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Declare Independence from Foodborne Illness this Fourth of July
When celebrating our nation's independence this Fourth of July, FSIS reminds Americans that proper food handling practices can
prevent their "Life, Liberty and pursuit of Happiness" from being threatened by foodborne illness.
The warm temperatures that draw crowds of people to outdoor celebrations also encourage the growth of bacteria, and incidents of
food-related illnesses rise in summer months. But four simple steps—Clean, Separate, Cook and Chill—can help families
declare freedom from foodborne illness at Independence Day celebrations.
In time for the holiday, FSIS has created a new infographic in partnership with the CDC, FDA and the Ad Council featuring food safety
tips from the Founding Fathers. The infographic, fact sheets, videos and podcasts about safe food handling and preparation in warmer
months can be found on FSIS' "Grill It Safe" webpage at www.fsis.usda.gov/Food_Safety_Education/Grill_It_Safe.
This seasonal food safety outreach is part of a multi-faceted USDA initiative to prevent foodborne illness. It is the first joint
public service campaign to empower families to further reduce their risk of foodborne illness at home by checking their key food
safety steps: clean, separate, cook and chill. For more information, go to www.foodsafety.gov.
Updates on FSIS Testing for E. coli
Results of laboratory testing for raw ground beef and raw ground beef components for the week of June 25 are unavailable on the FSIS
website to allow for system updates. Had the information been updated on the FSIS website, it would have shown one positive from raw
ground beef and one positive from imported raw ground beef components. Information from previous samples may still be found at
www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/
Ground_Beef_E.coli_Testing_Results/index.asp.
Spanish-Language Virtual Expert Answers Food Safety Questions on Your Smartphone
A new Spanish-language food safety app is available to consumers around the clock on their mobile devices. "Mobile Pregúntele a
Karen" is the Spanish-language version of Mobile Ask Karen, the virtual expert who answers Smartphone users' questions about properly
handling, storing and preparing food to prevent illness. The English version of Mobile Ask Karen was launched in May 2011.
"Expanding our food safety information to multiple languages means we are reaching a wider audience and preventing more foodborne
illness," said USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Elisabeth Hagen. "As consumers become familiar with these user-friendly
mobile applications, they will develop good food safety habits and have instant access to reliable food safety information."
The Pregúntele a Karen website has been available from desktop browsers since September 2010. However, FSIS recognized that consumers
often need answers to questions like, "To what temperature should I cook steak?" or, "How can I keep food safe
outdoors?" when they are not able to access a computer. The new mobile format now allows people to take the food safety information
"Karen" provides in Spanish with them to the barbecue grill, farmers market, grocery store and kitchen.
Both Mobile Pregúntele a Karen, which is optimized for iOS and Android devices, and the desktop-based Pregúntele a Karen are available
24 hours a day at m.PregunteleaKaren.gov or www.PregunteleaKaren.gov.
Consumers can also email, chat with a live representative, or call USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline directly from the app. To use these
features on the app, simply choose "Contact Us" from the menu. The live chat option and the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry
Hotline, 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854), are available in Spanish and English from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.
Export Requirement Updates
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements for the following countries:
Complete information can be found at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Export_Information/index.asp.
USDA Offers Food Safety Tips in Advance of This Season's Hurricanes
FSIS is urging residents of coastal states to plan ahead this hurricane season and minimize the potential for foodborne illness
in the event of power outages, flooding and other problems that could be associated with weather emergencies.
"As you prepare your home for hurricane season, remember to protect food from being exposed to contaminated water or unsafe
storage temperatures in a power outage," USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Elisabeth Hagen said. "When it comes to
emergencies of any kind, planning ahead is always the best strategy to help reduce the risk of foodborne illness."
FSIS encourages those living in coastal areas to be prepared, particularly when it comes to ensuring access to safe food and water
after weather emergencies. Families should have an emergency plan in place that includes food and water safety precautions.
The publication "A Consumer's Guide to Food Safety: Severe Storms and Hurricanes" is available at
www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/
Severe_Storms_and_Hurricanes_Guide.pdf
to print and keep for reference during a power outage.
FSIS Policy Updates
FSIS issues notices and directives to protect public health. All notices and directives are available at
www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/index.asp. The following policy updates
were recently issued:
- Notice 43-12, Using the Kidney Inhibition Swab (KIS™) Test to Detect Antimicrobial Drug Residues in All Livestock in Slaughter Establishments - Phase IV
- Notice 44-12, Level of In-Plant Targeted Testing for Chemical Residues
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Last Modified:
July 2, 2012 |
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