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FSIS Honors Scientist with Food Safety Award
On July 22, USDA's Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Elsa Murano presented Dr. Dell Allen with the
prestigious 2004 Howard E. Bauman Award. Dr. Allen was recognized for his achievements in advancing and
applying the science of food safety. The award ceremony was held at FSIS' office in Chicago, Ill.
The Bauman award, the highest food safety honor presented by FSIS, recognizes an individual who has exhibited
leadership and a longstanding commitment to improving food safety.
"Dr. Allen has had a long and dedicated career in helping advance the cause of food safety," said Dr. Murano.
"It gives me great pleasure to honor him with the 2004 Howard Bauman Award."
A former animal science professor, Dr. Allen spent more than 38 years of his professional life working to improve
the level of safety associated with meat and poultry products. Dr. Allen oversaw all aspects of food safety for
Cargill Meat Solutions and played a leadership role in advancing processes and new technologies that benefited the
entire beef industry, from cattle production through processing. Additionally, Dr. Allen's accomplishments include:
promoting the use of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control points (HACCP) food safety system, pioneering the use
of steam pasteurization, leading the effort to co-develop a new animal hide washing system and initiating food safety
seminars that helped educate all parts of the industry about the latest and best practices and technologies that
improve meat safety.
Dr. Allen served on USDA's National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection and is an active member of the
American Meat Science Association, where he previously served as a board member and president.
The Bauman award is named for Dr. Howard E. Bauman, widely recognized for his pioneering efforts to develop the HACCP
food safety system. HACCP forms the backbone of the daily inspections that are performed by FSIS personnel every day
at every federal meat and poultry establishment in America.
FSIS Issues Questions and Answers on New Directives to Prevent E. coli O157:H7 Contamination
A new FSIS document is designed to respond to questions from industry and FSIS personnel concerning Directives 5000.2 , 6420.2,
and 10,010.1, Revision 1 and the guidance, entitled, "Compliance Guidelines for Establishments on the FSIS Microbiological Testing Program and Other Verification Activities For Escherichia coli O157:H7."
FSIS issued the directives on March 31, 2004, and the guidance on April 13, 2004. Directives 6420.2 and 10,010.1, Revision 1, were implemented on May 17, 2004.
The questions and answers in the document address: risk-based sampling; products subject to sampling; implications of
E. coli O157:H7 positive test results and information on testing; FSIS' sampling procedures; the October 7, 2002, Federal
Register notice; retail sampling; import sampling and importers; instructional and disclaimer statements; compliance
guidelines; and review of establishment data by inspection program personnel.
FSIS intends to issue additional documents to respond to other questions on these directives and the compliance guidelines, as
necessary. To view the questions and answers visit: www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies
Sanitation Performance Standards Compliance Guide
Sanitation Performance Standards (SPS) are regulations designed to address plant conditions that may result
in the production of adulterated products. FSIS has compiled the SPS Compliance Guide to assist industry in
meeting the SPS. The guide describes methods that have historically proven to be effective in maintaining
sanitary conditions in meat and poultry establishments, including: past FSIS regulations and guidance,
recommendations from the 2001 Food Code and other technical sources. The guide is available at
www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FRpubs/SanitationGuide.htm
E. coli O157:H7 Workshops Continue Throughout July
FSIS is holding a series of teaching workshops around the nation through September 2004 on new directives
designed to strengthen E. coli O157:H7 prevention procedures. The workshops are scheduled on Saturdays from
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The workshops are designed for operators of small and very small federally-inspected plants,
state-inspected plants, federal and state inspection personnel, members of academia and other interested parties.
The three FSIS directives to be covered during the sessions are: Directive 10,010.1 Revision 1, Microbiological
Testing Program and Other Verification Activities for E. coli O157:H7 in Raw Ground Beef Products and Raw Ground
Beef Components and Beef Patty Components; Directive 6420.0, Verification of Procedures for Controlling Fecal
Material, Ingesta and Milk in Slaughter Operations; and Directive 5000.2, Review of Establishment Data by Inspection
Program Personnel.
Workshops scheduled for July are as follows:
- July 24 - Doubletree Hotel and Conference Center, 16625 Swingley Ridge Road, Chesterfield, MO 63017, (636) 532-5000
- July 31 - Ramada Inn - East 1355 East Boulevard, Montgomery, AL 36117, (334) 277-2200
To pre-register for this weekend's workshop in Sacramento, Calif., please call (202) 690-6520 or e-mail renee.ellis@fsis.usda.gov.
You may also register for this workshop and all future workshops by calling (866) 553-3052 or via FSIS' Web site: www.fsis.usda.gov/News/Meetings_&_Events. E. coli workshop materials are now available at www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/Workshop_SmallPlants_ecoli/
Upcoming National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) Meetings
The Scientific Criteria for Redefining Pasteurization Subcommittee of the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological
Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) will meet in Washington, DC, July 27-28 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on July 29 from 8:30 a.m.
to 12 p.m. at the Aerospace Center, Room 369, 901 D Street, SW Washington, DC, 20024, telephone (202) 690-6620. To view
the meeting agenda visit: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/ophs/nacmcf/meetings.htm
The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) will hold public meetings
August 24-27. The full committee will discuss performance standards for ground chicken/ground turkey,
the scientific basis for establishing safety-based "use by" date labels for refrigerated ready-to-eat
foods and scientific criteria for redefining pasteurization. All meetings are open to the public and will
be held at the Hotel Monaco, Athens Room, 700 F Street, NW, Washington, DC. A meeting agenda is available
at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/ophs/nacmcf/meetings.htm
The full committee will meet Friday, Aug. 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Three NACMCF subcommittees will meet
prior to the full committee meeting. The Performance Standards for Ground Chicken/Ground Turkey subcommittee
will meet Aug. 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Aug. 25 8:30 a.m. to noon. The Scientific Criteria for Redefining
Pasteurization subcommittee will meet Aug. 25 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Scientific Basis for Establishing
Safety-Based "Use By" Date Labeling for Refrigerated Ready-to-Eat Foods subcommittee will meet August 26 from
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For further information contact Karen Thomas, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Office of Public Health
Science, Microbiology Division, Aerospace Center, Room 333, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington DC
20250-3700, phone (202) 690-6620, fax (202) 690-6334, email karen.thomas@fsis.usda.gov.
Library of Export Requirement Updated
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/Export_Information
Featured Office of the Week: Microbiology Division
The Microbiology Division provides scientific support for hazard analysis and advances the application of new
technologies and approaches to detect, prevent, and control foodborne diseases. Areas of responsibility include
the design and coordination of microbiological baseline studies, foreign equivalency reviews, training, in-plant
auditing and regulation review. To learn more visit: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/about_fsis/OPHS/
The USDA Food Safety Mobile: Taking Food Safety Education on the Road
- Jul 23-25, 2004 - South County Hot Air Balloon Festival (Kingston, RI)
- Jul 27, 2004 - Stop & Shop Supermarket (Middletown, CT)
THIS WEEK'S HOT WEB LINKS
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