EdNet September 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:
Resources for Educators
- FDA Consumer Health Information Updates
- Statement from Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Regarding Animal Health and 2009 Pandemic H1N1 Influenza
- USDA and HHS Unveil New Food Safety Consumer Web Site
- Lowering Salt in Your Diet (FDA)
- New Podcasts and Video-Casts for Consumers (FSIS)
- Important Reminder to Podcast Subscribers: Renew Your Subscription! (FSIS)
- "Amber Waves Magazine," September 2009
Meetings, Conferences, and Workshops
- Public Meeting to Address Agenda Items for the 3rd Session of the Codex Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance
- FDA Announces Two Public Meetings on the Final Rule for Prevention of Salmonella Enteritidis in Shell Eggs During Production, Storage, and Transportation
Industry
- FSIS Notice 67-09: “General Food Defense Plan”
- FSIS Proposes Interstate Commerce Shipping Regulations for Small Plant Operations
- FSIS Issues Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Use of the Voluntary Claim "Natural" in the Labeling of Meat and Poultry Products
- FSIS Notice 62-09: “Compositing of Environmental Samples Collected during Risk-Based ‘Listeria monocytogenes’ (‘RLm’) Sampling”
- FSIS Notice 60-09: “Ensuring Sample Integrity When Submitting Residue Samples to the Laboratory for Residue Testing”
- Guidance for Industry: Questions and Answers Regarding the Reportable Food Registry as Established by the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007
Resources for Educators
FDA Consumer Health Information Updates
On September 11, 2009, the FDA released its latest listing of consumer health information updates. All articles can be accessed from the agency’s Web page for consumers at http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/default.htm
You can sign-up for e-mail notices of new consumer updates on an immediate, weekly, or monthly basis at https://service.govdelivery.com/service/subscribe.html?code=USFDA_9
Statement from Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Regarding Animal Health and 2009 Pandemic H1N1 Influenza
On September 10, 2009, Agriculture Secretary Vilsack made a statement regarding animal health and the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza. Read the entire statement at http://www.usda.gov/2009/09/0433.xml
To visit USDA’s H1N1 flu collection page, go to http://www.usda.gov/H1N1flu
USDA and HHS Unveil New Food Safety Consumer Web Site
On September 9, 2009, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the co-chairs of the Obama Administration's Food Safety Working Group, unveiled a new consumer Web site at www.foodsafety.gov. The site is designed to help consumers and families get all the latest information on food safety and food recalls in one convenient place.
Read this news release at http://www.usda.gov/2009/09/0429.xml
Read more about the new FoodSafety.gov site, the “one-stop-shop” Web site for food safety information, in the USDA Blog at http://www.usda.gov/blog/usda/entry/foodsafety_gov_one_stop_shop
Lowering Salt in Your Diet
Everyone needs some salt to function. Also known as sodium chloride, salt helps maintain the body's balance of fluids. Salt also functions in many foods as a preservative, by helping to prevent spoilage and keeping certain foods safe to eat. But nearly all Americans consume more salt than they need, according to the “2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.” These guidelines are published every five years by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
You can view questions and answers about lowering salt in your diet at
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm181577.htm
New Podcasts and Video-Casts for Consumers
Tune in and subscribe to podcasts and listen to food safety specialists providing consumers with advice and up to date information on how to prevent foodborne illness through the safe handling, preparation and storage of meat, poultry, and processed egg products.
FSIS released podcasts helpful to consumers, the latest of which are:
- “Let’s Talk Hot Dogs”
- “Country of Origin Labeling” (“COOL”)
- “Food Irradiation”
Visit FSIS’s “Food Safety at Home” podcast page at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Food_Safety_at_Home_Podcasts/index.asp
The above listed podcasts have also been made available in SignFSIS Video-Casts in American Sign Language featuring text-captioning and designed to inform deaf and hard-of-hearing consumers. You may view these video-casts at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/signfsis/index.asp
Important Reminder to Podcast Subscribers: Renew Your Subscription!
USDA is switching to a new, higher quality digital format for podcasts. Resubscribe to avoid interruptions in service:
- For “Food Safety at Home” podcasts, visit http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Food_Safety_at_Home_Podcasts/index.asp
- For the “Industry” Podcasts, visit http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Food_Safety_Inspection_Podcasts/index.asp
- For “En Español” podcasts, visit http://www.fsis.usda.gov/En_Espanol/Podcasts_SP/index.asp
- For the “SignFSIS” video-casts, visit http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/signfsis/index.asp
"Amber Waves Magazine," September 2009
The September 2009 issue of the "Amber Waves Magazine" from USDA's Economic
Research Service is now available online at http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/
Meetings, Conferences, and Workshops
Public Meeting to Address Agenda Items for the 3rd Session of the Codex Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance
The 3rd Session of the Codex Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on antimicrobial resistance will be held in Jeju, Republic of Korea, October 12-16, 2009. On September 9, 2009, FSIS and FDA announced a public meeting to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the October session.
Read this announcement at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_090909_01/index.asp
FDA Announces Two Public Meetings on the Final Rule for Prevention of “Salmonella” Enteritidis in Shell Eggs During Production, Storage, and Transportation
FDA is announcing 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.
In order to maximize the opportunity for producers covered by the final rule to attend, the public meetings will be held in two locations.
- The first public meeting will be held on September 30, 2009, in Chicago, IL
- The second meeting will be held on November 5, 2009, in Atlanta, GA.
For detailed information about the time, locations, and registration of the two public meetings, go to http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/WorkshopsMeetingsConferences/ucm179776.htm
Industry
FSIS Notice 67-09: “General Food Defense Plan”
On September 25, 2009, FSIS issued a Notice entitled “General Food Defense Plan” announcing that:
- In October, FSIS will be mailing a letter to establishments that did not have a food defense plan when asked during the 2008 food defense plan survey and to establishments that received a grant of inspection after FSIS conducted the 2008 survey.
- Attached to that letter is a new general food defense plan developed by the Office of Data Integration and Food Protection, with input from representatives from small and very small establishments.
Read this Notice in its entirety at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/FSIS_Notices_Index/index.asp
FSIS Proposes Interstate Commerce Shipping Regulations for Small Plant Operations
On September 15, 2009, FSIS issued a news release to announce publishing of proposed regulations to implement a new voluntary cooperative program under which select state-inspected establishments will be eligible to ship meat and poultry products in interstate commerce.
Note: FSIS is reissuing this news release to more accurately reflect the contents of the proposed Rule. Inspection services will be from Federally trained and supervised State inspection personnel.
Read this announcement at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_091509_01/index.asp
To see the FSIS proposed Rule, issued on September 16, 2009, go to http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FRPubs/2008-0039.htm
FSIS Issues Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Use of the Voluntary Claim "Natural" in the Labeling of Meat and Poultry Products
On September 11, 2009, FSIS announced that it will solicit further public comment as the agency seeks to define the conditions under which it would permit the voluntary claim "natural" to be used in the labeling of meat and poultry products. FSIS made the announcement through the publication of an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR).
Read this announcement at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_091109_01/index.asp
For detailed description of these issues, please refer to the ANPR, which is posted on FSIS Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/2009_Notices_Index/index.asp
FSIS Notice 62-09: “Compositing of Environmental Samples Collected during Risk-Based ‘Listeria monocytogenes’ (‘RLm’) Sampling”
On September 10, 2009, FSIS issued a Notice entitled “Compositing of Environmental Samples Collected during Risk-Based ‘Listeria monocytogenes’ (‘RLm’) Sampling.” The purpose of this Notice is to provide instructions to enforcement, investigations and analysis officers (EIAOs) for collecting environmental (non-food contact) samples during “RLm” sampling and completing FSIS Form 10,210-3 and it is not to be implemented until October 1, 2009.
To read this entire Notice, visit http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/FSIS_Notices_Index/index.asp
FSIS Notice 60-09: “Ensuring Sample Integrity When Submitting Residue Samples to the Laboratory for Residue Testing”
On September 2, 2009, FSIS issued a Notice entitled “Ensuring Sample Integrity When Submitting Residue Samples to the Laboratory for Residue Testing.” This Notice provides instructions and clarifies Agency policy for inspection program personnel (IPP) to ensure sample integrity when they prepare samples from carcasses suspected of having violative levels of chemical residues for submission to the laboratories. This Notice also reemphasizes the existing policy that IPP are to collect tissue samples.
Read this Notice in its entirety at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/index.asp
Guidance for Industry: Questions and Answers Regarding the Reportable Food Registry as Established by the “Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007”
This document provides guidance intended to assist those parties responsible for complying with the Reportable Food Registry requirements prescribed by the “Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007” (Pub. L.110-085). As required by section 1005(f) of this law, FDA is issuing guidance to industry about submitting reports of instances of reportable food through the electronic portal and providing notifications to other persons in the supply chain of such articles of food.
To view this guidance document, visit http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/
FoodSafety/ucm180761.htm#intro
