AFDO Participates in 2022 IAFP
AFDO staff members participated in the annual meeting of the International Association for Food Protection in Pittsburgh last week. AFDO’s Executive Director Steven Mandernach moderated stories from the front line with AFDO’s Randy Treadwell on the Recent State and Local Outbreak Investigations panel as they share case studies and key learnings. Professors, extension staff and grad students joined AFDO for an IAFP Academia Reception. Great discussion and ideas were shared about how to further engage college & university students to share the food safety regulatory career path. AFDO hosted this event for several IAFP academia representatives to encourage collaborative efforts for future internship & job opportunities.
Posted 8/8/2022
|
|
FDA ORA Introduces Information Site
On Wednesday, August 3, the FDA Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) introduced News and Stories, a new site for news, conversations, stories, and media coverage about FDA’s frontline workers in public health. Site visitors can read feature articles about regulatory operations and listen to perspectives from ORA leaders and experts on the podcast series, ORA Speaks. You can stay up to date and get notified when ORA shares regulatory news, stories, and more by subscribing here.
Posted 8/8/2022
|
|
|
|
Virginia Tech Will Test Oral Norovirus Vaccine from Indiana University
Researchers at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech will evaluate a potential live oral vaccine for norovirus, the No. 1 cause of foodborne illness. The vaccine is being developed by researchers at Indiana University using the Rotarix rotavirus vaccine as a platform. Using reverse genetics, they will insert a norovirus protein into Gene 7 of the rotavirus. The virus will then express the norovirus protein in the gut, inducing an immune response against norovirus.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, norovirus is the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea from acute gastroenteritis in the United States, resulting in 19 million to 21 million cases every year.
Norovirus tends to affect young children and the elderly the most. It’s responsible for about 24,000 hospitalizations and 925,000 outpatient visits for American children each year, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Rotavirus also causes acute gastroenteritis and hits young children the hardest.
Read the Virginia Tech announcement here.
Posted 8/8/2022
|
|
USDA Declares Salmonella an Adulterant in Some Chicken Products
This morning, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that it will be declaring Salmonella an adulterant in breaded and stuffed raw chicken products.
“Today’s announcement is an important moment in U.S. food safety because we are declaring Salmonella an adulterant in a raw poultry product,” said Sandra Eskin, USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety. “This is just the beginning of our efforts to improve public health.”
By declaring Salmonella an adulterant in these products, FSIS will be able to ensure that highly contaminated products that could make people sick are not sold to consumers. Since 1998, breaded and stuffed raw chicken products have been associated with up to 14 outbreaks and approximately 200 illnesses. Products in this category are found in the freezer section and include some chicken cordon bleu or chicken Kiev products. These products appear cooked, but they are heat-treated only to set the batter or breading and the product contains raw poultry. Continual efforts to improve the product labeling have not been effective at reducing consumer illnesses.
Read the full media release here.
Posted 8/1/2022
|
|
Investigation of Salmonella in Peanut Butter Over
The FDA, along with CDC, has called an end to the Salmonella in peanut butter investigation and outbreak that started in May of this year. The agencies, with state and local partners, investigated a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Senftenberg infections linked to certain Jif brand peanut butter products produced at the J.M. Smucker Company facility in Lexington, Kentucky.
Read the announcement here.
Posted 8.1.2022
|
|
This Fall
Virtual Course: Root Cause Analysis for Retail Food Safety Session Offered
AFDO has scheduled three additional sessions of a new virtual course, Root Cause Analysis for Retail Food Safety, this fall. The course was developed in collaboration with ASQ, a globally-recognized provider of several certification programs, and retail food safety regulatory professionals. The course incorporates the concepts of root cause analysis for use in reducing the occurrence of risk factor violations and in the investigation of foodborne illness outbreaks. It is designed for the advanced food safety professional and will greatly enhance the skills needed to define the problem, collect data, determine the “why” and develop solutions.
Identifying the root cause (why) of risk factor violations and foodborne illness outbreaks utilizes contributing factors (what/how) and environmental antecedents providing the “why” of the violation or outbreak. This course will help develop a methodical approach to:
- Determine the underlying reasons for how and why an outbreak/violation(s) occurred
- Provide tools for more effective problem solving
- Data collection tools and analyzation
- Interventions or corrective actions to prevent recurrence
Cost is $500 per person. AFDO is subsidizing approximately 40% of the registration costs per participant. Continuing education units (CEU's) through NEHA will be offered. Certificate of attendance and the CEU form will be sent at the conclusion of the course.
Course sessions run from Monday through Thursday 11:00AM -3:30PM ET. Sessions will start on the following dates in 2022.
Class size is limited. Register using the links to register for the sessions listed below.
Monday, October 3, 2022
Monday, November 7, 2022
Monday, December 5, 2022
Posted 8.8.2022
|
|
FDA Shares Updates on Cyclospora Efforts
On Monday, July 25, 2022, the FDA released new updates detailing the agency’s Cyclospora prevention and research efforts. Cyclospora cayetanensis (C. cayetanensis) is a parasite that causes the foodborne intestinal illness cyclosporiasis. People can become infected with cyclosporiasis by ingesting food or water that’s contaminated with C. cayetanensis. The most common symptoms of cyclosporiasis are diarrhea, weight loss, nausea, and fatigue. Read the update here.
FDA Provides Insight Into Food Facility Renewal
The FDA will present a webinar for stakeholders on Aug. 11, 2022, at 1 p.m. EDT, to discuss Food Facility Registration, Biennial Renewal, and how to obtain an acceptable Unique Facility Identifier. U.S. and foreign human and animal food facilities that are required to register with the FDA must renew their registration this year between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 2022.
During the webinar, participants will learn:
- Who needs to register or renew
- How to obtain a Unique Facility Identifier (UFI)
- How and where to register and renew your Food Facility Registration (FFR)
- About the benefits of registering your food facility
A Question & Answer session follows the presentation. Learn more and register here.
FDA Works to Enhance the Safety of Berries
On Friday, July 2, 2022, the FDA announced it is developing a food safety prevention strategy to enhance the safety of fresh and frozen berries. The strategy is being developed in response to a history of hepatitis A (HAV) and norovirus (NoV) outbreaks linked to the consumption of both fresh and frozen berries. In August, the FDA plans to resume an assignment to collect and test frozen berries that it paused at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The assignment seeks to estimate the prevalence of HAV and NoV in frozen strawberries, raspberries and blackberries and help the FDA identify sites where practices or conditions may exist that constitute safety vulnerabilities. Read more about the plan here.
Posted 8/1/2022
|
|
This Week
Hemp Joins National Feed Discussion
Fifteen leading experts from feed manufacturing, hemp production, scientific research and regulatory oversight will come together for a three-part panel discussion, Q&A and complex conversation around:
• Scientific research and data
• Ingredient review and approval
• Interests and concerns everyone is facing
The goal is to connect with industry peers and share meaningful dialog around overcoming the challenges and moving forward together so hemp can become a safe and beneficial feed ingredient.
This virtual event will be free, but attendees must register. Attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions for the panelist in advance.
Posted 7/18/22
|
|
AFDO has launched a career website, www.foodsafetycareers.org, to highlight regulatory food safety job postings for state & federal agencies (and LHDs if you send us your jobs). The site offers state-by-state general hiring specifications, a heat map of regulatory food jobs, and the ability for state agencies to sign up for job manager accounts so you can directly upload and edit your job postings, and search resumes shared by job seekers to find potential candidates. Here is a sample of what you’ll find listed new this week or visit the site to explore all jobs.
|
|
Meat Inspector - North Dakota
North Dakota Department of Agriculture is looking for two successful meat inspectors to work out of their home (required to live in the central to north central part of the state) to allow for uniform regulation of meat processing plants located within that portion of the state. Read the full job description here. To apply, you will need to select “Apply Now” and on the redirect page, on the left sidebar select the Agency – “Department of Agriculture.” Apply through Aug. 11.
Posted 8/8/22
|
|
Meat Inspector - Ohio
Ohio Department of Agriculture is hiring a Meat Inspector Trainee to gain training on the procedures while assisting with inspections of meat slaughtering and processing facilities. Read the full job description here. Apply through Aug. 12.
Posted 8/8/22
|
|
State Environmental Health Coordinator - California
California Department of Public Health is seeking a State Environmental Health Coordinator to provide key expertise to the State Environmental Health Director (SEHD) and relevant partners in environmental health at multiple levels. This role serves as a subject matter expert for environmental public health; and collaborates on investigations, reviews and/or reports with them as needed. Read the full job description here. Apply through Aug. 18.
Posted 8/8/22
|
|
Other Training Opportunities
|
|
|
Paster Training, Inc. is now Cenza+
Cenza, Inc. -- Food and Alcohol consulting and training for every sector of the food and alcohol industries
The education you need from experienced consultants and trainers.
FSMA Training - VIRTUAL and CLASSROOM AVAILABLE! Dates and Times available on the Paster/Cenza+ website.
- Preventive Controls for Human Food (PCHF), Full and Part 2
- Intentional Adulteration Vulnerability Assessment (IAVA)
- Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP), Full and Part 2
- Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs)
Retail Training – VIRTUAL and CLASSROOM AVAILABLE! Dates and Times available on the Paster / Cenza+ website.
- Certified Protection Food Manager (CPFM)
- Food Handler/Food Employee
- HACCP Manager
- HACCP Employee
- Food Defense
- Seafood HACCP
- SPANISH TRAINING AVAILABLE!!!!!
Not seeing what you need, visit www.PasterTraining.com/www.CenzaSmart.com or call 610.970.1776 to inquire about consulting services or any public/private food safety class.
|
|
The Food Safety Doctor LLC
Promoting Public Health and Food Safety through Training and FSMA Awareness
While sheltering in place, The Food Safety Doctor LLC is offering
FSMA Compliance Courses - Virtual Instructor Led Training (vILT)
Information Page
Click here to access the schedule of PCQI courses
Click here to access the schedule of FSVP-QI courses
Intentional Adulteration Vulnerability Qualified Individuals (IAVA-QI) Courses
Click here to access the schedule of IAVA-QI courses
ONLINE Foreign Supplier Verification Courses (FSVP-QI) Courses
Click here to access the schedule of FSVP-QI courses
|
|
Laws and Regulations Committee Updates
|
|
|
Laws and Regulations Committee Update
A collection of current food, drug, device, and consumer product regulatory issues and news
July 29, - August 2, 2022
August 3 - 5, 2022
|
|
|
|
