AFDO STRIVES TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH...
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The Roadmap to Reducing Salmonella: Driving Change through Science-Based Policy
On September 22, 2020, AFDO Executive Director Steve Mandernach participated in a comment session on the USDA's OFS and FSIS plan to decrease Salmonella -- The Roadmap to Reducing Salmonella: Driving Change through Science-Based Policy. The proposal outlines programs and policies that are science-based, data-driven, and promote innovation to reduce Salmonella in meat, poultry, and egg products according to the USDA.
The roadmap is available at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/FSISRoadmaptoReducingSalmonella
Read the AFDO media release: http://www.afdo.org/resources/Documents/AFDO-Release-Salmonella-Public-Comment-Presented-9.22.29-Final.pdf
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FDA Finalizes Framework That Will Resume Shellfish Trade with EU
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today finalized a molluscan shellfish equivalence determination for two European Union (EU) Member States, Spain and the Netherlands.
“Today’s announcement is a significant milestone that will resume trade in shellfish between the United States and the EU for the first time since 2010. These actions reflect key strategic international engagement and several years of careful review by the FDA on behalf of consumers at home and abroad,” said Anna Abram, Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Legislation and International Affairs. “Today we’re helping unlock economic opportunity by creating a path forward to new market access for U.S. exporters.”
The equivalence determination finalizes the proposed determination that the FDA published in the Federal Register in 2018 and is a result of a multi-year, in-depth review of EU shellfish safety controls implemented in Spain and the Netherlands. Technical experts on both sides of the Atlantic have completed separate equivalence assessments and each side recommended a finding of equivalence after reviewing food safety control measures for molluscan shellfish and on-site audits to verify the other’s systems. The FDA will recognize other EU Member States in the future, as appropriate, in separate determinations.
“Today we’re making a wider selection of healthy and safe seafood options available to the American consumer from Europe,” said Frank Yiannas, Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response. “Americans can be confident in the equivalence determination that Spain and the Netherlands have implemented safety controls that are equivalent to ours, thereby enabling us to allow Spain and the Netherlands to export raw molluscan shellfish to the United States. The FDA is committed to keeping consumers safe and ensuring the safety of our food supply, and that includes seafood, whether it is imported or harvested domestically.”
In a separate action, the European Commission has also made a food safety equivalence determination that will permit raw and processed molluscan shellfish, including clams, mussels, oysters and scallops, to be imported from the United States, beginning with shellfish from Massachusetts and Washington.
Additional Resources:
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Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Stanley: Wood Ear Mushrooms (Dried Fungus) (September 2020)
The FDA Intergovernmental Affairs team would like to bring to your attention an important announcement - Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Stanley: Wood Ear Mushrooms - Dried Fungus (September 2020).
The announcement on this subject is provided below with more details available on our website. Please check back regularly for updates.
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Release of CIFOR Guidelines 3rd edition
On World Food Safety Day, June 5, 2020, the third edition CIFOR Guidelines for Foodborne Disease Outbreak Response was published on the CIFOR website! Due to the impact of COVID-19 response, CIFOR leadership approved the soft launch and promotion of the online version in favor of saving the larger promotions and printed release for the fall of 2020.
- The Guidelines incorporate significant changes in the foodborne disease surveillance and outbreak investigation framework since the second edition of the Guidelines was published. The third edition highlights:
- The implementation of whole genome sequencing, advanced molecular detection and culture-independent diagnostic tests
- The integration of consumer complaint systems with pathogen-specific surveillance
- The importance of sub-cluster investigations and epidemiologic tracebacks
- The importance of environmental assessments
- The importance of after-action reviews
- More coordinated inclusion of communications sections.
- Elimination of CIFOR metrics and better referencing of existing program metrics.
The third edition can be accessed here: https://cifor.us/products/guidelines.
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Milk and Shellfish Grant Program: Grant Portal Now Open! 9/23/2020
The 2021 Milk and Shellfish Grant Program application portal is now open! Here is what you can expect:
- A simple application process and easy reporting.
- Eligibility for all National Grade “A” Milk Safety Programs and National Shellfish Sanitation Programs.
- More than $2.4 Million is expected to be awarded for Calendar Year 2021 Training and Equipment Projects.
- As in the past, the portal uses a simple, online application and reporting process.
Funds are currently available for completing projects that assist programs in achieving and/or maintaining compliance with requirements and goals of the National Grade “A” Milk Safety Program and National Shellfish Sanitation Program for the following:
- 2021 Calendar Year Training Needs Grants: Please carefully review the CY 2021 Grant Guidance to be posted on the AFDO Milk and Shellfish Grant Program website for a list of additional training options, given the COVID-19 travel limitations that are expected to impact course deliveries for at least the first half of CY 2021.
- Milk and Shellfish Training Requests May Include: Courses or Seminars meeting the intent of the Milk and Shellfish Grant Program (with published dates for CY 2021), Regional Seminars (expected to occur), and alternative web-based training (with strong justification). In-state training, staff training meetings, university-based online courses, and other types of trainings will also be considered, when adequate justification is provided describing how this grant program’s goals are supported.
- 2021 Calendar Year Equipment Needs Grants: The portal will open again in early 2021 for Equipment Grants and Additional Training Opportunities (to be announced for August through December 2021). More information is expected to be released late in 2020, with the portal opening in approximately January or February 2021.
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Key Partnership to Help Train Local and State Regulators About the Cannabis Industry
  
Green Flower for Business, the Foundation of Cannabis Unified Standards (FOCUS), and the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) have entered into a ground-breaking partnership to provide regulators with standardized health and safety-focused cannabis training across the country.
As the Authorized Training Provider for FOCUS, Green Flower will work alongside AFDO, who represents governmental regulatory agencies, to create a suite of on-demand training courses that cover all aspects of cannabis business operations for local, state, and tribal regulators. Each course produced through this partnership leverages regulatory-focused public health training incorporating cannabis-focused information based on the FOCUS standards.
"This is an important milestone for the cannabis industry as we are now working with the local, state, and tribal regulators who are taking a proactive interest in how the industry is best served through a sound and effective regulatory framework,” said Green Flower CEO Max Simon.
“The patchwork of US cannabis regulations at the state level creates enormous challenges for operators and regulators alike, ultimately increasing risks to public health and safety,” said Lezli Engelking, FOCUS’ founder. “This standardized regulatory education is a critical step forward on the path to developing a cohesive regulatory structure for cannabis in the United States and ultimately building better protections for the health and safety of Americans.”
The courses will be available to regulators free of charge through AFDO’s learning management portal as part of AFDO’s on-going initiative to train food and drug officials on regulatory issues to ensure the successful performance of their oversight responsibilities. All courses will be available for industry through Green Flower’s enterprise learning solutions platform.
“This partnership is a significant step toward consistent and clear regulation in the cannabis area,” said Steven Mandernach, AFDO’s executive director. “By training regulators through this nation-wide program, we will be able to help the cannabis industry continue its growth through consistent training about cannabis regulations and safety.”
The partners believe that in order for cannabis to develop into a federally legal, sustainable industry, there must be a clear understanding of the issues related to safety, quality, and consistency, in conjunction with the importance of effective quality management systems.
Visit green-flower.com/compliance-solutions to find out more about standards training. This page will be continuously updated with the latest offerings.
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Food Safety Partners Urged to Complete Partners with A Common Purpose Survey
Partners with A Common Purpose, or PwCP, is asking for assistance from food safety partners nationwide. The group is asking that professionals help gather data and information about Smarter Food Safety and COVID-19. The survey can be completed by going here.
The group is also inviting those interested to attend the unveiling of the results Wednesday, October 21, 2020 2:30pm-3:30pm CT at the Food Safety Summit (code S20). Register for the session here: www.foodsafetystrategies.com/food-safety-summit#
The group will share the data insights and collaboration learnings on the PwCP website https://pwcp.info/ on or before November 1, 2020.
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Podcast: Zooming Into Virtual Meetings and Training
In this AFDO podcast, we visit with Nancy Singer and Christine Rance. The pair has 50+ years combined experience providing innovative trainings that change behaviors. The pair met the need for virtual training during the COVID-19 crisis head on. During our podcast, Singer and Rance share their tips for continuing in a virtual world. Check out the video interview here.
You can access the AFDO podcast catalog at the following links. Videos can be found at https://afdo.podbean.com/ and audio podcasts at https://afdoaudio.podbean.com/. Or download the AFDO app (IT'S FREE) so you can listen or watch on the go. The app is available for iPhone and Android.
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FSIS Posts After-Action Review Report for Foodborne Salmonella Dublin Outbreak
FSIS has posted on its website an after-action review report of an outbreak of Salmonella Dublin illnesses associated with ground beef. During September–December 2019, public health officials in several states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) investigated an outbreak of 13 S. Dublin illnesses linked to ground beef sold at multiple retail stores. An automated alert from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) gave FSIS an early notification of the outbreak. The source establishment of some of the implicated beef was determined by obtaining a consumer’s purchase history through the novel use of an Electronic Benefit Transfer card and by using retail grinding records. Multiple hospitalizations and one death were reported, highlighting the severity of disease caused by S. Dublin. FSIS promotes studies under its food safety research priorities to gain a better understanding of pathogen factors associated with disease severity.
The purpose of FSIS after-action review reports is to share lessons learned from outbreak investigations with industry and public health partners to help prevent illness and improve response. To view the full report, please visit https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/foodborne-outbreak-investigation/outbreak-salmonella-ground-beef-2019.
To view additional reports and learn more about outcomes of FSIS outbreak investigations, please visit FSIS’ Foodborne Outbreak Investigation Outcomes – Response and Prevention page. |
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2021 AFDO-Managed Retail Program Standards Grant Program Due October 13
The 2021 AFDO-managed Retail Program Standards Grant Program is now open! Here is what you can expect:
- A simple application process, up-front funding when required by the project, and simple reporting requirements.
- More than $2 million in funding available!
- Eligibility for all jurisdictions enrolled in the Retail Program Standards (no matter if this is your first time applying, or if you have previously applied or have been funded in years past).
Applications will be accepted through Tuesday, October 13, at 7:59 PM Eastern Time. The program provides funds to state, local, territorial, and tribal regulatory retail food programs that have enrolled in the Retail Program Standards for the completion of projects and training to enhance conformance with the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards.
Please visit the Retail Program Standards Web site at http://afdo.org/retailstandards now to begin the application process. We strongly encourage you to register your email address here to receive news and updates about this funding opportunity. |
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PFSE Seeking Submissions for March 2021 Conference
Abstract submission is open until October 14.
Submission tracks are: 1) Cutting Through Clutter: What’s working to engage consumers? and 2) Safe Food Handling in Today’s Food Landscape. Posters are welcome under the topic of Food Safety Education Program Successes. For more information or to submit go to: https://cfsec2021.fightbac.org/abstract-submission/
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Webinar - Join the Movement with ECOLAB
Join ECOLAB for a series of webinars in September for celebrate National Food Safety Month! Nation’s Restaurant News, Restaurant Hospitality and Ecolab are partnering to bring you a series of webinars to celebrate National Food Safety Month.
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APHL 2020 Virtual Conference
Tuesdays and Thursdays | September 22 - October 15
Join us for a free, month-long public health laboratory extravaganza! The APHL 2020 Virtual Conference will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays over the course of four weeks, from September 22 to October 15. Each day of the conference will include several 60-minute plenary sessions; posters with short video presentations by the authors; and a virtual exhibit hall with the latest in products and services and links to interact with exhibitors. View the full preliminary program to learn more. Conference registration is required to attend sessions, but registration is free so we encourage all levels of laboratory staff to attend!
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NACCHO Announces Cohort 10 Application Window for Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards Mentorship Program
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) invites all state, local, tribal, and territorial retail food regulatory programs to submit applications to participate in a mentorship program with their peers to learn, share experiences, and acquire tools and resources related to the FDA’s Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (Retail Program Standards). Applications to become a mentor and/or mentee for Cohort 10 are due by Oct. 13, 2020 at 11:59 PM ET.
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CFP is Seeking to Hire Two Research Staff Members
The Conference for Food Protection (CFP) is collaborating with the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) on a two-year research project designed to further the capacity of state, local, tribal and territorial (SLTT) food regulatory agencies to improve retail food safety and reduce foodborne illness across the United States. This study is part of a larger project being undertaken by the members of the Retail Food Safety Regulatory Association Collaborative.
CFP is currently seeking a Research Project Leader and a Research Project Support Staff member to work on this project. The Research Project Leader is a full-time position and the Research Project Support Staff is a half-time position. Both positions are funded through a cooperative agreement with FDA. Both individuals will work from home, but they must be able to travel to meetings as required to complete the project. Read more and apply....
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Food Safety Specialist - Virginia
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is seeking a self-motivated person to become part of our Food Safety team. This position is responsible for the evaluation of food processes and the enforcement of the Virginia Food Laws and related federal and state regulations. Duties include evaluating the condition of food processing facilities relative to food safety and food defense; assisting new and existing food processing technologies and food labeling at manufacturing operations and retail food establishments; investigating complaints; conducting foodborne illness investigations; collecting official samples of food and food related products; reviewing new food business proposals and assisting in the development of safe food processes; and evaluating and interpreting nutritional related claims for foods and dietary supplements.
The selected individual will establish and work from a home office under the guidance and direction of a regional field office and will be required to live in or convenient to the assigned territory. The home office must have reliable access to a network for mobile communications. The work territory includes Roanoke City, Salem, Bedford, Botetourt, Alleghany, Clifton Forge, and Covington. The use of a state vehicle will be provided for business use only. Read more and apply....
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Specialist I Quality Assurance - Retail Business Services
The primary purpose of this position is to assure that only fresh wholesome products which meet our food safety & quality standards are received into the fulfillment center, maintained through storage and preparation, and supporting our mission to provide our customers with wholesome, fresh and high-quality products. This will be achieved through visual product safety and quality inspections of perishable food products delivered to Brand Operated E-Commerce Fulfillment Centers. In addition this position will work closely with the Brand Operations to manage, coordinate and/or liaison on various food safety, product quality and customer service programs to include: Food Safety Training; Food Safety & Health Department Audits (internal/external) and related Corrective Action Plans; State and Federal Regulatory Compliance; Product Recall Execution; Facility Sanitation, GMP & Cleaning Chemical Programs; Customer Complaints; Cold-Chain Testing; New Delivery Initiatives/Strategies; Environmental Testing/Monitoring Program; GFSI Certification and related Document Control. Read more and apply...
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Other Training Opportunities
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Preventive Controls for Human Foods and Foreign Supplier Verification Programs
Preventive Controls for Human Foods (PCQI) Blended Course Part 2 Virtual (vILT) – NEW – 1 Day
Course Information/Schedule Page
Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) Blended Course Part 2 Virtual (vILT) – NEW – 1 Day
Course Information/Schedule Page
Classroom Training
Intentional Adulteration Conducting Vulnerability Assessments (IAVA) – 1 Day
Course Information/Schedule Page
Foreign Supplier Verification Programs Course (FSVP) – 2 Day
Course Information/Schedule Page
Preventive Controls for Human Foods Course (PCQI) – 3 Day
Course Information/Schedule Page
Preventive Controls for Human Foods (PCQI) Blended Course Part 2 – 1 Day
Course Information/Schedule Page
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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
- ONLINE Preventive Controls for Human Foods (PCQI) Courses
- October 13-15
- November 3-5
- December 1-3, 2020
Click here to access the schedule of online PCQI Courses
- ONLINE Foreign Supplier Verification Courses (FSVP-QI) Courses
- October 20-21
- November 17-18
Click here to access the schedule of online FSVP-QI courses
- Intentional Adulteration Vulnerability Qualified Individuals (IAVA-QI) Courses
- Online: October 12, 2020
- Online: October 22, 2020
- Online: November 19, 2020
- Online: December 4, 2020
- Online: January 12, 2021
- Face to Face: Singapore: November 9, 2021
Click here to access the schedule of IAVA-QI courses
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Laws and Regulations Committee Updates
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Laws and Regulations Committee Update
A collection of current food, drug, device, and consumer product regulatory issues and news
September 21 - 24, 2020
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