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Script: Plant Profile Information |
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Intro:
Welcome to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service podcast. Each episode
will bring you cutting edge news and information about how FSIS is working to ensure public
health protection through food safety. While we’re on the job, you can rest assured that
your meat, poultry, and processed egg products are safe, wholesome, properly labeled,
and packaged correctly. So turn up your volume and listen in.
Host:
Hello and welcome. I’m Jeff White from FSIS. Today’s podcast is about the agency’s plans
to enhance its data infrastructure by creating a new, user-friendly, Web-based application
that will replace many of the agency’s current systems and automate many of its business
processes. Here with me to provide more information on these plans is Jennifer Webb.
Jennifer is a senior staff officer – Food Technologist in the Risk Management and Innovations
Division in the Office of Policy and Program Development (OPPD) in Washington, D.C. She
has been with FSIS for more than 11 years. During this time, she has worked on projects
that implemented Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point -- HACCP -- and E. coli O157:H7
sampling programs, and has conducted training classes for field inspectors.
Currently, she works on policy development and risk management. A food science graduate
of the University of Minnesota, she also holds a master’s degree in public policy and
management from the University of Maryland.
Jennifer, thanks for coming.
Guest:
I’m happy to be here, Jeff.
Host:
The Pathogen Reduction/HACCP Final Rule required meat and poultry establishments to implement
food safety systems intended to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
Establishments are required to use these systems to systematically prevent food safety
hazards rather than rely on FSIS inspectors to detect and correct problems after they
occur, correct?
Guest:
Yes, you are correct, Jeff.
Host:
That all sounds very proactive. Plant managers should have recently received a letter
from FSIS regarding these systems and this new, Web application. Can you provide more
details about the application?
Guest:
Sure. FSIS is developing the Public Health Information System or PHIS for short, as part
of an ongoing effort to improve its data infrastructure and to support a science-based,
data-driven food safety inspection system.
The new application will require an enhanced plant profile that will include a significant
amount of detail about each meat and poultry establishment’s food safety system, operations
and demographics.
Host:
So what does this mean for establishments?
Guest:
Well, in order to collect this additional information, FSIS has contracted with Dynamac
Corporation.
Dynamac employees will work with each Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) to collect the additional
plant profile information that is needed. Collection began in October 2009 and will continue
through September 2010.
Host:
Will the plant’s information remain confidential?
Guest:
Yes. Before Dynamac employees begin to collect information, they will have successfully
completed an FSIS identity verification and registration process.
They will also comply with identity verification requirements established by Congress
and managed by the Office of Personnel Management. In addition to the necessary clearances,
they will be required to sign a confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement.
Host:
Specifically, what information will the IIC and Dynamac employees be collecting?
Guest:
Inspection personnel will be assembling information such as HACCP plans and prerequisite
programs, logistical information about the establishment and other profile information
that is not currently in the FSIS Performance Based Inspection System.
The Dynamac employee will review the documents, extract the appropriate data, and then
record the data electronically. For a list of specific data fields to be completed, plant
managers should refer to the Plant Profile Information List attached to the letter they
should have received. The information is also available from the servicing district office.
Host:
Will Dynamac employees be removing any documents from establishments?
Guest:
Absolutely not.
Establishments should provide copies of their documents to inspection personnel to review
at the establishment to facilitate efforts, but neither inspectors nor Dynamac employees
may take possession of those documents.
IICs will return HACCP plans, prerequisite programs and other related documents to the
establishment as soon as possible after the data is recorded.
Host: Okay, well, thanks Jennifer for explaining that. Where can plant managers go if
they have questions or want more information?
Guest:
They can contact Murray Penner in the Labeling and Program Delivery Division at our Office
of Policy and Program Development, at 301-504-0879, or by e-mail at
murray.penner@fsis.usda.gov.
Plant managers may also get answers through askFSIS, a Web-based feature that’s available
24/7.
Simply go to the FSIS Web site, www.fsis.usda.gov, and click on the link: ask an inspection
related question. Questions and answers are posted and updated regularly.
Host:
Okay, great! That’s all the time we have for today. Thanks for coming by, Jennifer.
Guest:
It was my pleasure, Jeff.
Host:
Thank you all for listening, and remember, if you have any questions or ideas for a podcast,
please e-mail them to
podcast@fsis.usda.gov.
Outro:
Well, that’s all for this episode. We’d like your feedback on our podcast. Or if you
have ideas for future podcasts, send us an e-mail at
podcast@fsis.usda.gov. To learn more about food safety, try our web site at
www.fsis.usda.gov. Thanks for tuning
in.
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Last Modified: December 2, 2009 |
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