 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Food Safety Information Soon to be Available on YouTube
FSIS received USDA approval to post on YouTube and starting July 31.
The YouTube USDA Food Safety Channel will house food safety videos in English, Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL).
This resource will be used to educate consumers on ways to prevent foodborne illness and provide tips
and information about food handling and storage, including the safe preparation of meat, poultry,
and processed egg products.
Videos in ASL and Spanish will allow FSIS to reach a more diverse audience.
Go to http://www.youtube.com/user/USDAFoodSafety
and check out the YouTube USDA Food Safety Channel.
Ask Karen Goes Google for Gadget
Ask Karen Google gadget is an interactive mini-application that has been added to the Google gallery
of already pre-built gadgets. It can be added to your personal Google desktop or easily customized
and embedded into any Web site. This feature is now available to the millions of Google users worldwide.
Locate the Ask Karen gadget by searching "Google Gadgets For Your Web Page"
http://www.google.com/ig/directory?synd=open&q=ask+karen.
Share this gadget with your friends. Once you add it to your Google desktop, don't forget to vote for it and leave a comment.
Register for Web Outreach Seminars
To promote a uniform understanding of FSIS regulations, the agency launched a six part series of Web
outreach seminars as a resource to plant owners and operators — especially those of small a
nd very small plants.
On Aug. 19, the agency will host the second seminar, Using In-Plant Records to Improve Establishments'
Food Safety Systems.
This Web seminar will focus on monitoring an active data analysis system to recognize trends that
could indicate a change in food safety or risk.
Three 90-minute sessions will be offered that day via net conferencing to accommodate plant
owners and operators nationwide of the following times:
- 11 a.m. ET
- 2 p.m. ET
- 5 p.m. ET
To register for this seminar, go to
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/
Regulatory_Web_Seminars/index.asp.
E-mail questions about upcoming outreach seminars to FSIS.Seminars@fsis.usda.gov.
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 www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Export_Information/index.asp.
New Podcasts for Consumers
Tune in and subscribe to podcasts on the selecting, handling and preparing of meat and poultry
products to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
This week, FSIS released podcasts helpful to consumers.
- Food Safety at Home: Be Food Safe Clean & Be Food Safe Cook (Spanish)
Check out these new Spanish-language consumer podcasts at www.fsis.usda.gov/En_Espanol/
Podcasts_SP/index.asp.
Meat and Poultry Inspection Seminars Designed for International Government Officials
The agency will host the second of three meat and poultry inspection seminars for international officials
in Puerto Rico, from Aug. 10 to 21.
The seminars will familiarize international government officials with U.S. inspection regulations and
procedures used by USDA to ensure the nation's meat, poultry and egg products are safe, wholesome and
properly labeled.
Seminars will cover issues from farm to table, including the hazard analysis and critical control
point/pathogen reduction (HACCP/PR) rule, animal production, import and export procedures and the
roles of the FDA and state and local inspection agencies.
The session, to be held at the River Inn Training Facility in Washington, D.C., will focus on
verification and enforcement of HACCP/PR regulations.
For more information, visit http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/
2009_Meat_&_Poultry_Inspection_Seminars/index.asp.
Updates on FSIS Testing for E. coli O157:H7
Weekly updates for the agency's raw beef E. coli sampling program are posted to the FSIS Web site.
For comparative 2008 and 2009 results, go to
www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/
Ground_Beef_E.Coli_Testing_Results/index.asp.
FSIS Collaborates to Host Conference on Prevention of E. coli O157:H7
FSIS' Office of Outreach, Employee Education and Training is partnering with the North American Meat
Processors Association to host a conference on the prevention of E. coli O157:H7 on Aug. 18 and 19 in Chicago.
The conference will bring together experts from academia, government and industry to discuss requirements,
options and technologies to control E. coli O157:H7.
Discussions will include information for producers of ground, blade-tenderized, marinated and injected
products in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
For more information about the conference, go to http://www.namp.com/images/namp/
2009newformatEColi_Update.pdf.
USDA to Host 2010 Food Safety Education Conference
USDA and NSF International are hosting the Food Safety Education Conference, Advancements in Food Safety:
Trends, Tools and Technologies, March 23-26, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta.
Food safety educators and other professionals worldwide will have the opportunity to discover the latest
advancements in food safety education, including trends, tools and technologies.
For more information, visit http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Atlanta2010.
USDA and HHS Announce New Steps to Better Control Pathogens in Food
The USDA and Department of Health and Human Services are taking new steps to protect consumers from
pathogens causing foodborne illnesses.
FSIS will begin conducting routine sampling of bench trim, or leftover pieces of steak and other cuts
used to make ground beef. This builds on previous measures FSIS has taken to ensure meat is safe, such as the
E. coli O157:H7 testing on ground beef. FSIS will also issue streamlined, consolidated
instructions to its personnel for inspection, sampling and other actions to reduce E. coli O157:H7 in beef.
"Making prevention a priority is critical and is one of the three food safety principles of the
President and the Food Safety Working Group," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
These key actions were included in the Key Findings of the President's Food Safety Working Group issued
on July 7. President Obama created the group on March 14, to foster coordination of food safety efforts
throughout the government and ensure laws are being adequately enforced to keep the American people safe
from foodborne illness. The FSWG is co-chaired by USDA Secretary Vilsack and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
Directive 10, 010.1, Revision 2- Verification Activities for E. coli O157:H7 in Raw Beef Products, can
be viewed at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
10000_Series-Laboratory_Services/index.asp.
Notice 51-09, Routine Sampling and Testing of Beef and Manufacturing Trimmings Derived From Cattle Not Slaughtered in That Establishment (Bench Trim) for E. coli O157:H7,
can be viewed at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/
FSIS_Notices_Index/index.asp.
New Policy Updates
FSIS issues notices and directives to protect public health. The following policy updates were recently issued:
- Directive 10,010.1, Revision 2 - Verification Activities for E. coli O157:H7 in Raw Beef Products
- Notice 51-09, Routine Sampling and Testing of Beef and Manufacturing Trimmings Derived From Cattle Not Slaughtered in That Establishment (Bench Trim) for E. coli O157:H7
All directives and notices are available at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/
regulations_directives_&_notices/index.asp.
|
Last Modified:
July 31, 2009 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
To view PDF files you must have Adobe Reader installed on your computer.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
