========================================================================= Date: Thu, 28 Oct 2004 14:33:08 -0400 Reply-To: National Food Safety Educator's Network Sender: National Food Safety Educator's Network From: National Food Safety Educator's Network Subject: Ednet Update October 2004 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit * * * * National Food Safety Educator's Network * * * * * * * * EdNet-L@foodsafety.gov * * * * EdNet is an electronic newsletter from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), providing updates on food safety activities to educators and others concerned about food safety. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ EdNet October 2004 IN THIS ISSUE RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS * FSIS Announces 2004 State Partnership Cooperative Agreements for Animal and Egg Production Food Safety * FDA Releases 2004 Produce Safety Action Plan * Officials Inaugurate Food Safety Institute of the Americas (USDA) * FDA Reports Progress on Agency Strategic Action Plan * "Let's Talk Turkey - A Consumer Guide to Safely Roasting a Turkey" (FSIS) * Fight BAC!(R)-Partnership for Food Safety Education * USDA Launches New Food Safety E-Mail Subscription Service * Quarterly Update on U.S. FDA Food Code Adoptions * USDA Food Safety Mobile Schedule * Speech by Lester M. Crawford, D.V.M., Ph.D., Acting Commissioner of FDA at the Soyfoods Association of North America Conference on Creating a Healthier America * Safety Tips for Halloween from FDA * CSREES requests applications for National Integrated Food Safety Initiative for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 * "Application of Gap Analysis to Education: A Case Study of the Food Safety and Quality Assurance Program at the University of Guelph" (Canada) * Food Microbe Gets Genes Decoded (ARS) * "Salmonella" Can Cause Poorer Eggshell Quality (ARS) * New Issue of "The Food Safety Educator" is Now Off-Press (FSIS) * Study Finds That Implementing Food Safety Management Systems Significantly Reduces Restaurant Level Violations * USDA Reestablishes General Conference of the National Poultry Improvement Plan * Nominations Sought For Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (USDA) * USDA Awards Contract to Fort Dodge Animal Health to Establish an Avian Influenza Vaccine Anitgen Bank for Poultry * Kansas State Researchers Seek to Improve Food Safety Practices of Restaurant Employees USDA/FDA FOODBORNE ILLNESS EDUCATION INFORMATION CENTER * Home of Hundreds of Training Tools and Educational Programs MEETINGS/CONFERENCES/COURSES * FDA to Hold Public Meetings on Proposed Egg Safety Rule * Notice of Dietary Supplement Public Meeting Pre-Market Notification Program for New Dietary Ingredients (FDA) INDUSTRY INFO * Guidance for Industry from FDA--"Use of Material from BSE-Positive Cattle in Animal Feed'' * FSIS Announces Final Rule to Amend Nutrition Labeling Regulations for "Meal-Type" Products * USDA Releases Voluntary Security Guidance for Agricultural and Food Transporters RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS * FSIS Announces 2004 State Partnership Cooperative Agreements for Animal and Egg Production Food Safety On October 6, 2004, FSIS announced that $275,000 will be awarded to nine states to help educate food animal producers about production practices that promote food safety. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_100604_01/index.asp * FDA Releases 2004 Produce Safety Action Plan On October 18, 2004, FDA announced the final 2004 Produce Safety Action Plan (the Plan) entitled "Produce Safety from Production to Consumption: 2004 Action Plan to Minimize Foodborne Illness Associated with Fresh Produce Consumption." http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/prodpla2.html Because of the importance of fresh produce in a healthy diet and continuing outbreaks associated with the consumption of fresh produce, FDA developed the Plan to further minimize foodborne illness associated with the consumption of fresh produce. FDA Talk Paper: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/2004/ANS01318.html * Officials Inaugurate Food Safety Institute of the Americas On October 13, 2004, in Miami, FL, U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Jim Moseley and Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Elsa Murano, along with elected officials and dignitaries from throughout the Western Hemisphere, inaugurated the Food Safety Institute of the Americas to develop and promote effective food safety education and training programs throughout the Americas. Go to: http://www.usda.gov Select Newsroom, and then Press releases for October 2004. * FDA Reports Progress on Agency Strategic Action Plan In 2003, FDA issued a plan that set action goals for the Agency and mapped out a strategy to achieve them. To chart progress made toward the goals in the past year, the Agency has released a report called "Progress and Priorities 2004." Agency achievements covered in the report include: enhanced consumer protection through new bioterrorism countermeasures, improved protections against medical errors, and increased efficiency of FDA reviews of new regulated products. http://www.fda.gov/oc/initiatives/reports/priorities2004.html * "Let's Talk Turkey - A Consumer Guide to Safely Roasting a Turkey" A new consumer brochure from FSIS, "Let's Talk Turkey," gives advice on buying, thawing, roasting, and storing a turkey. Look for it on the FSIS Web site: http://www.fsis.usda.gov * Fight BAC!(R)-Partnership for Food Safety Education >>>Partnership for Food Safety Education Kicks-off Safe Produce Handling Campaign-Goal to Raise Public Awareness of Produce-Specific Handling Recommendations On October 18, 2004, the Partnership for Food Safety Education (Partnership), announced a national food safety education campaign focused on safe handling of fresh fruits and vegetables. Unveiled at the annual convention of the Produce Marketing Association (PMA), the recommendations build on the Partnership's successful Fight BAC!(R) campaign. Consumer-tested messages will reach the public through the media, the Partnership's national network of public and private partners, grass roots food safety advocates and through fightbac.org. The supporting produce handling education materials were developed as part of a collaborative effort among the Partnership's full membership, including several produce industry organizations as well as other government, industry and consumer member-organizations. A complete list of Partnership members can be found at fightbac.org. Dissemination of the Web-based safe produce handling materials is being supported, in part, through a generous gift to the Partnership from the PMA. Press release: http://www.fightbac.org/press/index.cfm?FuseAction=View&PRID=24 >>>New Enhanced Web Site! Take a look, the Web site has changed! Go to www.fightbac.org and, by clicking on the BAC Fighters! tab on the upper left you will be taken to the BAC Fighters! "News and Tools" section. This is the BAC Fighters! portal designed to better serve the most frequent users of the Web site. On the lower right there is a new bar to take you to the "Consumer Food Safety Research Resource Center." In the future, the "For Kids" section will be enhanced to put all of the material for children in one exciting and colorful place! http://www.fightbac.org * USDA Launches New Food Safety E-Mail Subscription Service On October 13, 2004, FSIS launched a new e-mail subscription service. This service will give citizens automatic and customized access to selected food safety news and information. "This Administration remains committed to protecting public health and this service will guarantee our customers quick access to food safety information," said Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Elsa Murano. "This service enables customers to choose the topics important to them and stay updated whether or not they visit this Web site regularly." This service allows FSIS customers to sign up for 21 initial subscription options across eight categories. Options range from recalls to export information to regulations, directives and notices. Additional subscription options will be added based on demand. Customers can add or delete subscriptions themselves and will have the option to password protect their account. To subscribe, customers can visit the FSIS Web site at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov or directly subscribe from: http://www.govdocs.com/service/multi_subscribe.html?code=USFSIS * Quarterly Update on U.S. FDA "Food Code" Adoptions The latest quarterly update on the progress of U.S. FDA "Food Code" adoptions by States, Territories, Local and Tribal Nation agencies is now available on the FDA CFSAN Web site. http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~ear/fcadopt.html * USDA Food Safety Mobile Schedule The Food Safety Mobile continues to travel throughout the continental United States, appearing at State and county fairs, food events, media events, schools, libraries, grocery stores, community events, parades, festivals, health and safety expos, conventions, trade shows, FSIS District Offices, and at FSIS events in conjunction with visits and presentations by USDA officials. FSIS is no longer taking Mobile visit requests for 2004 but you are encouraged to make your requests as early as possible for 2005. The Mobile will be taking a holiday maintenance break in December but will be ready to travel in January 2005. November 2004 4 Metropolitan Inner-Faith Association, Memphis, TN 9 Defense Commissary Agency, Fort Gordon, GA 13 Females in Science and Technology Conference, Silver Spring, MD 15 Elementary School, Roanoke, VA 20 Baltimore's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Baltimore, MD Look for updates to the Mobile schedule on the FSIS Web site: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/foodsafetymobile New requests may be sent to FSIS at foodsafetymobile@fsis.usda.gov, or by calling (301) 504-9605. We look forward to partnering with you as we work together to promote public health through food safety education! http://www.fsis.usda.gov/foodsafetymobile * Speech by Lester M. Crawford, D.V.M., Ph.D., Acting Commissioner of FDA at the Soyfoods Association of North America Conference on Creating a Healthier America (October 14, 2004) "In response to the growing epidemic of obesity in this country, FDA established an Obesity Working Group (OWG) that was charged with the task of determining what FDA could do to help combat this growing problem within its areas of authority. In August 2003, the group was to deliver its report and recommendation in six months. FDA released the final report of its OWG in March 2004. This report was comprehensive, and offered a number of compelling recommendations on how to combat obesity. The cornerstone of the OWG report is the idea that America must get back to basics and that 'Calories Count.' In other words, there is no substitute for the simple formula that 'calories in must equal calories out' in order to control weight." View the entire speech at: http://www.fda.gov/oc/speeches/2004/soyfoods1014.html * Safety Tips for Halloween from FDA Halloween is a time of fun for children. FDA is providing a few simple tips to parents to ensure that their children's holiday is a safe and healthy one, too. View safety tips at: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/kids/candyandtreats.html * CSREES requests applications for National Integrated Food Safety Initiative for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 The Cooperative State Research Education and Extension (CSREES) requests applications for the Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program -- National Integrated Food Safety Initiative for fiscal year 2005 to support integrated, multifunctional agricultural research, extension, and education activities that address food safety priorities in the United States. The purpose of the National Integrated Food Safety Initiative is to support food safety projects that demonstrate an integrated approach to solving problems in applied food safety research, education, or extension. The National Integrated Food Safety Initiative requests integrated research, education, and extension applications that address a broad spectrum of food safety concerns -- from on-farm production, post-harvest processing, and distribution, to food selection, preparation, and consumption. Various models for integration of applied research, education, and extension will be considered for funding. Applications describing multi-state, multi-institutional, multidisciplinary, and multifunctional activities (and combinations thereof) are encouraged. Applicants are strongly encouraged to assemble project teams that include those with expertise in research, extension, and/or education. All members of the project team should be involved in the development and writing of the application. CSREES anticipates that approximately $12.6 million will be available for support of this program in FY 2005. Details are available at: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/fundview.cfm?fonum=1086 and http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/USDA/CSREES/OEP/USDA-GRANTS-101304-001/Grant.html * "Application of Gap Analysis to Education: A Case Study of the Food Safety and Quality Assurance Program at the University of Guelph" (Canada) Recent article from the "Journal of Food Science Education" looks at the skills and knowledge set deemed important by industry and academia for food safety professionals. It also examines various gaps in skills and knowledge. Full text of article may be downloaded from: http://www.ift.org/pdfs/jfse/jfsev3n3p0033-0040ms20030712.pdf * Food Microbe Gets Genes Decoded To help foil the number-one cause of food--related gastrointestinal illness, scientists from USDA's Agricultural Research Service and colleagues have decoded all the genes of a strain of the culprit, the "Campylobacter" microbe. Investigations of these "C. jejuni" genes may lead to the discovery of faster, more reliable ways to detect the microbe in samples from food, animals, human, and water. Read more about the research in the October issue of "Agricultural Research" magazine, available online at: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/oct04/genes1004.htm * "Salmonella" Can Cause Poorer Eggshell Quality A decrease in eggshell quality is a trait that may be used to detect chickens infected with "Salmonella," according to USDA's Agricultural Research Service scientists. From the October issue of "Agricultural Research" magazine. http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2004/041004.htm * New Issue of "The Food Safety Educator" is Now Off--Press "The Food Safety Educator," Vol. 9, issue No. 1, 2004, is now off-press. This special 12 page issue highlights food safety education tools focusing on food service, handwashing, programs for kids, and pathogens. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Food_Safety_Educator_Vol9_No1/index.asp * Study Finds That Implementing Food Safety Management Systems Significantly Reduces Restaurant Level Violations According to a study conducted by The Steritech Group, Inc., restaurants that implement formal food safety management systems are able to significantly reduce restaurant level food safety violations, and typically experience ongoing improvements. The study shows that providing employee training and committing to standard operating procedures for tasks, such as cooling, thawing and cooking, is key to reducing food safety violations." Full-text of press release available at http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/041006/phw017_1.html A copy of the complete study entitled "The Annual Food Safety Audit Trend Report" may be downloaded from http://www.steritech.com/FSreport04/SteritechTrendReport04.pdf * USDA Reestablishes General Conference of the National Poultry Improvement Plan On October 20, 2004, Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is reestablishing the General Conference Committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan. The General Conference Committee is the official advisory committee to the secretary of agriculture regarding poultry health issues. The committee serves as a forum for the study of problems relating to poultry health and as the need arises, makes specific recommendations to the secretary of agriculture concerning how USDA can help the industry solve these problems. http://www.usda.gov Select Newsroom, and then go to Latest Releases and select October 2004 News Releases. * Nominations Sought For Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods On October 22, 2004, USDA announced that it is seeking nominations for membership on the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF). Nominations are being sought for scientists with expertise in epidemiology, food technology, microbiology, risk assessment, infectious diseases and biostatistics and other related sciences. Nominees may be currently employed by state and federal governments, industry, academia or other scientific pursuits. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_102204_01/index.asp * USDA Awards Contract to Fort Dodge Animal Health to Establish an Avian Influenza Vaccine Anitgen Bank for Poultry USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Center for Veterinary Biologics, has awarded a five-year contract to Fort Dodge Animal Health to develop an avian influenza (AI) vaccine antigen bank for poultry that will house enough antigen to produce 40 million doses of AI vaccine. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/news/2004/10/aivaccine_vs.html * Kansas State Researchers Seek to Improve Food Safety Practices of Restaurant Employees A three-year, $482,763 grant received by researchers at Kansas State University (K-State) from the United States Department of Agriculture, seeks to improve food safety practices of restaurant employees by using the theory of planned behavior. The full U.S. News Wire Press Release is available at: http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=38603 USDA/FDA FOODBORNE ILLNESS EDUCATION INFORMATION CENTER * Home of Hundreds of Training Tools and Educational Programs Since the pre-Internet days of 1994, the USDA/FDA Foodborne Illness Education Information Center at the National Agricultural Library has been collecting food safety training tools and teaching materials for children, consumers, food service workers, volunteer food handlers, and just about anyone else working with food. Many of these materials are in the library's collection and can be borrowed via interlibrary loan. The Center's Web site is at: http://www.nal.usda.gov/foodborne Take a look at some of the highlights of the site below. Food safety materials in other languages: http://peaches.nal.usda.gov/foodborne/fbindex/NonEnglishResources.asp Hand washing materials: http://peaches.nal.usda.gov/foodborne/fbindex/Handwashing.asp Web sites for kids: http://peaches.nal.usda.gov/foodborne/fbindex/Children.asp Food service and retail: http://peaches.nal.usda.gov/foodborne/fbindex/Foodservice.asp HACCP resources: http://peaches.nal.usda.gov/foodborne/fbindex/HACCP_resources.asp Produce food safety: http://peaches.nal.usda.gov/foodborne/fbindex/Produce.asp The Center is home to Foodsafe, an e-discussion group for food safety professionals, which is available free at: http://www.nal.usda.gov/foodborne/foodsafe/index.html The Food Safety Training and Education Alliance Web site is also a product of the Center at: http://www.fstea.org Check out these and the rest of the Center's food safety resources online at: http://www.nal.usda.gov/foodborne MEETINGS/CONFERENCES/COURSES * FDA to Hold Public Meetings on Proposed Egg Safety Rule FDA announced a series of public meetings to discuss the proposed rule for prevention of "Salmonella Enteritidis" (SE) in shell eggs during production. On September 22, 2004, FDA published in the "Federal Register" a proposed rule for egg safety national standards. The purpose of these meetings is to solicit public comments on the proposed rule and provide the public an opportunity to ask questions. The meetings will be held: * October 28, 2004, in College Park, MD, at the Wiley Federal Building * November 9, 2004, in Chicago, IL, at the Chicago Marriott Downtown * November 16, 2004, in Los Angeles, CA, at the LA Airport Marriott The complete announcement is on CFSAN's Web site at: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/egg1004.html * Notice of Dietary Supplement Public Meeting Pre-Market Notification Program for New Dietary Ingredients (FDA) The FDA is announcing a meeting and is soliciting comments on FDA's pre-market notification program for new dietary ingredients (NDIs). FDA is soliciting comments from industry, consumers, and any other interested members of the public concerning the content and format requirements for NDI notifications made under the "Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act." The public meeting will be held on November 15, 2004, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will be held at the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Harvey W. Wiley Auditorium, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740. Contact: Kelly Williams-Randolph, (301) 436-2506, Fax: (301) 436-2639. Meeting information and pre-registration form at: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~news/whatsnew.html INDUSTRY INFO * Guidance for Industry from FDA -- "Use of Material from BSE-Positive Cattle in Animal Feed" ("Federal Register," Volume 69, Number 189, Docket No. 2004D-0438) FDA announced the availability of guidance for industry entitled "Use of Material from BSE-Positive Cattle in Animal Feed." This guidance document describes FDA's current thinking regarding the use in all animal feed of all material from cattle that test positive for BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy). http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/04-22014.htm * FSIS Announces Final Rule to Amend Nutrition Labeling Regulations for "Meal-Type" Products On October 1, 2004, FSIS announced a final rule that amends nutrition labeling regulations. The final rule will permit nutrient content claims on the labeling of multi-serve "meal-type" meat and poultry products. Previously, FSIS only allowed nutrient content claims on single serve meat and poultry products. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Frame/FrameRedirect.asp?main=/OPPDE/rdad/FRPubs/00-046F.htm * USDA Releases Voluntary Security Guidance for Agricultural and Food Transporters On October 5, 2004, the USDA released a new voluntary security guidance document for truck transporters of agricultural and food products to bolster national security and safeguard public health. http://www.usda.gov Select Newsroom, and then go to Latest Releases and select October 2004 News Releases. ARCHIVED EDNET NEWSLETTERS Interested readers can access EdNet newsletters archived since October 1997 from the Web site: http://www.foodsafety.gov/~fsg/ednet.html SUBSCRIBE Please forward this issue to colleagues and friends and tell them how to subscribe. Thank you for sharing. 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