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Handling the Largest Meat Recall in U.S. History
On Sunday February 17, Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company located in Chino, Calif., voluntarily recalled approximately
143 million pounds of raw and frozen beef products covering a two year period of production.
The Hallmark/Westland recall was designated as a Class II recall due to the remote probability that the recalled beef would cause
adverse health effects if consumed.
A video released by the Humane Society of the United States on January 30, 2008, prompted an investigation of Hallmark/Westland
Meat Packing Company. USDA immediately placed an administrative hold on all the plant's products because of potential violations
of regulatory requirements and contractual terms as a supplier of products to the Federal food and nutrition programs.
In addition, the plant was indefinitely suspended from being an eligible participant to Federal food and nutrition programs,
specifically the National School Lunch Program, the Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.
Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Richard Raymond then announced
on February 4, that FSIS was suspending inspection due to "the
establishment's clear violation of Federal regulations and the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act."
As a result of the ongoing investigation, the Agency determined on February 17 these products to be unfit for human consumption because
the establishment did not consistently contact FSIS public health veterinarians in situations in which cattle became non-ambulatory
after passing ante-mortem inspection.
The plant was in clear violation of FSIS' July 2007, final rule,
titled Prohibition of the Use of Specified Risk Materials for
Human Food and Requirements for the Disposition of Non-Ambulatory Disabled Cattle.
This rule requires that a case by case disposition must be made by an FSIS Public Health Veterinarian for every animal that becomes
non-ambulatory disabled ("downer") after passing ante-mortem inspection.
"The prohibition of non-ambulatory cattle from entering the food supply is an additional safeguard against bovine spongiform
encephalopathy (BSE)," said Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer in a statement on February 17.
In fact it's only one measure in an interlocking system of controls the federal government has in place to protect the food supply from BSE.
"It's extremely unlikely that the animals at the Hallmark/Westland plant were at risk for BSE because of these multiple safeguards,"
added Schafer. "However, the recall is necessary because plant procedures violated USDA regulations."
FSIS is assisting USDA's Office of Inspector General in the violations at the plant. "We maintain an inspection system that
safeguards the safety and wholesomeness of our food supply," said Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Richard Raymond.
"We will respond immediately if further findings warrant."
For more information and the latest developments about this recall and USDA actions, go to www.usda.gov/actions.
NACMCF Subcommittee to Hold Public Meeting
The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) will
hold public hearings on March 4 and March 5 from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm and March 6 from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm at the Aerospace Building,
901 D St., SW, Room 369, Washington, D.C.
NACMCF's Subcommittee on Determination of the Most Appropriate Technologies for FSIS to Adopt in Performing Routine and Baseline
Microbiological Analyses will discuss and develop guidance and recommendations for FSIS to consider on improving laboratory and
in-plant testing methods for pathogens and indicator organisms.
NACMCF was established in 1988 to provide scientific advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of
Health and Human Services on public issues related to the safety and wholesomeness of the U.S. food supply. These issues include the
development of microbiological criteria, review and evaluation of epidemiological and risk assessment data, and methodologies
for assessing microbiological hazards in foods.
The committee also provides scientific advice and recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Departments
of Commerce and Defense.
To attend these meetings contact Karen Thomas-Sharp, advisory committee specialist, by phone at (202) 690-6620, or by email at:
karen.thomas-sharp@fsis.usda.gov.
Agency to Host Workshop for Small and Very Small Plants
FSIS will hold a regulatory education workshop in Denver, Colo. on March 5 as part of the Agency's ongoing initiative to enhance outreach
to small and very small plants.
These workshops will cover prerequisite programs and the following notices:
- 65-07, Notice of Reassessment for Escherichia coli O157:H7 Control and Completion of a Checklist for All Beef Operations;
- 66-07, Multiple Follow-Up Sampling After FSIS Positive Escherichia coli O157:H7 Results; and
- 68-07, Routine Sampling and Testing of Raw Ground Beef Components Other Than Trim and Imported Raw Ground Beef Components for Escherichia coli O157:H7.
The regulatory education session will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Four Points by Sheraton Denver Southeast, 6363 E. Hampton Ave.,
Denver, Colo.
To register by phone, call (800) 336-3747. Online registration forms and information about upcoming sessions can be found at
www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/
Outreach_Sessions_SVS_Plants/index.asp.
USDA and HHS to Hold Public Meeting on Codex
USDA's Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety and the Department of Health and Human Services' Food and Drug Administration will
hold a public meeting on February 28.
The purpose of this meeting is to provide information and receive comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at
the 29th Session of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling
(CCMAS), scheduled for March 10-14 in Budapest, Hungary.
The public meeting will be held from 2 to 3 p.m., in Room 1A001, Harvey Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, Md.
The related Federal Register notice can be found at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FRPubs/2008-0001.htm |
PDF.
Agenda items and documents relating to the 29th Session of CCMAS will be available on the Codex Alimentarius Web site at
www.codexalimentarius.net/current.asp.
Persons requiring a sign language interpreter or other special accommodations for the public meeting should notify Syed Ali, international
issues analyst, U.S. Codex Office, at (202) 205-7760 or by e-mail at
syed.ali@fsis.usda.gov.
FSIS Amends Directive for Suitable Ingredients in Meat and Poultry Products
FSIS amended Directive 7120.1, Safe and Suitable Ingredients Used in the Production of Meat and Poultry Products on February 20.
This directive identifies the substances that have been approved in the Code of Federal Regulations for use in meat and poultry products
as food additives, in generally recognized as safe notices, pre-market notifications and in letters conveying acceptability determinations.
FSIS will continue to issue updates to the list as needed.
For further policy information regarding the substances, contact FSIS' Labeling and Program Delivery Division at (202) 205-0279.
This directive can be viewed on FSIS' Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
7000_Series-Processed_Products/index.asp.
Export Requirement Updates
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements for the following:
- Chile,
- Japan,
- Mexico,
- People's Republic of China, and
- Taiwan.
Complete information can be found at www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Export_Information/index.asp.
Don't Forget to Register!
A regulatory education seminar will be held on February 25 from 10 to 11 a.m. EST and from 6 to 7 p.m. EST.
This web seminar will cover a variety of technical topics concerning FSIS policies to control E. coli 0157:H7 in beef products,
including the FSIS checklist, FSIS' enhanced risk-based sampling program, and industry best practices.
To register by phone, call (800) 336-3747 or e-mail questions to netmeetingseminars@fsis.usda.gov.
Information about upcoming Web seminars can be found at www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/
Regulatory_Web_Seminars/index.asp.
Food Safety Resources
Keeping good records is an important part of a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system.
The HACCP - Plan Implementation and Records Management video was developed by Ohio State University through a cooperative
agreement with FSIS.
The video and accompanying manual provide examples of critical control points (CCPs), plus how to do verification procedures,
pre-shipment reviews, as well as and how to manage the records that will be generated from CCPs.
To request this item or any other food safety resource, fax the order form found on FSIS' Food Safety Resources Brochure for
Small and Very Small Plants (PDF) to (202) 690-6519, or complete an online version of the form and send it to
FoodSafetyResources@fsis.usda.gov.
The online form can be found at www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/
HACCP_Resources_Order_Form/index.asp.
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Last Modified:
February 22, 2008 |
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