Arcadia, Wisc.

On Nov. 28, the USDA team at a poultry establishment observed Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month by dressing in purple to celebrate pancreatic cancer survivors, encourage those currently fighting pancreatic cancer and honor those who bravely lost their battle.

Pictured, back row, from left: Supervisory Consumer Safety Inspector (SCSI) Ashley Lorentz, Consumer Safety Inspectors (CSI) Sheila Kupietz, Nancy Kupietz, Jeanette Pampuch and Flor Valenzo.

Front row, from left: CSI Rian Tuma, Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Mark Whelan.

Photo via timer by SCSI Ashley Lorentz, OFO.

Pictured, CSI Andy Hampton.

Photo by CSI Nancy Kupietz, OFO.

Madison, Wis.

On Nov. 8, the Office of Field Operations Des Moines District — in conjunction with the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UWM) — held a Food Safety Summit at UWM’s Meat Science & Animal Biologics Discovery building. Staff from the FSIS Office of Policy and Program Development (OPPD) and Office of Investigation, Enforcement, and Audit (OIEA) also participated, as did representatives from industry. The summit’s goal was to educate, exchange information and open lines of communication between industry, public health officials and regulatory agencies. Topics included:

• Ready-to-Eat Fermented, Salt-Cured and Dried Products Guideline Overview
• Hot Topics (Validation; Cooking & Cooling Research Updates; AskFSIS as a Resource)
• Making Your Food Safety Programs Your Own
• Appendix A & B Revisited

Deputy Administrator Terri Nintemann provided a review of the agency’s mission and discussed topics such as agency small plant resources, egg inspection, avian leukosis, animal-raising claims, food products derived from animal cells, optimization of beef and poultry inspection systems, reducing human illnesses from Salmonella in poultry, and more.

Participants enjoyed interacting with FSIS, academia and industry, which enabled them to clarify concerns or comment on various topics and agency issuances. The diverse knowledge and experience of the presenters from FSIS, industry and UWM helped to make the Food Safety Summit a success.

 
Pictured, from left: OPPD Senior Food Technologist Dr. Meryl Silverman; UWM Associate Professor/Extension Meat Specialist Dr. Jeff J. Sindelar; Des Moines District Manager Dr. Dawn Sprouls; OPPD Senior Staff Officer Dr. Carrie Clark; OIEA Enforcement, Investigations and Analysis Officers (EIAOs) Dana Ewald, Tiffiny Pierce, and Christian Acevedo Valentin; Pleasant Valley Food Safety and Quality Principal Brenda L. Pérez-López; OSI Group Food Safety Science Senior Director John Handley; OIEA Supervisory EIAO Dr. Randall Kumpost.

Photo by EIAO Heather Bopes, OIEA.

Not pictured: UWM Food Research Institute Outreach Coordinator Adam Borger and Associate Director Dr. Kathy Glass; OPPD Staff Officer Dr. Thomas Vermeersch; Deputy Administrator Terri Nintemann.

Dayton, Va.

On Nov. 20, inspection program personnel at a poultry establishment held a Thanksgiving potluck.

 
Pictured, from left: Consumer Safety Inspectors Flor Vargas, Ron Cline, Rick Takacs, Luis Santiago Velez and Roger Wilcoxen; Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian (SPHV) Dr. Hannah Sather. 

Photo via timer by SPHV Dr. Hannah Sather, OFO.

Beijing, China

On Nov. 2, Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Emilio Esteban and Administrator Paul Kiecker participated in the China International Food Safety and Quality Conference.

 
Pictured above: Under Secretary Esteban delivers a presentation about enhancing food safety through innovation, science and transparency. 

Pictured above: Administrator Kiecker discusses food safety challenges and best practices in a panel discussion. 

Photos by Deputy Assistant Administrator Robert Witte, OIEA. 

Kalamazoo, Mich.

On Nov. 13, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with inspection program personnel (IPP) and plant employees at a very small processing establishment. They discussed outreach and resources available to assist small and very small plant operators.

 
Pictured, from left: Administrator Kiecker, Acting Deputy Chief of Staff Dr. Jenifer Tolan, Frontline Supervisor Raymond Andress, Plant Owner Melody Holman, Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) Adla Yosief and Acting Deputy Chief of Staff George Baptist III.

Photo by plant employee Molly Tryggfrid.
 
Middlebury, Ind.

On Nov. 13, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with IPP at a duck slaughter and processing establishment. IPP described their experiences before joining the agency and discussed various topics, including tuition reimbursement and employee enrichment opportunities.

 
Pictured, from front row left: Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian (SPHV) Dr. Gene Goering, CSI Nicholas Pack, Food Inspector (FI) Christopher Beller, FI Edna Padilla, CSI Susan Tressler, CSI Leo Spring and Acting Deputy Chief of Staff George Baptist III.

Pictured, from back row left: SPHV Dr. Kurt Guse, CSI Maria Ramires, SPHV Dr. Beth Mock, CSI Michael Anca, Frontline Supervisor Dr. Reginald Bigham, CSI Samuel McKinley, CSI Brian Elliot, CSI Jorge Carmona and Administrator Kiecker.

Photo by Acting Deputy Chief of Staff Dr. Jenifer Tolan, OA.

Lombard, Ill.

On Nov. 14, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with employees from the surrounding area at the Chicago District Office to discuss recruitment efforts/incentives and new agency initiatives.

 
Attendees on day shift meeting.

Photo by Acting Deputy Chief of Staff Dr. Jenifer Tolan, OA.

Attendees on night shift meeting.

Photo by Speechwriter Dr. Alison Strauss, OPACE.

Marengo, Ill.

On Nov. 15, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with IPP at a swine slaughter and processing establishment. IPP discussed challenges and highlights of their positions and experiences.

 
Pictured, from left: Food Inspectors (FI) Dagoberto Prieto-Sandoval, Kaandra Rosa-Ayuso, and Alexandria Ellison; Acting Deputy Chief of Staff George Baptist III; Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Shereen Zakaria; FI Luis Salinas; Deputy District Manager Dr. Gary Welcher; Administrator Kiecker.

Photo by Acting Deputy Chief of Staff Dr. Jenifer Tolan, OA.

While at the plant, both Baptist and Administrator Kiecker performed inspection duties at the viscera station to train new employees and give other employees a break.

 
Pictured, from left: Acting Deputy Chief of Staff George Baptist III and Administrator Kiecker.

Photo by Acting Deputy Chief of Staff Dr. Jenifer Tolan, OA.