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FSIS Makes Method Revisions to Detect Non-O157 Shiga-toxin producing E. coli
The agency is revising its detection methods in the FSIS Microbiology Laboratory
Guidebook, Detection and Isolation of Non-O157 Shiga-Toxin Producing Escherichia
coli strains (STEC) from Meat Products, to expand laboratory testing for the
detection of additional strains of the six targeted serogroups.
While FSIS will post the new methods on the website, the most significant changes
will be the modification of the media used to grow the bacteria and a new set of
primers and probes.
Preparation instructions will be available at
www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/
Microbiological_Lab_Guidebook/index.asp. The effective date for the new
procedures will be early November.
Public Meeting to be Held for Microbial Risk Assessment Guideline Information
Since 2005, FSIS has worked with EPA and other federal government agencies to develop a
draft microbial risk assessment guideline. This guideline is intended to be a resource
to assist in initiating and preparing a microbial risk assessment when needed.
The draft document underwent interagency review and a 2 month public comment period
(ending on Sep. 26). The draft document will now be subject to an independent external
peer review in early November.
EPA has contracted a third party to facilitate the peer review, which will also be open
to the public. EPA will issue a Federal Register notice in the near future with complete
details of the external peer review process as well as details for a public meeting
scheduled for Nov. 7 in Washington, D.C.
Look to future issues of the FSIS Constituent Update for additional information.
USDA Agencies to Host Public Meeting to Discuss Pre-Harvest Pathogen Control Strategies
FSIS, in conjunction with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Agricultural
Research Service, is hosting a public meeting to seek input on pre-harvest pathogen control
strategies, such as Shiga-toxin producing E. coli and Salmonella, during the slaughter process.
The public meeting will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, at the Oklahoma
City Memorial Conference Center, 4700 River Rd., 1st floor, Riverdale, MD 20737. On-site registration
is available at 8 a.m., pre-registration is highly recommended. To pre-register and access meeting
documents, visit
www.fsis.usda.gov/News/Meetings_&_Events/.
Individuals are invited to submit comments electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
www.regulations.gov/ until Jan. 3, 2012. Comments may also be
mailed to U.S. Department of Agriculture, FSIS Docket Room, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Patriots
Plaza 3, Room 163A Mailstop 3782, Washington, DC 20250-3700. All submissions must include docket
number FSIS-2011-0023.
For details about the public meeting, go to
www.fsis.usda.gov/oppde/rdad/FRPubs
/2011-0023.pdf to review an advanced copy of the related Federal Register notice.
USDA and HHS Look to Reduce America's Sodium Intake
FSIS, FDA, the Agricultural Research Service, the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion and Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention will hold a public meeting to discuss sodium in foods on Nov. 10.
The meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at FDA’s White Oak Campus, The Great Room, Bldg. 31,
Room 1503, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20993.
The agencies are particularly interested in research that will help understand current and emerging practices
by industry in sodium reduction in foods. There is also an interest to understand current consumer thinking of
the role of sodium in personal health, sodium consumption practices, motivation and barriers in reducing sodium
in their food intake and issues associated with the development of targets for sodium reduction in foods.
For registration and meeting details, go to
http://events.SignUp4.net/FDA_Sodium_Reduction. Individuals must register by Nov. 3.
USDA Announces Webinars for Nutritional Labeling
FSIS is hosting a series of webinars to provide guidance on the upcoming rule on nutrition labeling of
single ingredient meat and poultry products and ground or chopped meat and poultry products, which will
take effect on Jan. 1, 2012. The second webinar of the series will be held on Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. ET.
Subsequent webinars will be held Nov. 8
and Dec. 13.
To access the webinars, log onto
https://connect16.uc.att.com/usda/meet/?
ExEventID=85277207 and follow the on-screen
instructions. For questions, contact Kristin Goodwin at (301) 504-0878 or
kristin.goodwin@fsis.usda.gov.
Register for Codex Public Meeting
The Office of Food Safety and the
Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Nutrition, Labeling and Dietary Supplements is holding
a public meeting to receive public comments and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the
33rd session of the Codex Alimentarius Committee on
Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU), to be held in Bad Soden am Taunus, Germany.
The public meeting will be held on Oct. 20, from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Harvey Wiley Bldg., FDA,
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition,
5100 Paint Branch Pkwy, Rm. 1A-003 College Park, MD. 20740.
Issues for discussion include:
- Draft guidelines for essential nutrients in foods;
- Proposed draft revisions of the Guidelines on Formulated Supplementary Foods for Older Infants
and Young Children; and
- Proposed draft amendment of the Standard for Processed Cereal-Based Foods for Infants and Young
Children to include a New Part B for Underweight Children.
Documents and agenda items related to the 33rd Session of the CCNFSDU are accessible at
www.codexalimentarius.net/current.asp. For general information,
contact Nancy Crane at (240) 402-1450 or
nancy.crane@fda.hhs.gov.
Written comments may be submitted by e-mail to U.S. Delegate Barbara Schneeman, Ph.D., at
ccnfsdu@fda.hhs.gov.
Comments should state that they relate to activities of the 33rd session of the CCNFSDU.
Updates on FSIS Testing for E. coli
Weekly updates for the agency's raw beef E. coli sampling program are posted to the FSIS website.
For comparative previous and current year results, go to
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/
Ground_Beef_E.Coli_Testing_Results/index.asp.
Export Requirement Updates
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements
for the following countries:
- European Union
- Switzerland
Complete information can be found at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Export_Information/index.asp.
FSIS Policy Update
FSIS issues notices and directives to protect public health. The following policy update was recently issued:
Directive 7120.1, Safe and Suitable Ingredient Used in the Production of Meat and Poultry and Egg Products
All notices and directives are available at
www.fsis.usda.gov/
Regulations_&_Policies/index.asp.
Visit USDA’s Blogbr>
Every day, the USDA Blog shares something new about USDA’s expansive mission. The blog provides a rich and diverse
look at the work within the department, spanning the nation–and even the world–and highlights the breadth of USDA
programs and the role they play in the lives of every American.
Go to http://blogs.usda.gov/ and see what’s happening within the agency and
across the department.
Follow Us on Twitter
Find food safety information for at-risk people, along with tips and resources to keep consumers and other interested
groups informed of the latest agency news and events. Follow FSIS on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/USDAFoodSafety.
Also Tweet En Espanõl
The FSIS Spanish language Twitter feed keeps consumers and other interested communities informed of the latest
agency news and events and provides useful food safety tips.
Follow FSIS’ Spanish Twitter account at www.twitter.com/usdafoodsafe_es.
USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline
Food safety experts are available year-round from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET to answer questions in English and Spanish
about safely preparing and cooking foods.
The toll-free number is 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854). Recorded messages are available 24 hours a day.
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Last Modified:
October 14, 2011 |
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