========================================================================= Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:01:37 EST Reply-To: EdNet@FOODSAFETY.GOV Sender: National Food Safety Educator's Network From: National Food Safety Educator's Network Organization: National Food Safety Educator's Network Subject: Ednet Update December 2007 * * * * 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-December 2007 IN THIS ISSUE ADVISORIES/ALERTS * FDA Warns Consumers Not to Use Swad Brand Sindoor: Product Contains High Levels of Lead * USDA Consumer Alert: "Keeping Food Safe During An Emergency" RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS * Agreement between HHS and China on the Safety of Food and Feed * FDA 101: Infant Formula * FDA's Consumer Update: How Safe Are Color Additives? * USDA Offers Food Safety Tips For Mailing Food Gifts This Holiday Season * USDA Announces Beef Promotion Board Appointments * FSIS Receives Prestigious 2007 Presidential Quality Award * National Cattlemen's Foundation Partners with USDA to Register Premises as Part of the National Animal Identification System * USDA Changes the Disease Status of Four Countries in the European Union * Letter from FSIS to Canadian Food Inspection Agency * Secretary of Agriculture Seeks Nominations for Advisory Committee on Foreign Animal and Poultry Diseases (USDA) * FDA's Consumer Update: Use Your Microwave Safely * Food Safety Tips for Healthy Holidays (FDA) * Fortify Your Knowledge About Vitamins (FDA) * Welcome to the Food Safety Laboratory!-New from ARS * "Norovirus Outbreak Associated with Ill Food-Service Workers-Michigan, January--February 2006," MMWR, Volume 56, Number 31 (CDC) * "Amber Waves Magazine," November 2007 (ERS) MEETINGS/CONFERENCES/WORKSHOPS * Public Meeting to Address Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products (FSIS/AMS) INDUSTRY INFO * FSIS Notice 83-07: "Planned Development of FSIS Directives and Notices for Egg Products Inspection" * FDA Announces the Availability of Food Defense Self Assessment Tool * FSIS Directive 6100.3: "Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Poultry Inspection" * FSIS Directive 6170.1: "Ratite Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Inspection" * FSIS Notice 82-07: "Cancellation of Obsolete Issuances" * FSIS New Technology Table - Updated * FDA Launches E-mail Alert Subscription Service Through Public Web Site * FSIS Notice 78-07: "Documentation of Non-Compliances in Egg Product Plants" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ADVISORIES/ALERTS * FDA Warns Consumers Not to Use Swad Brand Sindoor: Product Contains High Levels of Lead The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to use 3.5 oz. packages of Swad brand sindoor, an orange or red powder used in some traditional South Asian Pacific ceremonies that is applied to the face or scalp, imported by Raja Foods LLC of Skokie, Illinois because the product contains high levels of lead. Although the product was not intended to be sold for food use, its labeling is confusing and implies that it may be used as food. The Illinois Department of Public Health has confirmed two cases of lead poisoning in consumers who used the product as an ingredient in home cooked meals. Other uses of the product, including as a cosmetic, can also be dangerous due to the high lead levels. To read the entire advisory, visit: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01756.html * USDA Consumer Alert: "Keeping Food Safe During An Emergency" On December 10, 2007, USDA issued a consumer alert providing recommendations to the regions affected by severe winter weather in the Midwestern U.S. USDA is hopeful that this information will help minimize the potential for foodborne illnesses due to food spoilage from power outages and other problems that are often associated with severe weather events. To read this consumer alert, go to: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_121007_01/index.asp RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS * Agreement between HHS and China on the Safety of Food and Feed The entire agreement of the Department of Health and Human Services ("HHS") of the United States of America and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine ("AQSIQ") of the People's Republic of China ("China") can be viewed at: http://globalhealth.gov/news/agreements/ia121107b.html * FDA 101: Infant Formula FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) oversees manufacturers of infant formulas, and ensures that they comply with nutritional requirements. Divisions within CFSAN have program responsibility for infant formula products and their ingredients and packaging. In addition, FDA regulations for current good manufacturing practice requirements for foods apply to the production of infant formula. FDA does not approve infant formulas before they can be marketed. However, all formulas marketed in the United States must meet federal nutrient requirements. Infant formula manufacturers are required to register with FDA and provide the agency with a notification prior to marketing a new formula. To learn more about FDA and infant formula, visit: http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/infantformula080607.html * FDA's Consumer Update: How Safe Are Color Additives? FDA regulates color additives used in the United States. This includes those used in food (and dietary supplements), drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices. These color additives (except coal-tar hair dyes) are subject by law to approval by the Agency and must be used only in compliance with the approved uses, specifications, and restrictions. Color additives give the red tint to your fruit punch and the green hue to your mint-flavored toothpaste. They are dyes, pigments, or other substances that can impart color when added or applied to a food. For more information, go to: http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/coloradditives121007.html * USDA Offers Food Safety Tips For Mailing Food Gifts This Holiday Season On December 6, 2007, FSIS issued a news release offering consumers food safety tips for mailing food gift during the holiday season. To read the entire news release, go to: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_120607_01/index.asp * USDA Announces Beef Promotion Board Appointments On December 6, 2007, Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner announced 39 appointments to the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board. All appointees will serve 3-year terms beginning February 9, 2008. To read this news release visit USDA's Web site at: http://www.usda.gov/2007/12/0364.xml * FSIS Receives Prestigious 2007 Presidential Quality Award On December 4, 2007, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced it received the 2007 Presidential Quality Award for Management Excellence. FSIS was honored for its dedication, hard work and outstanding leadership in advancing the President's Management Agenda through the strategic management of human capital. This year, FSIS received one of six awards given to Federal Agencies for excellence in quality and productivity. To read this announcement, visit the FSIS Web site at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_120407_01/index.asp * National Cattlemen's Foundation Partners with USDA to Register Premises as Part of the National Animal Identification System On November 30, 2007, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a news release announcing a partnership with the National Cattlemen's Foundation in cooperation with the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA). The partnership will facilitate the registration of additional cattle premises as part of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). USDA will soon release a business plan to advance animal disease traceability and to outline strategies to be undertaken to help achieve the long term goal of NAIS which is to retrieve sufficient trace forward and traceback data within a 48 hour window. This will allow animal health officials to trace a disease back to its source, which ultimately protects other premises and cattle from the adverse economic impact of a disease outbreak. To read this news release, visit the USDA's Web site at: http://www.usda.gov/2007/11/0356.xml * USDA Changes the Disease Status of Four Countries in the European Union On November 27, 2007, the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced it will amend its animal import regulations by changing the disease statuses of the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. These countries will be added to the regions of the European Union considered low risk for classical swine fever and free of swine vesicular disease. Latvia and Lithuania also will be added to the list of regions considered free of foot-and-mouth disease and rinderpest. This final rule is scheduled for publication in the November 28, 2007 issue of the "Federal Register." Read this APHIS news release, visit: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content/2007/11/eufour.shtml * Letter from FSIS to Canadian Food Inspection Agency On November 27, 2007, FSIS issued a letter to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, announcing that on November 28, 2007, FSIS will resume normal levels of product examinations of exported Canadian products. To read this letter, go to: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Canada_O157_Resume_Normal_Testing_Letter.pdf * Secretary of Agriculture Seeks Nominations for Advisory Committee on Foreign Animal and Poultry Diseases On November 21, 2007, the USDA issued a news release announcing that nominations have opened for two-year membership appointments to the committee that advises the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture on actions necessary to prevent the introduction of foreign livestock and poultry diseases into the United States. Consideration will be given to nominations received on or before January 7, 2008. Nominations can be sent to Mark Teachman, acting Director of Interagency Coordination, National Center for Animal Health Emergency Management, Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 4700 River Road, Unit 41, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231. To read this news release, go to: http://www.usda.gov/2007/11/0346.xml * FDA's Consumer Update: Use Your Microwave Safely The microwave oven has become a fixture of the American kitchen. FDA regulates the manufacture of microwave ovens and, under a strict safety standard, sets and enforces rules of performance to assure that radiation emissions do not pose a hazard to public health. An important part of microwave oven safety is proper use and maintenance, as recommended by the user manual. More information to help ensure safe use of your microwave can be viewed at: http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/microwave112107.html * Food Safety Tips for Healthy Holidays Parties, family dinners, and other gatherings where food is served are all part of the holiday cheer. But the merriment can change to misery if food makes you or others ill. FDA has posted food safety tips for healthy holidays that can be viewed at: http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/foodsafetytips111307.html * Fortify Your Knowledge About Vitamins Vitamins are essential nutrients that contribute to a healthy life. Although most people get all the vitamins they need from the foods they eat, millions of people worldwide take supplemental vitamins as part of their health regimen.Vitamin products are regulated by FDA as "Dietary Supplements." The law defines dietary supplements, in part, as products taken by mouth that contain a "dietary ingredient" intended to supplement the diet. For more information about how vitamins are regulated, why buy vitamins, vitamin facts, and risks of overdoing vitamins, go to: http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/vitamins111907.html *** Welcome to the Food Safety Laboratory!-New from ARS The USDA's Agricultural Research Service's (ARS) Food Safety Laboratory (FSL), at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), combines the expertise of microbiologists, food technologists, and engineers to conduct basic and applied research that is key to understanding how pathogens interact with fresh produce and meat products and how potential problems can be managed to prevent foodborne illness. The lab was created in a 2007 re-organization of BARC, after a mini-reorganization within the Animal and Natural Resources Institute. For more details about the FSL, or links to other BARC research, visit the FSL Web site at: http://www.ars.usda.gov/ba/foodsafetylab * "Norovirus Outbreak Associated with Ill Food-Service Workers-Michigan, January--February 2006," MMWR, Volume 56, Number 31 On January 30, 2006, the Barry-Eaton District Health Department (BEDHD) in Michigan was notified of gastrointestinal illness in several members of two dining parties after a meal at an Eaton County restaurant on January 28, 2007. An investigation was initiated by BEDHD to identify the source and agent of infection and to determine the scope of illness among patrons and employees of this national chain restaurant. This CDC report, of November 23, 2007, summarizes the findings of the outbreak investigation, which determined that at least 364 restaurant patrons had become ill. Read the full report at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5646a2.htm * "Amber Waves Magazine," November 2007 The November 2007 issue of the "Amber Waves Magazine" from USDA's Economic Research Service is now available online at: http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/November07/ MEETINGS/CONFERENCES/WORKSHOPS * Public Meeting to Address Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products On November 27, 2007, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced a public meeting to provide information and receive comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions for the Eighth Session of the Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products (CCMMP) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex). The public meeting will be held on January 17, 2008, South Agriculture Building, USDA, Washington, D.C. 20250. For more details about this meeting, go to: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_112707_01/index.asp The formal Committee Session will be held at the Millennium Hotel in Queenstown, New Zealand, on February 4-8, 2008. Agenda items and related documents may be accessed at: http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/current.jsp INDUSTRY INFO * FSIS Notice 83-07: "Planned Development of FSIS Directives and Notices for Egg Products Inspection" On December 11, 2007, FSIS issued a Notice titled "Planned Development of FSIS Directives and Notices for Egg Products Inspection. The purpose of this Notice is to provide FSIS inspection program personnel with information on the Agency's intention to develop and issue FSIS Notices, directives, and guidance material on the policies and instructions found in the "Egg Products Inspector's Handbook" and other Agency-issued guidance documents. To read this Notice, visit: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISNotices/83-07.pdf * FDA Announces the Availability of Food Defense Self Assessment Tool In 2003, the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) issued the Food and Cosmetic Security Preventive Measures Guidances. These guidance documents were designed to focus food and cosmetic industry operators' attention on each segment of the food and cosmetic products delivery system that is within their control, to minimize the risk of tampering or other malicious, criminal, or terrorist action at each segment. The Agency received comments from industry and our stakeholders stating that these guidance documents were useful but that FDA should find a way to simplify the messages. With this in mind, FDA has made an attempt to simplify these documents by repackaging the information found in each guidance document into the Food Defense Self Assessment Tool. The Food and Cosmetic Security Preventive Measures Guidances and their associated Food Defense Self Assessment Tool can be found at: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/defguids.html * FSIS Directive 6100.3: "Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Poultry Inspection" On December 7, 2007, FSIS issued a Directive titled "Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Poultry Inspection." This Directive instructs Public Health Veterinarians (PHVs) and off-line and on-line inspection program personnel on how to perform ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection of poultry and of the conditions under which the birds are processed. To read this entire Directive, visit: www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/6000_Series-Slaughter_Inspection/ * FSIS Directive 6170.1: "Ratite Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Inspection" On December 7, 2007, FSIS issued a Directive titled "Ratite Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Inspection," to instruct inspection program personnel on how to perform ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection of ratites. In addition, this Directive provides direction on how to make dispositions for some ratite diseases post-mortem and how to document the findings. Finally, this Directive provides information about the compliance guidelines for the proposed performance standards for the production of processed meat from ratites. To read this Directive in its entirety, go to: www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/6000_Series-Slaughter_Inspection/ * FSIS Notice 82-07: "Cancellation of Obsolete Issuances" On December 7, 2007, FSIS issued a Notice titled "Cancellation of Obsolete Issuances," to announce that FSIS program personnel that conduct inspection-related activities are only to follow instructions found in current FSIS Notices and FSIS Directives, and information found in FSIS training material. To read this Notice, visit: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/FSIS_Notices_Index/index.asp * FSIS New Technology Table -- Updated On December 4, 2007, FSIS posted on its Web site the latest summary describing some of the new technologies received and reviewed by FSIS for which there has been "no objection" for their use in establishments. To view the latest summary, go to: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/New_Technologies/index.asp * FDA Launches E-mail Alert Subscription Service Through Public Web Site On December 3, 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a new e-mail service that alerts subscribers whenever information is updated on certain FDA Web pages. The service is free and available for a wide variety of FDA's Web pages, including food safety protection, medical product approvals and consumer health information. To view how to receive e-mail alerts, go to: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01752.html * FSIS Notice 78-07: "Documentation of Non-Compliances in Egg Product Plants" On November 28, 2007, FSIS issued a Noticed titled "Documentation of Non-Compliances in Egg Product Plants," which instructs inspection program personnel at egg product plants how to document non-compliances in the proper format. To read this Notice, visit: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/FSIS_Notices_Index/index.asp 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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