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New Online Tool for Consumers to Report Food Safety Concerns
FSIS unveiled a new online Electronic Consumer Complaint Form this week, where consumers can report problems
with meat, poultry and egg products.
Consumers can use the form to report illnesses, allergic reactions, injuries, improper labeling and issues with
foreign objects to the Consumer Complaint Monitoring System (CCMS). Once an incident is reported to CCMS, the
agency can determine what public health implications are associated with the incident, if other people are reporting
similar issues and if FSIS inspectors have identified problems in an establishment that could have caused the issue.
On a case-by-case basis, FSIS may conduct additional follow-up with complainants, especially if the problem indicates
a potentially widespread or severe public health hazard.
The new online form, available at https://ccms.fsis.usda.gov,
makes it possible for consumers to enter complaints after business hours and on weekends, and the predefined fields
ensure that each incident report is thorough, accurate and in a format consistent with other entries. CCMS facilitates
the detection of public health threats in the nation's food supply and enables FSIS to respond rapidly to mitigate
those threats.
Consumers who want to submit an incident to CCMS by talking to a live representative or who have food safety
questions are encouraged to call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline. Consumers also can Ask Karen, the
virtual food safety representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov
or via Smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. Ask Karen's live chat services are available
Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET.
Under Secretary Hosts "Virtual Office Hours" Session on Twitter
One in six Americans, or 48 million people, are expected to get sick from foodborne illness each year. As part of
National Food Safety Education Month,
Under Secretary Dr. Elisabeth Hagen hosted a "Virtual Office Hours" session on Twitter this week to answer
questions about what USDA is doing to decrease foodborne illness rates.
Questions from consumers included:
- If I discover a problem with my food, where can I report it?
- How can I learn about products that have been recalled?
- What should I do if I have a recalled product?
USDA features "Virtual Office Hours," a live question-and-answer series, each month. This discussion allows
stakeholders to directly engage with USDA leadership and subject-matter experts through Twitter. This month's
session is one of FSIS' many efforts to enhance public education and outreach to improve food handling practices
that can prevent foodborne illness. Follow FSIS on the @USDA Twitter account or through
www.twitter.com/USDAFoodSafety.
Twitter News!
According to data compiled by OhMyGov, a media and technology firm, USDA ranks seventh of the 50 most-followed
federal agencies. Check out the stats at
www.fcw.com/articles/2012/09/24/
fedlist-most-followed-agencies-on-twitter.aspx?s=fcwdaily_250912.
Export Requirement Updates
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements for the following countries:
- People's Republic of China
Complete information can be found at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Export_Information/index.asp.
FSIS Policy Updates
FSIS issues notices and directives to protect public health. All notices and directives are available at www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/index.asp. The following policy updates were recently issued:
- Notice 64-12, Fiscal Year 2013 Dioxin Survey
- Notice 63-12, Verification Activities for Non-O157 E. coli (Non-O157 STEC) Under MT60, MT52 and MT53
- Directive 5740.1, Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program
- Directive 8010.1 - Revision 3, Methodology for Conducting In-Commerce Surveillance Activities
- Directive 8010.4, Report of Investigation
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Last Modified:
September 28, 2012 |
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