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After School Snacks and Food Safety
USDA Quiz for Parents and Kids
It's that time again- back to school. It is also the time to be aware of food
safety when it comes to after school snacks for kids. If your child is home
alone for an hour or two after school, how can you make sure they are protected
from dangers in the kitchen?
These days, many kids don't just open a bag of chips - some make cookies
from scratch; others use a microwave to heat up instant noodles or soup.
Sound safe? Not if the cookie maker tastes the raw homemade cookie dough
because that could lead to Salmonella poisoning. Heating soup in the microwave
isn't safe if the cook isn't tall enough to reach the microwave and spills hot
soup on himself. That's a major cause of serious burns in children.
"There's a great hunger for accurate information," says USDA Under Secretary
for Food Safety Dr. Elsa Murano. "People want to know how to keep their
families safe and healthy. Education is not a substitute - but a complement -
to strong food safety policies and programs. Education serves to alert the
public about hazards that exist and can be addressed by safe food handling
and food selection."
Before you let young cooks have the run of the kitchen, USDA advises you to
make time for a "Food Safety Workshop" with your children. Walk them
around the kitchen - explain how to safely use the microwave and teach them
some basic food safety tips. Get more information on after school food safety
at: www.fsis.usda.gov/education/food_safety_education_programs/
Revised Pizza Q's & A's to Address the Names of Non-Traditional Pizza-Like Products
and Pizzas with Modified Cheeses
Earlier this year, in response to a petition from industry, FSIS rescinded the
pizza with meat standard of identity. In the absence of a pizza with meat standard,
the prevailing regulations on naming meat and poultry products apply. In order
to assist manufacturers with changes to labeling, FSIS issued guidance in the
form of questions and answers on its Web site. After further consideration,
FSIS has determined that a clarification of the guidance on naming conventions
for certain non-traditional pizza-like products is needed. This modification relates
to the continued use of the "common or usual" names for traditional pizza products.
Additional questions have been added to the previous guidance and a modification
to a previous question has also been made to clarify naming conventions. The
clarification and the previous guidance document are available at:
www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations/Revised_Pizza_Questions_01-018F/
Last Opportunity to Attend E. coli O157:H7 Workshop
The final workshop on new directives designed to strengthen E. coli O157:H7
prevention procedures will be held this Saturday, September 11 from 9 a.m. to
2 p.m. in Amarillo, Texas. These sessions 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.
Saturday's workshop will be held at:
The Ambassador Hotel, 3100 I-40 West, Amarillo, Texas 79102,
(806) 358-6161
To pre-register to attend the workshop, call (866) 553-3052 or visit:
www.fsis.usda.gov/News/Meetings_&_Events.
New Speech Available Online
On August 10, 2004 Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Merle
Pierson spoke at the International Association for Food Protection's 91st
Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Pierson presented an overview of
USDA/FSIS' role, strategy and outcomes in protecting the safety of food
products. He also discussed the recently released document Fulfilling the
Vision: Initiatives in Protecting Public Health, a plan to further improve
food protection systems. In addition, Dr. Pierson presented the results FSIS
has achieved through the use of science, risk assessments, and its close
collaboration with partners. To read this speech please visit:
www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Speech_081004_Pierson/
FSIS Proposes Equalizing Requirements for Supervisory Visits
FSIS has issued a proposed rule harmonizing the requirements for supervisory visits at certified foreign
establishments with those of domestic plants.
The proposed rule amends FSIS regulations to require foreign inspection agencies to conduct supervisory visits at
intervals sufficient to verify that the establishment remains eligible for certification to export to the United States.
The new language reestablishes the frequency requirement as "periodic supervisory visits."
Comments must be received on or before October 18. Written comments may be submitted to the FSIS Docket Room,
Reference Docket #03-033P, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Room 102 Cotton
Annex, 300 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-3700. Any comments received will be available for public inspection
in the FSIS Docket Room from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and will be posted at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FRDockets.htm
The USDA Food Safety Mobile: Taking Food Safety Education on the Road
The USDA Food Safety Mobile travels continuously throughout the U.S. to educate consumers about the risks associated
with mishandling food and steps they can take to reduce their risk of foodborne illness. The next dates and locations
are as follows:
The next stops for the Food Safety Mobile are:
- Sep 11, 2004: Natick Days (Natick, MA)
- Sep 24-26, 2004: Oklahoma State Fair (Oklahoma City, OK)
- Sep 28, 2004: Parents University (Pittsburg, KS)
Library of Export Requirement Updated
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements for Chile, European Union,
Malaysia, Morocco, Peru, Russia and Switzerland. Complete information can be found
at: www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/Export_Information
Featured Office of the Week: Labeling & Consumer Protection Staff
The Labeling & Consumer Protection Staff (LCPS) develops policies and inspection methods and administers programs to
protect consumers from misbranded and economically adulterated meat, poultry, and egg products. For more information
visit: www.fsis.usda.gov/About_FSIS/labeling_&_consumer_protection/
THIS WEEK'S HOT WEB LINKS
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