EdNet: May 2010

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).

In this issue:

Advisories, Alerts, and Warnings

• Urgent Nationwide Alfalfa Sprout Recall (FDA)
• FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Various Ready-To-Eat Deli Meat Products
• FDA Warns Consumers to Avoid Vita Breath Dietary Supplement

Resources for Educators

• USDA Identifies Gaps, Releases Maps Which Detail U.S. Local Meat Processing Facilities
• USDA Announces Availability of Compliance Guide for Mobile Slaughter Units
• FDA Transparency Task Force Unveils Draft Proposals on Agency Disclosure Policies
• USDA Sets New Standards for Ground Beef Purchases
• Federal and State Officials Confirm Link Between Bagged Romaine Lettuce and E. coli O145 Illness Outbreak (FDA)

• USDA Announces New Performance Standards for Salmonella and Campylobacter - New Standards Will Help Prevent Tens of Thousands of Illnesses Per Year
• "USDA Food Safety Discovery Zone" Launched to Deliver Food Safety Messages to Towns and Cities Across the Nation

• Statement by Michael R. Taylor, Deputy Commissioner for Foods, Regarding “The Role and Performance of FDA in Ensuring Food Safety”
• Statement by Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., Commissioner of Food and Drugs at the 2010 BIO International Convention

• FDA Initiates Rulemaking on “Sanitary Food Transportation Act”
• Multi-Government Agency Response to the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill (FDA)
• "Agricultural Research Magazine," May/June 2010 - Vol. 58, No. 5

• New Podcasts (FSIS)

Meetings, Conferences, and Workshops

• FSIS to Host Course Designed for State Inspectors
• USDA Holds Public Meeting to Address Agenda Items for the 33rd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
• USDA Announces the National Poultry Improvement Plan’s General Conference Committee Meeting and 40th Biennial Conference

People in the News

• Secretary Vilsack Reappoints Almanza as FSIS Administrator
• Changes at the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

Industry

• New User-Friendly Reportable Food Registry Now Part of FDA-NIH Safety Reporting Portal
• Comment Period for HACCP Systems Validation Documents Extended (FSIS)
• FDA Issues New Food Industry Guidance on Water Use in Areas Subject to Boil-Water Advisories
• FSIS Policy Updates

  Advisories, Alerts, and Warnings

 Urgent Nationwide Alfalfa Sprout Recall

This recall affects raw alfalfa sprouts packaged and labeled as: Caldwell Fresh Foods alfalfa sprouts - 4-ounce plastic cups and one pound plastic bags and in 2-pound and 5-pound plastic bags in cardboard boxes with sticker affixed with the printed words “Caldwell Fresh Foods”; Nature’s Choice alfalfa sprouts - 4-ounce plastic cups; California Exotics brands alfalfa sprouts - 5-ounce plastic clamshell containers. No other alfalfa sprouts are implicated in the outbreak. The sprouts were distributed to a variety of restaurants, delicatessens and retailers, including Trader Joe's and Wal-Mart stores.

Get more facts about the raw alfalfa sprouts linked to Salmonella outbreak in 10 states:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm213136.htm

 FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Various Ready-To-Eat Deli Meat Products

On May 10, 2010, FSIS issued a public health alert for various ready-to-eat deli meat products because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Read this entire public health alert:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_051010_02/index.asp

  FDA Warns Consumers to Avoid Vita Breath Dietary Supplement

FDA is advising consumers not to purchase nor consume Vita Breath, a dietary supplement manufactured by American Herbal Lab Inc. of Rosemead, CA, and marketed at health fairs and on the Internet, because the product may contain hazardous levels of lead. The FDA was notified by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene about a patient with lead poisoning who reported taking Vita Breath and two other herbal products. The department analyzed a sample of Vita Breath and reported it contained 1,100 parts per million of lead. This level is more than 10,000 times higher than FDA’s maximum recommended level for lead in candy. The FDA has collected and is currently analyzing its own samples of Vita Breath.

Read more:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm210448.htm

Resources for Educators

 USDA Identifies Gaps, Releases Maps Which Detail U.S. Local Meat Processing Facilities

On May 25, 2010, the USDA released a preliminary study revealing existing gaps in the regional food systems regarding the availability of slaughter facilities to small meat and poultry producers.

Read this news release:
http://www.usda.gov/2010/05/0284.xml

 USDA Announces Availability of Compliance Guide for Mobile Slaughter Units

On May 24, 2010, as part of the USDA’s 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' Initiative, FSIS announced the availability of the compliance guide for mobile slaughter units.

Read this announcement:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_052410_01/index.asp

  FDA Transparency Task Force Unveils Draft Proposals on Agency Disclosure Policies

On May 19, 2010, the FDA’s Transparency Task Force released 21 draft proposals for public comment on public disclosure policies aimed at helping consumers, stakeholders, and others understand how the Agency operates and makes decisions. The Transparency Task Force will review the comments and decide which proposals to recommend for implementation. The proposals, published in the May 21, 2010, “Federal Register,” are part of the second phase of the FDA’s “Transparency Initiative” launched last summer by FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D.

View information about the draft proposals:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm212528.htm

  USDA Sets New Standards for Ground Beef Purchases

On May 14, 2010, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA had completed tough new food safety standards for ground beef purchased by the Agricultural Marketing Service for Federal food and nutrition assistance programs including school lunches.

Read the entire news release:
http://www.usda.gov/2010/05/0267.xml

 Federal and State Officials Confirm Link Between Bagged Romaine Lettuce and E. coli O145 Illness Outbreak

The FDA, with the CDC and its state health partners, has confirmed that the strain of E. coli O145 detected by the New York State Public Health Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, in Albany, NY, in an unopened bag of shredded romaine lettuce distributed by Freshway Foods, matches the outbreak strain of E. coli O145.  This finding comes as Federal and State public health officials continue to investigate the foodborne illness outbreak linked to certain romaine lettuce products sold to wholesalers and food service outlets. To date, there have been 19 confirmed and additional unconfirmed cases of E. coli O145 infections in Michigan, Ohio, and New York.

Get more detailed information:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm211529.htm

Freshway Foods of Sidney, OH, voluntarily recalled certain romaine lettuce products because of the possible connection to the E. coli O145 foodborne illness outbreak.

Read the press release: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm211145.htm

USDA Announces New Performance Standards for Salmonella and Campylobacter - New Standards Will Help Prevent Tens of Thousands of Illnesses Per Year

On May 10, 2010, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced new performance standards to reduce Salmonella and Campylobacter in young chickens (broilers) and turkeys, fulfilling another key recommendation of the President's Food Safety Working Group. FSIS also released a compliance guide to help the poultry industry address Salmonella and Campylobacter and a compliance guide on known practices for pre-harvest management to reduce E. coli O157:H7 contamination in cattle.

Get more information:
http://www.usda.gov/2010/05/0246.xml

  "USDA Food Safety Discovery Zone" Launched to Deliver Food Safety Messages to Towns and Cities Across the Nation

On May 6, 2010, the USDA launched the “USDA Food Safety Discovery Zone,” a 40-foot long interactive, hands-on food safety learning experience bringing food safety information to towns and cities throughout the nation. This exciting new educational center on wheels is designed to improve public food safety awareness and behavior. The goal is to prevent foodborne illness by emphasizing the USDA's “Be Food Safe” messages: “Clean, Separate, Cook and Chill.”

Read this news release:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_050610_01/index.asp

View the USDA Food Safety Discovery Zone's schedule:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Food_Safety_Education/Mobile_Events_by_Date/index.asp

  Statement by Michael R. Taylor, Deputy Commissioner for Foods, Regarding “The Role and Performance of FDA in Ensuring Food Safety”

On May 6, 2010, a statement was issued by Michael R. Taylor, Deputy Commissioner for Foods, FDA, before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Committee on Energy and Commerce, U.S. House of Representatives regarding “The Role and Performance of FDA in Ensuring Food Safety”.

View the entire statement:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Testimony/ucm211163.htm

 Statement by Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., Commissioner of Food and Drugs at the 2010 BIO International Convention

On May 5, 2010, a statement was issued by Margaret A. Hamburg M.D., Commissioner of Food and Drugs at the 2010 BIO International Convention.

View the entire statement, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Speeches/ucm211413.htm

 FDA Initiates Rulemaking on “Sanitary Food Transportation Act”

On April 30, 2010, the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) and Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) published in the “Federal Register” an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on implementing the “Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 2005” (“2005 SFTA”). The ANPRM is the first step in writing Federal regulations that will govern sanitary practices by shippers, carriers by motor vehicle or rail vehicle, receivers, and others engaged in the transportation of food products for humans and animals.

Get detailed information:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ConstituentUpdates/ucm210186.htm

 Multi-Government Agency Response to the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

The FDA is currently working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), other Federal agencies, and several State authorities in the regions affected by the recent oil spill. FDA continues to monitor this developing situation and its potential impact on the safety of seafood harvested from the area. Although crude oil has the potential to taint seafood with flavors and odors caused by exposure to hydrocarbon chemicals, the public should not be concerned about the safety of seafood in the stores at this time.

View Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Updates:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/ucm210436.htm 

 "Agricultural Research Magazine," May/June 2010 - Vol. 58, No. 5

The May/June 2010 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/may10/

 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 podcasts:

• Food Safety At Home:
  • The Big Thaw – May 19
  • Color of Ground Beef – May 5
• Industry:
  • Small Business Administration's Office of the National Ombudsman -- May 17
  • Food Irradiation - Part II – April 21

Check out these podcasts:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_&_events/Podcasts/index.asp

Get Spanish language consumer podcasts:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/En_Espanol/Podcasts_SP/index.asp

Get video-casts 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: mpodcast@fsis.usda.gov.

Meetings, Conferences, and Workshops 

  FSIS to Host Course Designed for State Inspectors

FSIS is partnering with the International Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI) in Battle Creek, MI, and the Association of Food and Drug Officials to provide FSIS meat and poultry inspection training courses for State inspection personnel. This week-long session, "Livestock Slaughter Inspection Training" will be held July 12 -16, 2010, and is at no cost to the States. Applications should be sent directly to IFPTI and must be received by May 28, 2010.

Read more about these training courses at IFPTI’s website:
http://www.ifpti.org/

Download and submit an application:
http://www.ifpti.org/20100712bc_distributed.pdf

USDA Holds Public Meeting to Address Agenda Items for the 33rd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission

On May 10, 2010, the USDA’s Office of Food Safety sponsored a public meeting to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the 33rd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, July 5-9, 2010. The public meeting will be held on June 8, 2010,

from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., in Room 107-A, USDA, Jamie L. Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Ave. S.W., Washington, D.C.

For more information, read this news release:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_051010_01/index.asp

 USDA Announces the National Poultry Improvement Plan’s General Conference Committee Meeting and 40th Biennial Conference

On May 3, 2010, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued a news release giving notice of a meeting of the general conference committee of the national poultry improvement plan (NPIP) on August 31, 2010, and the NPIP's 40th biennial conference September 1 and 2, 2010, at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego in San Diego, CA. The general conference committee of NPIP represents cooperating State agencies and poultry industry members and acts as liaison between the poultry industry and USDA in matters pertaining to poultry health.

Read this entire news release:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content/2010/05/npip_meeting.shtml

 People in the News

 Secretary Vilsack Reappoints Almanza as FSIS Administrator  

On May 6, 2010, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the appointment of Alfred V. Almanza as Administrator of FSIS, overseeing the regulation of meat, poultry and processed egg products.

Read this announcement:
http://www.usda.gov/2010/05/0232.xml

 Changes at the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

On May 3, 2010, a letter was issued by Commissioner Margaret Hamburg and Deputy Commissioner for Foods Michael Taylor regarding personnel changes at the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) “It is with mixed emotions that we announce that Stephen F. Sundlof, D.V.M., Ph.D., is stepping down from his position leading the CFSAN to accept a two-year assignment with the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. We are pleased to announce that Michael Landa, who has been Deputy Director for Regulatory Affairs at CFSAN since 2004 and began his FDA career in 1978 as Assistant Chief Counsel for Enforcement, Medical Devices and Veterinary Medicine, has agreed to serve as Acting Director. In addition, Roberta Wagner and Donald Kraemer, who have extensive experience at FDA, both at headquarters and in the field, will serve as Acting Deputy Directors.”

View the letter in its entirety:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ConstituentUpdates/ucm210616.htm

  Industry  

 New User-Friendly Reportable Food Registry Now Part of FDA-NIH Safety Reporting Portal

On May 24, the FDA and the National Institutes of Health launched a new Web site that, when fully developed, will provide a mechanism for the reporting of pre- and post-market safety data to the Federal government. Currently the Web site can be used to report safety problems related to foods, including animal feed, and animal drugs, as well as adverse events occurring on human gene transfer trials. Consumers can also use the site to report problems with pet foods and pet treats. The new site, called the Safety Reporting Portal (SRP), provides greater and easier access to online reporting. “The portal will be a key detection tool in improving the country’s nationwide surveillance system and will strengthen our ability to protect the nation’s health,” said Commissioner of Food and Drugs Margaret A. Hamburg. “We will now be able to analyze human and animal safety-related events more quickly and identify those measures needed to protect the public.”

Read more about this Constituent Update:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ConstituentUpdates/ucm213116.htm

 Comment Period for HACCP Systems Validation Documents Extended

On May 13, 2010, FSIS mailed a copy of the draft guidance on HACCP validation to plant owners and operators of small and very small plants and provided instruction on how to participate during the extended comment period, which ends June 19, 2010. Interested parties should submit their comments to the Docket Clerk, USDA, FSIS, George Washington Carver Center, Room 2-2127, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705. For help in accessing the letter or information on submitting comments, contact the Small Plant Help Desk at 1-877-374-7435, or infosource@fsis.usda.gov.

FSIS has made available three documents on the validation of HACCP systems at:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/HACCP_Validation_Ltrs.pdf

  FDA Issues New Food Industry Guidance on Water Use in Areas Subject to Boil-Water Advisories

On May 5, 2010, the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition issued “Guidance for Industry on the Use of Water by Food Manufacturers in Areas Subject to a Boil-Water Advisory.” The guidance is intended to advise food manufacturers that, once a boil-water Advisory has been issued, they should stop using the water subject to the Advisory until the water again meets applicable Federal and State drinking water quality standards. The guidance also advises manufacturers on evaluating the safety of food products already produced with water subject to the Advisory.

View this guidance document and find out how to automatically receive future updates about this document:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/FoodDefenseandEmergencyResponse/ucm211373.htm

 FSIS Policy Updates

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

• FSIS Notice 27-10: Salmonella Subtyping Results in Raw Products”
• Notice 25-10: “Interpreting Results of FSIS Verification Sampling of Beef Product Derived from Advanced Meat Recovery Systems (AMR01/FAMR01)”

Access all Notices and Directives:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/index.asp