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FSIS Testing Results for Melamine in Retail Meat and Poultry Products
In response to public health concerns regarding contamination of imported milk-derived food
ingredients in FDA-regulated products, FSIS tested certain meat and poultry products for the
presence of melamine.
The Agency tested products that contain milk and milk-derived ingredients, including baby
food, cooked sausages, breaded chicken, meatballs and dough items, such as stuffed
sandwiches and snacks wrapped in dough.
No meat or poultry products tested by FSIS for the presence of melamine posed a human health risk.
FDA established this level at 2.5 parts per million (ppm) for food products and 1.0 ppm for infant formula.
Of the 539 samples tested for melamine, collected nationwide from the week of December 15, 2008,
until March 24, 2009, 531, or 98.5 percent, were negative. The remaining eight positive samples
had detectable melamine concentrations well below the level of public health concern, ranging from
0.013 ppm to 0.256 ppm.
The complete report of FSIS testing results for melamine in retail meat and poultry products, including
information on sampling methodology, can be found on the FSIS Web site at
www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/
Testing_Results_Melamine_May2009.pdf.
FSIS to Host Public Meeting on Interagency Risk Assessment for Listeria monocytogenes
FSIS is co-sponsoring a public meeting with the Department of Health and Human Service's
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on June 23,
from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., to present background, approach, scope and data needs for a recently
initiated interagency risk assessment of the public health impact of foodborne Listeria monocytogenes
(Lm) in some ready-to-eat foods that are sliced, prepared or packaged in retail facilities.
The purpose of this meeting is to ascertain the effect on public health where current practices and
potential interventions reduce or prevent Lm contamination in ready-to-eat foods. FSIS and FDA are
inviting interested individuals, organizations and other stakeholders to participate in the meeting
and comment on this topic.
The meeting will be held at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel, 480 L'Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington, D.C.
More information, including the agenda, will be in future issues of the Constituent Update.
Committee on the Use of Public Health Data in FSIS Food Safety Programs Holds Second Meeting
On June 3, the standing committee for the Use of Public Health Data in FSIS Food Safety Programs
will hold its second bi-annual meeting to review FSIS data analyses and risk-based approaches
for food inspection.
Since September 2008, the Agency has worked with the National Academies of Science for independent
scientific reviews consistent with recommendations made by the Office of the Inspector General and
other stakeholders.
The committee will discuss the findings of three completed studies for FSIS about public health
decision criteria, risk-based surveillance of in-commerce activities and the proposed approach
for public-health attribution.
Agency officials will also brief the committee to initiate a fourth study examining FSIS' proposed
risk-based approach to in-commerce follow-up surveillance. That study will be completed in fall 2009.
The meeting will be held at the Keck Center of the National Academies, 500 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 101,
Washington, D.C. Contact Ruthie Arieti at (202) 344-2856 or
http://dels.nas.edu/banr/fsis_mtg2.shtml
for more information and registration details.
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.
Get Answers at AskFSIS
AskFSIS is searchable by visitors and designed to help answer policy-related questions on topics such as
exporting, labeling and inspection, programs and procedures. Visit http://askfsis.custhelp.com
to find the answers to your questions.
Recently Posted Questions and Answers
- Directive 6100.1, Revision 1, Disposition of Non-ambulatory Disabled Bovine
- Directive 6100.1, Revision 1, Handling of U.S. Condemned Non-ambulatory Disabled Bovine
- Directive 6100.1, Revision 1, Holding and Treatment of U.S. Condemned Non-ambulatory Disabled Bovine
- Directive 6100.1, Revision 1, Are U.S. Condemned Dispositions Reversible?
- Directive 6100.1, Revision 1, Can Disposition of Animals Subject to Disposition be Postponed?
- Effect of Final Intervention on Salmonella Verification Sample Collection
FSIS Extends Outreach with Educational Meetings on Enhanced Enforcement of Imported Products
The Agency will conduct educational meetings in June regarding the recently enhanced enforcement program for
imported products containing small amounts of meat or poultry ingredients.
FSIS is enhancing its programs to ensure approved source requirements are met and to achieve the sanitary
processing and prevention of intentional or non-intentional contamination.
Affected industry organizations, importers and manufacturers of food products containing small amounts
of meat or poultry ingredients will learn what will be required for these products to enter the United
States after June 22.
For more information and to register, contact the Office of Outreach, Employee Education and Training at
1-800-336-3747.
Also, be sure to check the "Meetings and Events" page of FSIS' Web site at
www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/
Meetings_&_Events/index.asp for more updates.
June 5
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
USDA's South Building
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C.
June 9
7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Doubletree Hotel
200 Marina Boulevard
Berkley, California
June 16
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Hilton Newark Airport
1170 Spring Street
Elizabeth, New Jersey
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.
FSIS Posts New Podcasts
Tune in and subscribe to podcasts that offer information on the selection, handling and preparation of
meat and poultry products to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
This week, FSIS released podcasts helpful to both consumers and plant owners and operators.
- Food Safety at Home: Let's Talk Chicken (English and Spanish)
- Notice of Intended Enforcement: Requirements for Prior Notification - Part 2 of 4
Check out these new podcasts on FSIS' Web site at
www.fsis.usda.gov/news_&_events/
Podcasts/index.asp. Spanish
language consumer podcasts are available at www.fsis.usda.gov/En_Espanol/
Podcasts_SP/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.
USDA to Host 2010 Food Safety Education Conference
To help educate stakeholders, USDA and NSF International are hosting the 2010 Food Safety Education
Conference, Advancements in Food Safety: Trends, Tools and Technologies, from March 23 to 26
at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, Georgia.
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 www.fsis.usda.gov/Atlanta2010. |
Last Modified:
May 29, 2009 |
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