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FSIS Contractor to Collect Enhanced Plant Profile Information for Public Health Information System
In an ongoing effort to support a science-based, data-driven food safety inspection system, FSIS is developing the Public
Health Information System (PHIS). PHIS will be a user-friendly, Web-based application that will replace many of the Agency's
current systems and automate many business processes.
One component of PHIS is predictive analytics. This function will support a data-driven approach to inspection, auditing
and sampling by monitoring data from FSIS domestic and international inspection activities in real time to provide alerts and
tailor future inspection activities to previous inspection findings and establishment characteristics.
As part of the data-driven approach the predictive analytics function of PHIS will utilize enhanced establishment profile
data which will include a significant amount of detail about each establishment's food safety systems, operations and demographics.
In order to collect this data and maximize the time for inspection personnel to focus on more immediate in-plant verification activities,
FSIS has contracted Dynamac Corporation. Dynamac employees will be working with each Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) to collect additional
plant profile information needed for PHIS.
This pilot is scheduled to begin early in January 2009 with approximately 50 establishments through the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area.
Dynamac will be contacting IICs to schedule meetings to begin recording the data. IICs and establishments involved in the test will receive
letters providing more detailed instructions.
Following the pilot, the effort will continue in two phases starting in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania during 2009, and then expand
out to the rest of the country in 2010. FSIS chose Pittsburgh for the test because it represents a good cross-section of establishment
types and sizes within easy commuting distance.
Before Dynamac employees begin to collect information, they will have successfully completed an FSIS identity proofing and
registration process. They will also need to comply with identity proofing requirements established by Congress and managed by the
Office of Personnel Management. In addition to obtaining the necessary clearances, Dynamac employees will be required to sign a
confidentiality and non-disclosure statement.
Additional information will be provided in upcoming FSIS publications as well as Agency podcasts. For more information, contact Murray Penner,
Labeling and Program Delivery Division, Office of Policy and Program Development at (202) 205-0623 or
murray.penner@fsis.usda.gov.
USDA Hosts Codex Public Meeting on Fats and Oils
USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services' Food and Drug Administration announced
a public meeting to discuss information and receive public comments on agenda items to draft U.S. positions that will be discussed
at the 21st Session of the Codex Committee on Fats and Oils (CCFO) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, to be held in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
The public meeting will be held on Monday, January 26, 2009 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the back conference area of the South Agricultural Building's
cafeteria located at 1400 Independence Avenue S.W., Washington, D.C.
Documents and agenda items related to the 21st Session of the CCFO will be accessible at the Codex Web site at www.codexalimentarius.net/current.asp.
For further information about the public meeting, contact Syed Ali at (202) 205-7760 or Syed.Ali@fsis.usda.gov.
Export Requirement Updates
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements for the following:
- French Polynesia (Tahiti)
- Republic of Korea
Complete information can be found at www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Export_Information/index.asp.
FSIS Updates E. coli O157:H7 Reports
FSIS has updated Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 testing data to include information through December 16, 2008.
Beginning in January 2009, testing results for E. coli O157:H7 will be posted on the Agency's Web site instead of FSIS'
Constituent Update. Visit www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/
ground_beef_e.Coli_Testing_results/index.asp to review weekly updates on FSIS testing on E. coli O157:H7.
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| Results
from Analysis of Raw Ground Beef and Raw Ground Beef Component Samples for E. coli
O157:H7 |
| Raw Ground Beef |
| Source |
As of Dec 16, 2007 |
As of Dec 14, 2008 |
No.
Ana- lyzed |
No. Positive |
Percent Positive |
No.
Ana- lyzed
|
No. Positive |
Percent Positive |
Federal
Plants |
11,661 |
27 |
0.23 |
10,915 |
52 |
0.48 |
| Retail Stores |
182 |
0 |
0.00 |
355 |
0 |
0.00 |
| Imports |
62 |
0 |
0.00 |
38 |
1 |
2.63 |
| Raw Ground Beef Components |
| Source |
As of Dec 16, 2007 |
As of Dec 14, 2008 |
No.
Ana- lyzed |
No. Positive |
Percent Positive |
No.
Ana- lyzed
|
No. Positive |
Percent Positive |
Federal
Plants |
885 |
3 |
0.34 |
2,242 |
18 |
0.80 |
| Imports |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
499 |
3 |
0.60 |
| The above information is based upon data in the FSIS electronic data system as of
December 16, 2008. Results are from FSIS routine and follow-up sampling programs. |
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Individual positive results from the Raw Ground Beef sampling programs for 2008 are also reported on the FSIS Web site at
www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/
2008_Ecoli_Positive_Results/index.asp.
FSIS Offers "How to" Workshops for Small and Very Small Plants
In 2006, FSIS' Center for Learning regional trainers gathered in College Station, Texas, to prepare for their role in
conducting regulatory educational seminars to support the Agency's small and very small plant outreach initiative.
Since then, the Agency has hosted various outreach sessions to review basic regulatory principles with small and very small
plant owners and operators and to provide them with information to enhance the design and implementation of their food safety systems.
Topics have included FSIS' Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point, rules of practice,
food defense strategies, E. coli 0157:H7, and FSIS Notices 65-07, 66-07 and 68-07.
Starting January 2009, FSIS will hold a series of "how to" workshops to provide practical tools and methods for
proper application and compliance. These outreach workshops will cover various information such as developing controls for
Salmonella and Campylobacter, establishing effective sanitation practices, developing food defense plans,
ensuring humane handling of livestock and conducting product recalls.
Look to future issues of FSIS' Constituent Update for workshop dates and registration details.
FSIS Offices in Omaha Have a New Address
Recently, the Agency relocated its Omaha offices formally at the Landmark Center to the Edward Zorinsky Federal Building.
Phone numbers and other contact information such as email at the new location will remain the same. However, all mail should be forwarded
to 1616 Capital Avenue, Room 260, Omaha, Nebraska, 68102-5908.
Omaha units of FSIS from the following program areas will be affected:
- Office of Policy and Program Development's Policy Development Division (formerly the Technical Service Center);
- Office of Program Evaluation, Enforcement and Review; and
- Office of Public Health Science.
Use askFSIS, if you want to ask about inspection, exporting or labeling procedures: http://askfsis.custhelp.com
FSIS Posts Second Quarterly Progress Report on Salmonella Testing of Raw Meat and Poultry Products
On December 19, FSIS posted to its Web site the 2008 second quarterly progress report which provides preliminary data on Salmonella
testing results of selected raw meat and poultry products.
In this report, FSIS is announcing several changes to how the Agency will be providing future aggregate data on the Salmonella
verification testing program.
Beginning with this report, establishments will be placed in Category 1, 2 or 3 only after completing two Salmonella sets. In addition,
establishments having a current Salmonella set at or below 50% of the performance standard or guidance for their product class
but a prior set in Category 2 or 3 will be identified as 2T (defined as a Category 2 plant that is in transition to Category 1). In this manner,
FSIS is acknowledging those establishments working to achieve consistent process controls. These changes will align the quarterly reports
with the monthly posting of names of broiler establishments in category 2 and 3.
The Agency will also lower the number of acceptable positives for Category 1 status in those product classes that have an odd number of
acceptable positives to meet the performance standard or guidance. This will affect three product classes: turkey, ground beef and ground turkey.
FSIS recognizes that an establishment with highly consistent process control should strive to operate over time at a relatively low level
of Salmonella positive samples if it is to maintain its category 1 status. The Agency views this more stringent policy
(i.e., rounding down) as a necessary and important incentive to improve performance in controlling Salmonella.
FSIS has also removed approximately 1,000 very low volume producing ground beef (<1,000 pounds/day) establishments from the
traditional set-based Salmonella verification testing program and is sampling these establishments for Salmonella
when these establishments are also tested for E coli O157: H7. The Agency can better allocate testing resources towards
higher risk (e.g. higher volume) establishments.
The quarterly report is available on FSIS' Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/Quarterly_Salmonella_Results/
index.asp.
FSIS Issues New Notices
FSIS issues notices to enhance the Agency's efforts in protecting public health. The following notices were published this week:
- Notice 98-08, Thermally Processed Commercially Sterile Canned Foods Equipment Survey; and
- Notice 99-08, Reiteration of Policy Regarding the Removal of Lingual and Palatine Tonsils from Beef Tongues and Beef Market Heads.
To view all notices, visit www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
FSIS_Notices_Index/index.asp.
Clean, Separate, Cook and Chill
- Clean: When preparing food, wash hands and surfaces often.
- Separate: Don't cross-contaminate.
- Cook: Cook food to a safe minimum internal temperature as checked with a food thermometer.
- Chill: Promptly refrigerate or freeze leftovers.
For more helpful tips to prepare a safe holiday meal, go to www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/
Focus_On_Holiday_or_Party_Buffets/index.asp.
FSIS Discontinues Technical and Policy Questions Electronic Mailboxes
This week, the Agency issued Notice 07-08 titled Using askFSIS, announcing its intent to discontinue service to the
techcenter@fsis.usda.gov and FSIS.labeling@fsis.usda.gov mailboxes.
In its place, FSIS encourages the use of askFSIS, a user-friendly tool to assist with technical and policy-related questions
24 hours a day.
This resource is an interactive tool that will allow users to find answers, submit new questions, track responses and request
notification of updates.
If users want to ask about inspection, exporting or labeling procedures - askFSIS is available. For more details about this
feature, visit http://askfsis.custhelp.com or send an e-mail to
askFSIS@fsis.usda.gov.
Ask Karen
Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov.
USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline
Food safety experts are available year-round from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time 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 also available 24 hours a day.
The FSIS Constituent Update will not publish December 26 or January 2, and will resume publishing on January 11. The staff wishes you a happy holiday and healthy New Year.
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Last Modified:
December 19, 2008 |
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