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USDA Web Portal Offers Big Food Safety Benefits For Small Food Processors
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FSIS: Amanda Eamich, (202) 720-9113
ARS: Laura McGinnis, (301) 504-1654
WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept.19, 2007 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture has unveiled a new
Internet resource to help smaller companies answer food safety questions and help food processors make
science-based food production decisions. The portal, available at http://www.ars.usda.gov/naa/errc/mfsru/portal,
is one of the most comprehensive decision support tools available.
"Scientists, food safety risk managers, researchers and government decision-makers can use this access to
predictive modeling tools and food microbiology information," said Agricultural Research Service
Administrator Edward B. Knipling. "The portal is geared towards small and very small processors, but
the information it contains will benefit companies of all sizes."
"This partnership builds on our extensive efforts to provide more resources and better tools to the small
and very small plants so they can enhance the safety of their products," said Al Almanza, Administrator
of USDA's food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
The Predictive Microbiology Information Portal (PMIP) was developed
by scientists with USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) at Wyndmoor, Penn., working with colleagues at
USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), Rutgers University, and Decisionalysis Risk Consultants,
Inc., in Canada. FSIS will also provide a link to the portal to facilitate access by the meat and poultry
industry, especially small and very small plants.
PMIP focuses on processors with 500 or fewer employees, but the information it contains can benefit companies
of all sizes. ARS microbiologist Vijay K. Juneja and his ARS and FSIS colleagues met with many industry
members to tailor the Web portal to their diverse needs in providing safe and wholesome products to consumers.
Currently, PMIP offers information on research, regulations and resources related to Listeria monocytogenes
in ready-to-eat foods, the prototype identified for the project by FSIS. In the coming months, it will be
expanded to include other pathogen and food combinations. A searchable database allows users to find
information that can also be used by food processors to develop plans for Hazard Analysis and Critical
Control Point, to ensure the safety of food processes.
The Web portal also includes a tutorial section with instructions on using and interpreting predictive
models and links users directly to the ARS Pathogen Modeling Program and ComBase. The Pathogen Modeling
Program is a multi-lingual modeling tool that is used by food processing companies around the world.
ComBase is an international relational database of predictive microbiology information that contains more than
30,000 datasets describing the growth, survival and inactivation of bacteria under diverse environments
relevant to food processing operations.
ARS is USDA's chief intramural scientific research agency. FSIS is USDA's public health agency responsible
for ensuring that meat, poultry and egg products are safe, wholesome and correctly labeled. FSIS provided
funding for the collaborative project.
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Last Modified:
September 19, 2007 |
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