========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2004 14:35:20 EDT 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 September 2004 * * * * 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 September 2004 IN THIS ISSUE RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS * USDA Provides Information for Keeping Food Safe During An Emergency * "Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency" - New Video News Release from USDA * FDA Offers Food Safety Information for Expected Power Outages and Flooding Due to Hurricanes * USDA Natural Disaster Assistance * USDA, FDA and DHS Sign Agreement with NASDA to Make Nation's Agriculture and Food Supply More Secure * FDA Report on the Foodservice Foodborne Illness Risk Factors * Back to School 2004: Tips for a Healthy School Year (FNS) * Home Alone? After School Snacks and Food Safety: USDA Quiz for Parents and Kids * FDA Announces Qualified Health Claims for Omega-3 Fatty Acids * New! Email News Updates from FSIS * FDA Proposes Further Action to Improve Farm-to-Table Shell Egg Safety * USDA's BSE Testing--Protecting America's Herd * "Emerging Infectious Diseases" Journal (September 2004) * 2005 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Report * "Protect Your Baby and Yourself from Listeriosis" - New Factsheet from FSIS * Outbreak of Cyclosporiasis Associated with Snow Peas - Pennsylvania, 2004, CDC, MMWR * The Food Safety Advisor (WSU/UI) * Fight BAC!(R) * USDA Food Safety Mobile Schedule * "Proper Care and Handling of Venison from Farm to Table" (Penn State) * "FDA Consumer" Magazine * "Free-Range" Chicken No Guarantee It's Free of "Salmonella" (ARS) * New Food Consumption Data Released (ARS) * FDA and the National Alliance for Hispanic Health Reaffirm Their Commitment to Support Healthy and Informed Families * Speech by Lester M. Crawford, D.V.M., Ph.D., Acting Commissioner of FDA at the U.S. Vatican Mission's Conference On Feeding a Hungry World NEWS FROM THE USDA/FDA FOODBORNE ILLNESS EDUCATION INFORMATION CENTER * "Baby Jake Gets an Indian Name" PEOPLE IN THE NEWS * Sheila Dearybury Walcoff Appointed Associate FDA Commissioner for External Relations INDUSTRY INFO * FSIS Issues Notice on Humane Handling Requirements * Availability of FSIS Form 10,240-1: "Production Information on Post-Lethality Exposed Ready-to-Eat Products" (Docket No. 04-014N) RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS * USDA Provides Information for Keeping Food Safe During An Emergency On September 15, 2004, USDA provided recommendations in advance of hurricane Ivan that was expected to reach the Southeastern U.S. shortly thereafter. This information was released in hopes that it would help minimize the potential for foodborne illnesses due to power outages. The information is generic and can be applied to any weather emergency situation. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_091504_01/index.asp Spanish version: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_091504_01SP/ * "Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency:" New Video News Release from USDA When seasonal storms knock out the power, what steps can you take to keep your food safe? USDA has some answers. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_&_events/video_releases/index.asp * FDA Offers Food Safety Information for Expected Power Outages and Flooding Due to Hurricanes FDA is cautioning consumers affected by hurricanes to take food safety precautions following power outages or flooding. The Agency has created a list of tips that advise what to do with food when power goes out, how to handle food when power is restored, and how to maintain food and water safety after flooding. http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fsdisas.html Additional consumer advice on food safety after a disaster can be viewed at: http://www.foodsafety.gov/~fsg/fsgdisas.html * USDA Natural Disaster Assistance The USDA provides many types of assistance to farmers and other rural residents as the result of natural disasters such as drought, fire, flood, storm, earthquake, hurricane, tornado, and volcanic eruption. There is also assistance available to producers who suffer losses as a result of crop or livestock disease or pest infestation. http://disaster.usda.gov/ * USDA, FDA and DHS Sign Agreement with NASDA to Make Nation's Agriculture and Food Supply More Secure On September 23, 2004, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), signed a cooperative agreement with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) to further develop integrated Federal-State response plans for food and agricultural emergencies. This agreement advances one of the many homeland security directives set by Presidential Bush to improve Federal, State and local cooperation through enhanced response and recovery procedures in the event of a disaster. http://www.usda.gov/Newsroom/0407.04.html * FDA Report on the Foodservice Foodborne Illness Risk Factors The FDA has just released its report on the "Occurrence of Foodborne Illness Risk Factors in Selected Institutional Foodservice, Restaurant, and Retail Food Store Facility Types (2004)." The Executive Summary is available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/retrsk2.html The full report may be downloaded from: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~acrobat/retrsk2.pdf * Back to School 2004: Tips for a Healthy School Year As children grow, they learn how to make choices that will affect their health and their lives. Choosing a lifestyle that combines healthy eating with regular exercise is one of the most important decisions they make. Children are influenced by what they see and experience at home, at school, and in the community, and as parents and caregivers, we need to create an environment that supports healthy living. The School Meals and Child Nutrition Programs of USDA can provide a positive atmosphere and support to help ensure successful and healthy futures for our children. http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/back_to_school/back_to_school_tips.htm * Home Alone? After School Snacks and Food Safety: USDA Quiz for Parents and Kids Book bags and backpacks get quickly tossed aside and the munchies take over when kids burst through the door after school. If your child is home alone for an hour or two after school, how can you make sure their snacks are safe from foodborne bacteria and they are protected from dangers in the kitchen? http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_090704_01/index.asp Spanish version: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_091504_01SP/ * FDA Announces Qualified Health Claims for Omega-3 Fatty Acids On September 8, 2004, FDA announced the availability of a qualified health claim for reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) on conventional foods that contain eiscosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) omega-3 fatty acids. Typically, EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids are contained in oily fish, such as salmon, lake trout, tuna and herring. These fatty acids are not essential to the diet; however, scientific evidence indicates that these fatty acids may be beneficial in reducing CHD. http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/fpqhco3.html * New! Email News Updates from FSIS FSIS' new email subscription service notifies you when popular pages you select are updated. Sign up now! To register, visit the FSIS Web site at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov * FDA Proposes Further Action to Improve Farm-to-Table Shell Egg Safety On September 20, 2004, FDA proposed a regulation to further improve the safety of shell eggs on the farm. When implemented, the production changes defined by the regulation will significantly reduce the number of illness caused by eggs contaminated with "Salmonella" Enteritidis (SE). "The implementation of the provisions of this rule would reduce the number of SE-related illnesses by 33,500" said Acting Commissioner Dr. Lester M. Crawford. The proposed regulation would require implementation of SE prevention measures for all egg producers with 3,000 or more laying hens that produce shell eggs for retail sale and do not process their eggs with a treatment, such as pasteurization, to ensure their safety. http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/fpeggs3.html * USDA's BSE Testing--Protecting America's Herd Information about BSE testing from USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/bse_testing/index.html * "Emerging Infectious Diseases" Journal This study reviews the available evidence on unknown pathogenic agents transmitted in food and examines the methods that have been used to estimate that such agents cause 3,400 deaths per year in the United States, Volume 10, Number 9 (September 2004). http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol10no9/03-0403.htm * 2005 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Report The 13-member 2005 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee was appointed by the Departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture to assist the departments in providing sound and current dietary guidance to consumers. The "National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990," Pub. L. 101-445, Title III, 7 U.S.C. 5301 et seq., requires the Secretaries of HHS and USDA to publish the "Dietary Guidelines for Americans" at least every five years. During its first meeting on September 23-24, 2003, the Committee decided that the science has changed since the 2000 edition of "Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans" and further evaluation of the science was necessary. The Committee has finalized its recommendations and submitted its Report to the Secretaries of Departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture. This Report will serve as the basis for the sixth edition of "Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans" which HHS and USDA expect to publish in January 2005. http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/report/ * "Protect Your Baby and Yourself from Listeriosis:" New Factsheet from FSIS Pregnant women are at high risk for getting sick from "Listeria", harmful bacteria found in many foods. "Listeria" can lead to a disease called listeriosis. Listeriosis can cause miscarriage, premature delivery, serious sickness, or death of a newborn baby. If you are pregnant, you need to know what foods are safe to eat. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/Protect_Your_Baby/index.asp Spanish version: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Protect_Your_Baby_Spanish/ * Outbreak of Cyclosporiasis Associated with Snow Peas - Pennsylvania, 2004, CDC, "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report," September 17, 2004/53 (Early Release); 1-3. During June--July 2004, public health officials in Pennsylvania were notified of cases of the parasitic disease cyclosporiasis among persons associated with a residential facility (e.g., residents, staff, and volunteers). CDC confirmed the diagnosis of "Cyclospora cayetanensis" infection by examining stool specimens from multiple patients. This report describes the findings of the epidemiologic and traceback investigations, which determined the cases were linked to consumption of raw Guatemalan snow peas at five special events, for which food was prepared by the facility staff, from late May through late June. This is the first documented outbreak of cyclosporiasis linked to snow peas. FDA and CDC are working with Guatemalan officials to determine the sources of the snow peas and possible modes of contamination. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm53e917a1.htm * "The Food Safety Advisor Volunteer Handbook" Washington State University (WSU) and the University of Idaho have a master volunteer program related to food safety and food preservation, which is called the "Food Safety Advisor." When WSU originally developed the program about 30 years ago, it was called Master Food Preservers. About 10 years ago, the emphasis on food safety was expanded and the program was renamed Food Safety Advisors. Copies of the "Food Safety Advisor Volunteer Handbook" cost $20.00 and are available at: http://cru84.cahe.wsu.edu/cgi-bin/pubs/EM4895.html To order by phone: 1-800-723-1763 * Fight BAC!(R): Partnership for Food Safety Education >>>Food Safety Partnership Continues to Grow: Expanded Board and New Members Invigorate Fight Against Foodborne Illness The Partnership for Food Safety Education, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating Americans about safe food handling and preparation, recently announced an expanded Board of Directors and the addition of two new members. William Fisher, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for NSF International, has joined the Board of Directors, and the National Food Processors Association (NFPA) and the National Fisheries Institute (NFI) have joined the Partnership. http://www.fightbac.org >>>Congressional Food Safety Caucus Briefing On Tuesday, September 14, 2004, in the Rayburn House Office Building, members of the Partnership briefed members and staff of the Congressional Food Safety Caucus on the many educational resources available to their constituents, at no cost, through the user-friendly Web site for the Fight BAC!(R) campaign and through the Federal Agencies. Members of Congress were encouraged to take Fight BAC!(R) consumer-tested materials into their districts and communities to empower local BAC Fighters! to spread the word on safe food handling. Dr Georges Benjamin, Executive Director of the American Public Health Association, spoke to the dangers of foodborne illness as a public health matter, and emphasized the need to provide public health practitioners with the quality food safety education messages and materials available through the Fight BAC!(R) Campaign. >>>NSF Scrub Club(TM) Celebrates Clean Hands Week "NSF's new public awareness program, The NSF Scrub Club(TM) aims to help protect children from foodborne illnesses and infectious diseases by teaching kids about the importance of washing their hands the right way. The Scrub Club(TM) is a truly interactive, Web-based experience--complete with music, games and cartoon "webisodes," as well as seven fun characters that teach children about public health through educational story lines." "Our goal is to launch the NSF Scrub Club(TM) during National Clean Hands Week, which was held September 19-26, 2004," said Jerry Bowman, NSF director of communications. "Though we are focusing our efforts during this week, NSF and the Partnership for Food Safety Education will continue to promote the NSF Scrub Club(TM) throughout the school year-especially during the holiday season when food safety and disease prevention become more critical." "Schools, companies, and nonprofits all can play a critical role in helping protect children from disease simply by linking to: http://www.scrubclub.org For those organizations that would like to become more active in promoting hand washing through the Scrub Club concept, NSF can work with retailers on sponsorship opportunities that help promote this public health campaign in stores and throughout the community. It's a great way to help families live safer." >>>Are You a BAC Fighter? Do you Fight BAC!(R)? BAC Fighters teach that clean, separate, cook, and chill are the first line of defense in fighting foodborne illness at home, work, and school. They deliver these key Fight BAC!(R) campaign messages to community, State, and national audiences. Sign up to be a BAC Fighter TODAY and receive important information on food safety education research, tools, events, and program developments. Go to the Fight BAC!(R) Web site and click on "Register to be a BAC Fighter!" http://www.fightbac.org/main.cfm The Partnership for Food Safety Education wants to help BAC Fighters do their jobs by arming them with the latest in food safety education research, best practices, and other tools. As a BAC Fighter you will have access to an arsenal of materials and will be able to connect with other food safety advocates. Your contact information will be used only by the Partnership, and only to keep you informed with occasional emails on food safety education and research developments. Your information will not be shared in any way with other organizations.>>> Fight BAC!(R), REGISTER TODAY!<<< * 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. Travels for 2004 continue with a tightly packed schedule. October 2004 (Accepting requests for Arizona and Nevada) 7-10 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta(R), Albuquerque, NM 14-16 AARP's National Event and Expo, Las Vegas, NV 25 Elementary School, Las Vegas, NV 27 Elementary School, Las Vegas, NV November 2004 (Accepting requests for Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas) 4 Metropolitan Inner-Faith Association, Memphis, TN 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 * "Proper Care and Handling of Venison from Farm to Table" Time was when every deer hunter was taught how to butcher a deer, process the meat, and prepare a variety of tasty venison dishes. But these days, it seems like that vital information is not passed down. Penn State has prepared a pamphlet to advise hunters called "Proper Care and Handling of Venison: From Field to Table" that tells how to reduce the risk of foodborne illness by properly handling, processing, and preparing deer. This publication contains guidelines and helpful hints to help you make sure that your venison is safe to eat. http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/uk066.pdf * "FDA Consumer" Magazine The September-October 2004 issue of the "FDA Consumer" Magazine is now online at: http://www.fda.gov/fdac/504_toc.html Subscribe to FDA Consumer: http://www.fda.gov/fdac/orderform/fdap.html * "Free-Range" Chicken No Guarantee It's Free of "Salmonella" There is no discernible difference in "Salmonella" levels between free-range, organically produced poultry and conventionally produced birds, an Agricultural Research Service scientist has found. http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2004/040920.htm * New Food Consumption Data Released After several years of careful planning, new, integrated Federal nationwide food consumption data were launched on September 23, 2004 on the World Wide Web for public use. The Agricultural Research Service Food consumption survey, known as "What We Eat in America," has been integrated with the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2004/040923.htm * FDA and the National Alliance for Hispanic Health Reaffirm Their Commitment to Support Healthy and Informed Families FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), along with such other agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services as the National Institutes of Health and the Office of Minority Health, will be exhibiting and distributing bilingual food safety materials at a series of ten health fairs, held on Sundays in areas with large Hispanic populations. The principal goal of this initiative is to provide preventive, action-driven information to Latinos across the country. Read about CFSAN's objectives in its third year of participation in these fairs at: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2004/NEW01118.html * Speech by Lester M. Crawford, D.V.M., Ph.D., Acting Commissioner of FDA at the U.S. Vatican Mission's Conference On Feeding a Hungry World Lester M. Crawford, D.V.M., Ph.D., Acting Commissioner of FDA, spoke before the U.S. Vatican Mission's Conference on Feeding a Hungry World: The Moral Imperative of Biotechnology Rome, Italy on September 24, 2004. View entire speech at: http://www.fda.gov/oc/speeches/2004/vatican0924.html NEWS FROM THE USDA/FDA FOODBORNE ILLNESS EDUCATION INFORMATION CENTER * "Baby Jake Gets an Indian Name" To celebrate the opening of the new National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC, we'd like to tell you about a food safety curriculum for Native American school children and their families. "Baby Jake Gets an Indian Name," developed by Oregon State University Extension Service and University of Alaska Cooperative Extension Service, uses storytelling to convey food safety messages to students. The curriculum also includes a board game and materials for home visits with students' families. For ordering information, Contact Carolyn Raab from Oregon State University at: raabc@oregonstate.edu For more food safety information, visit the USDA/FDA Foodborne Illness Education Information Center's Web site at: http://www.nal.usda.gov/foodborne/ PEOPLE IN THE NEWS * Sheila Dearybury Walcoff Appointed Associate FDA Commissioner for External Relations On September 7, 2004, Dr. Lester M. Crawford, Acting Food and Drug Administration Commissioner announced the appointment of Sheila Dearybury Walcoff, Esq., as the new FDA Associate Commissioner for External Relations. Ms. Walcoff is an attorney with extensive legal, strategic, and legislative experience in FDA-related areas. As the new Associate Commissioner for External Relations, Ms. Walcoff will be a senior advisor to Dr. Crawford. She will supervise FDA's Office of Public Affairs, Office of the Ombudsman, Office of Special Health Issues, and the Advisory Committee Oversight and Management Staff. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2004/NEW01114.html INDUSTRY INFO * FSIS Issues Notice on Humane Handling Requirements On September 9, 2004, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, which vigorously enforces the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, published a notice encouraging establishments to use a systematic approach to ensure that they are meeting the requirements of the law during handling and slaughter. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_090904_01/index.asp * Availability of FSIS Form 10,240-1: "Production Information on Post-Lethality Exposed Ready-to-Eat Products" (Docket No. 04-014N) On September 22, 2004, FSIS announced the availability of FSIS Form 10,240-1, "Production Information on Post- Lethality Exposed Ready-to-Eat Products" in the "Federal Register". This form will be used to collect information about the ready-to-eat products produced by establishments. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FRPubs/04-014N.pdf 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. Web Page Addresses of the EdNet Federal Sponsors: - FDA/CFSAN: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/ - USDA/FSIS: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/ - CDC/NCID: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/ncid.htm +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Feedback (comments or suggestions on this issue) contact Peggy Barrow and Kathy Bernard Subscription problems, contact Diane Schmit LISTSERV commands (send all commands to LISTSERV@FOODSAFETY.GOV): - To subscribe, send "SUBSCRIBE EDNET-L YOUR NAME". - To unsubscribe, send "SIGNOFF EDNET-L". - To get the list of EdNet files available, send "INDEX EDNET-L". - For general LISTSERV commands, send "HELP" or "INFO REFCARD". +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++