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FSIS Seeks Comments on Draft Risk Assessment for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
FSIS is seeking public comments on a draft quantitative food safety risk assessment for highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
The risk assessment was conducted in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services' Food and Drug Administration,
and USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
The risk assessment was designed to evaluate the relative effectiveness of strategies to reduce or prevent exposure to HPAI from consumption
of poultry meat, shell eggs and egg products. It may also be used to target risk communication messages, identify and prioritize research
needs as well as provide a framework for coordinating efforts with stakeholders.
The risk assessment has been externally peer reviewed by several universities and research organizations, consistent with the requirements
in the Office of Management and Budget's Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review. It has also been reviewed by various
federal government agencies.
FSIS intends to review and evaluate all public comments and make modifications to the assessment as appropriate. The draft risk assessment
is available on FSIS' Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/Risk_Assessments/index.asp.
Comments must be received by February 2, 2009, and can be sent to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture-FSIS, 1400 Independence Avenue S.W.,
South Building Room 2534, Washington, D.C. 20250. Submissions may also be received through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov.
All submissions received must reference the Food Safety and Inspection Service and include docket number FSIS-2007-0001. For further details
on the risk assessment, contact Neal J. Golden, Office of Public Health Science, at (202) 690-6419 or at
Neal.Golden@fsis.usda.gov.
Update on FSIS testing for E. coli O157:H7
FSIS has updated Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 testing data to include information through December 2, 2008.
Beginning in January 2009, testing results for E. coli O157:H7 will be posted on the Agency's Web site instead of the Constituent Update.
Look to future issues of FSIS' Constituent Update for more information.
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| Results
from Analysis of Raw Ground Beef and Raw Ground Beef Component Samples for E. coli
O157:H7 |
| Raw Ground Beef |
| Source |
As of Dec 2, 2007 |
As of Nov 30, 2008 |
No.
Ana- lyzed |
No. Positive |
Percent Positive |
No.
Ana- lyzed
|
No. Positive |
Percent Positive |
Federal
Plants |
11,073 |
24 |
0.22 |
10,363 |
50 |
0.48 |
| Retail Stores |
167 |
0 |
0.00 |
333 |
0 |
0.00 |
| Imports |
62 |
0 |
0.00 |
38 |
1 |
2.63 |
| Raw Ground Beef Components |
| Source |
As of Dec 2, 2007 |
As of Nov 30, 2008 |
No.
Ana- lyzed |
No. Positive |
Percent Positive |
No.
Ana- lyzed
|
No. Positive |
Percent Positive |
Federal
Plants |
781 |
3 |
0.38 |
2,128 |
17 |
0.80 |
| Imports |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
483 |
3 |
0.62 |
| The above information is based upon data in the FSIS electronic data system as of
December 2, 2008. Results are from FSIS routine and follow-up sampling programs. |
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Individual positive results from the raw ground beef sampling programs for 2008 are reported on FSIS' Web site at
www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/2008_Ecoli_Positive_Results/
index.asp.
Export Requirement Updates
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements for the following:
Complete information can be found at www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Export_Information/index.asp.
FSIS Resources
Tune in and subscribe to podcasts that offer helpful information on the selection,
handling and preparation of meat and poultry products to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
Visit www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Multimedia/index.asp to view informative food safety podcasts.
Acting Under Secretary Beth Johnson Departs USDA
December 5, Acting Under Secretary Beth Johnson departs USDA after accepting a new position as Executive Vice President of
Public Affairs for the National Restaurant Association.
"It has been an incredible honor and privilege to serve the Department of Agriculture and the American people for the last
seven years. I am grateful to have worked with an outstanding team of USDA colleagues, whose professionalism, public service and
friendship I deeply value," said Johnson.
Johnson became Acting Under Secretary of Food Safety on October 1. In this position, Johnson was responsible for overseeing the
policies and programs of FSIS, and she chaired the U.S. Codex Steering Committee, which provides guidance to U.S. delegations
to the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
Johnson most recently served as Chief Assistant to Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner and Deputy Chief of Staff since May 2005.
A registered dietitian, Johnson joined USDA in 2002, having served more than a decade advising government and the private sector.
FSIS Offices in Omaha to Relocate: Closed December 18 and 19
FSIS offices located at the Landmark Center in Omaha, Nebraska will be closed on December 18 and 19 to move to the Edward Zorinsky
Federal Building located at 1616 Capital Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska.
Minimal amount of down time is anticipated as the offices plan to be operating under normal business with phone and email
service by Monday, December 22. Some Omaha units of FSIS from the following program areas will be affected:
- Office of Policy and Program Development's Policy Development Division (formerly the Technical Service Center);
- Office of Program Evaluation, Enforcement, and Review; and
- Office of Public Health Science.
The AskFSIS Web-based system will be operational during the move and can be found at http://askfsis.custhelp.com.
In the event of an emergency December 18 or 19, contact your local District Office.
FSIS Issues Directives and Notices
FSIS issues directives and notices to enhance the Agency's efforts in protecting public health.
The following directives and notices were recently published:
- Directive 5000.2, Revision 2 - Review of Establishment Testing Data by Inspection Program Personnel;
- Directive 12,700.1 - Documentation of Non-Compliances in Egg Product Plants;
- Notice 88-08 - Importation of Canadian Cattle, Bison, Sheep, and Goats Into the United States;
- Notice 89-08 - Operations Occurring Outside Approved Hours;
- Notice 91-08 - Pesticide Survey;
- Notice 92-08 - Verifying Data in the In Commerce System; and
- Notice 94-08 - Cancellation of FSIS Directive 8070.1 Review of State Meat and Poultry Compliance Programs
To view all directives and notices, visit www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/index.asp.
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Last Modified:
December 5, 2008 |
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