Recalls - From First Alert to Effectiveness Checks
Once a product is in widespread use, unforeseen problems can sometimes lead to a recall. Recalls are almost always voluntary. Sometimes a company discovers a problem and recalls a product on its own. Other times a company recalls a product after FDA raises concerns. Only in rare cases will FDA request a recall. But in every case, FDA's role is to oversee a company's strategy and assess the adequacy of the recall.
To learn more about FDA’s role in product recalls, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm049070.htm
To watch the FDA 101: Product Recalls Video, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm182929.htm
FDA Awards $17.5 Million in Grants to Further Food and Feed Safety
On October 9, 2009, the FDA announced that it has awarded 83 grants in FY2009 totaling $17.5 million to state and local regulatory agencies to boost food and feed safety initiatives among Federal, state, and local partners. The grants fund major cooperative agreements in four major areas: response, intervention, innovation, and prevention.
"These cooperative agreements support and enhance local food safety efforts," said Michael Chappell, the FDA's Acting Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs. The grants are another step in the FDA’s continuing efforts to build an integrated food safety system between Federal, state, and local partners."
To view information about the grants and their recipients, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm186150.htm
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Launches National Institute of Food and Agriculture , Announces Vision for Science and Research at USDA
On October 8, 2009, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the launch of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) with a major speech regarding the role of science and research at USDA.
At an event at the National Press Club with John Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, Vilsack outlined his vision for addressing the some of the world's major challenges over the coming decades. To lead NIFA, President Obama has tapped a preeminent plant scientist from the Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis: Roger N. Beachy, winner of the Wolf Prize in Agriculture and a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
To read this announcement, go to:
http://www.usda.gov/2009/10/0501.xml
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack , US. Trade Representative Kirk Comment on Canadian Panel Request Regarding Country-of-Origin Labeling
On October 7, 2009, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U. S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk issued a statement regarding Canada's request to establish a dispute settlement panel at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to review their claims in a dispute regarding country of origin labeling (COOL) required by the 2008 Farm Bill for certain agricultural products. The panel request will be considered at the October 23, 2009, meeting of the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body.
To read this statement, go to:
http://www.usda.gov/2009/10/0499.xml
Statement by Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Regarding Recent E. coli Story
On October 5, 2009, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack made a statement regarding the recent E. coli story in the news.
To read this statement, visit:
http://www.usda.gov/2009/10/0491.xml
Cooperative Programs Help Keep Food Safe
The FDA is responsible for ensuring that the food we eat is safe. Whether it’s cereal on the grocery store shelf, salad served in a restaurant, milk sold in a school cafeteria, or oysters offered on a raw bar, the American public expects that food will be safe and not cause illness.
FDA and state/local regulatory agencies work together to protect consumers from foodborne illness through three cooperative programs authorized by the U.S. Public Health Service Act: retail food, milk, and shellfish.
To read about the programs, the work of the FDA experts in the cooperative programs, as well as the national conference for each cooperative program, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm179706.htm
Cooperative Program Ensures Safe Shellfish
Whether you buy clams casino at your local supermarket or feast on raw oysters at a seafood restaurant, these shellfish are strictly regulated through a federal-state-industry cooperative program.
Through the cooperative program, the FDA, state regulatory agencies, and the shellfish industry work together to keep molluscan shellfish (such as oysters, clams, and mussels) safe for consumption by adhering to strict controls on their growing, harvesting, processing, packaging, and transport.
To read about the four components of the cooperative program that help keep contaminated molluscan shellfish out of the marketplace, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm180996.htm
Use FSIS Subscription Service to Get Email Updates
FSIS' email subscription service is an easy way to keep up with food safety news. Throughout the FSIS Web site, you will find small envelope icons that invite you to subscribe. When you subscribe, you will receive an email update when changes have been made to your selected pages. You can add or delete subscription items at any time and have the option to protect your account with a password. More than 70,000 subscribers take advantage of this free service.
FSIS currently offers 48 subscription items to choose from, across 7 major categories. Popular choices are recalls, news releases, the “Constituent Update” and FSIS Notices and Directives. Through its collaboration network, FSIS also links to FDA's and CDC's subscription services on a wide range of food and health topics.
To subscribe, go to:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Email_Subscription/index.asp
FSIS also offers RSS feeds. Look for the orange RSS symbol at:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Feeds/index.asp
New Podcasts and ASL Videocasts: Renew Your Subscription! (FSIS)
Effective September 16, 2009, FSIS switched to a new digital format for consumer and industry podcasts to provide listeners with the highest quality of audio and video. To continue automatically receiving podcasts, renew your subscription. For assistance, mailto:podcast@fsis.usda.gov.
New podcasts as well as SignFSIS videocasts in American Sign Language (ASL) have been posted on the FSIS Web site. View the latest podcasts and video-casts helpful to consumers, issued by FSIS:
- October 28: Food Safety at Home video: “Halloween Food Safety” (English, Spanish podcasts and ASL videocast)
- October 14: Food Safety at Home: “Let's Talk Beef” (English and Spanish podcasts and ASL videocast)
- October 7: Food Safety at Home: “Tailgating” (Spanish)
- September 30: Food Safety at Home: “Cooking at High Altitude” (podcast and ASL videocast)
To listen to the latest podcasts and renew your subscription, go to:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_&_events/Podcasts/index.asp
To get Spanish language consumer podcasts, go to: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/En_Espanol/Podcasts_SP/index.asp
To watch the latest SignFSIS videocasts, go to:
http://origin-www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/SignFSIS/index.asp
New Holiday Food Safety Site Has Launched!
The non-profit Partnership for Food Safety Education invites you to use a new resource for anxious holiday cooks — a Web site with everything for planning and enjoying a safe, fun, easy, tasty holiday celebration at home!
This resource has been developed with food safety educators in mind, providing colorful and effective turn-key consumer education materials you can download, customize and use this fall in community outreach. You can also sign up to receive “Countdown to the Holidays” e-cards.
To download these free resources, go to:
http://www.HolidayFoodSafety.org
Meetings, Conferences, and Workshops
Satellite Broadcast Announcement: Reducing Risk Factors at Retail and Food Service, (FD216)
On November 26, 2009, this program will focus on the topic of reducing risk factors in retail food stores and food service facilities. The goal of this program is to improve the ability of regulators and industry to reduce the occurrence risk factors and foodborne illness at retail. Success stories and tools are discussed through interviews with various leaders in the regulatory community and industry. Topics include communication skills, using risk control plans, tools for improving food employee behaviors, food preparation practices personal hygiene of foodservice workers and techniques used to ensure safe food temperatures.
To obtain agenda and details about this program, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/RetailFoodProtection/
FoodborneIllnessandRiskFactorReduction/RetailFoodRiskFactorStudies/ucm119395.htm
Egg Safety: Final Rule for Prevention of Salmonella enteritidis in Shell Eggs During Production , Storage, and Transportation
Public Meetings Docket No. FDA-2000-N-0190 (Formerly Docket No. 2000N-0504)
The FDA announced two public meetings to discuss the final Rule FDA published on July 9, 2009, concerning the prevention of Salmonella enteritidis in shell eggs during production, storage, and transportation.
The purpose of the public meetings is to explain the requirements of the Rule, how to comply with it, and to provide the public an opportunity to ask questions. The first public meeting was held on September 30, 2009, in Chicago, IL. The second public meeting will be held on November 5, 2009, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., at the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel, 210 Peachtree Street, N.W., Atlanta, GA.
For general questions about the meetings or for special accommodations due to a disability, contact Juanita Yates, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, 301-436-1731, or mailto:juanita.yates@fda.hhs.gov.
For more information, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/WorkshopsMeetingsConferences/ucm179776.htm
HHS Seeks Comments on Healthy People 2010
Every 10 years, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) assesses lessons learned over the previous decade and couples that knowledge with current data, trends and innovations. Out of the information gleaned come the Healthy People (HP) objectives for the next decade.
HP 2020 reflects assessments of major risks to health and wellness, changing public health priorities, and emerging issues related to our nation's health preparedness and prevention.
FSIS is working closely with HHS on setting realistic targets to reduce specific foodborne illnesses by 2020. To that end, three public meetings were scheduled to seek input:
- October, 22, 2009 in Kansas City, KS
- November 7, 2009 in Philadelphia, PA
- November 20, 2009 in Seattle, WA
Comments will be accepted through December 31, 2009 and may be mailto:HP2020@HHS.GOV, or via the HP2020 Web site at:
http://www.healthypeople.gov/hp2020
FSIS Hosting Web Outreach Seminars
To promote a uniform understanding of FSIS regulations, the agency launched a six-part series of Web outreach seminars for plant owners and operators, especially those of small and very small plants.
The sixth session is scheduled for November 5, 2009, on selecting good manufacturing practices and sanitation performance standards. Three 90-minute sessions will be offered via net conferencing at 11:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. eastern time to accommodate plant owners and operators nationwide.
Email If you have questions about upcoming outreach seminars, send email to FSIS.Seminars@fsis.usda.gov.
To register for seminars, go to: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Regulatory_Web_Seminars/index.asp
Industry
FDA’s Guidance for Industry : Letter Regarding Point of Purchase Food Labeling
The FDA issued a letter to industry entitled “Letter Regarding Point of Purchase Food Labeling,” which described development of a proposed regulation that would define the nutritional criteria that would have to be met by manufacturers making broad Front of Package (FOP) or shelf label claims concerning the nutritional quality of a food, whether the claim is made in text or in symbols. FDA's intent is to provide standardized, science-based criteria on which FOP nutrition labeling must be based.
To read this letter, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/
FoodLabelingNutrition/ucm187208.htm
FSIS Issues Notices and Directives
FSIS has issued the following policy updates:
- FSIS Notice 76-09: Ensuring the Integrity of Firm Information Data in the In-Commerce System
- Directive 5000.5: Verification of Less than Daily Sanitation Procedures
- Notice 72-09: Fourth Food Defense Plan Survey
- Notice 70-09: Intensified Verification Testing and “for Cause” Food Safety Assessments in Response to Ready-to-Eat Testing Results
- Directive 7120.1, Amendment 20: Safe and Suitable Ingredients Used in the Production of Meat and Poultry Products
To see notices and directives, go to:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/index.asp
FSIS Releases 2008 Dioxin Survey Report
Between September 2007 and August 2008, FSIS conducted a survey to gather information on dioxins, furans, and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in meat, pork, chicken, and turkey products. This survey is part of FSIS's effort to conduct periodic dioxin surveys as a prudent public health practice that provides insight on changes in human exposure to dioxin-like compounds through dietary components.
Information presented in this recent report uses the same format as the 2002-2003 survey report. The report has been submitted as a manuscript to a peer reviewed journal and is available for review at:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Dioxin_Resources/index.asp
FSIS Proposed Rule: Changes in Fees for Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Inspection Services
Docket No. FSIS 2006-0025, Federal Register, Vol. 74, No. 194
On October 8, 2009, FSIS issued a rule proposing to amend its regulations to establish formulas for calculating the fees that it charges meat and poultry establishments, egg products plants, importers, and exporters for providing voluntary inspection, identification and certification services, overtime and holiday inspection services, and laboratory services. The agency is also proposing to increase the codified flat annual fee for its Accredited Laboratory Program. FSIS must receive comments by November 9, 2009.
To read the proposed rule, go to:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/index.asp
Guidance for Industry: Ingredients Declared as Evaporated Cane Juice (Draft Guidance)
Over the past few years the term “evaporated cane juice” has started to appear as an ingredient on food labels, most commonly to declare the presence of sweeteners derived from sugar cane syrup. However, FDA’s current policy is that sweeteners derived from sugar cane syrup should not be declared as “evaporated cane juice” because that term falsely suggests that the sweeteners are juice.
The FDA has issued a draft guidance for industry entitled, “Ingredients Declared as Evaporated Cane Juice,” which is being distributed for comment purposes only.
To view this draft guidance, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/
FoodLabelingNutrition/ucm181491.htm
USDA Joins FDA Efforts on New Food Safety Regulations; Agencies Unite on Outreach to Produce Industry
On October 5, 2009, FDA issued a news release announcing that, as part of a cooperative initiative between the USDA and FDA, USDA’s fresh produce chief will join FDA to help develop new food safety rules. The announcement comes amid beefed up outreach efforts with key agriculture and safe food stakeholders to better share and exchange produce safety “best practices” and ideas.
To read this news release, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm185278.htm
