AFDO STRIVES TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH...
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NACCHO and CFP Seeks Recruits for the 2020-2022 Food Safety Advisory Group
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and the Conference for Food Protection (CFP) are seeking 10-15 state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) health department professionals, retail food industry professionals, and retail food association staff to join and launch a Food Safety Advisory Group (FSAG). The FSAG will help fulfill NACCHO’s and CFP’s two-year cooperative agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by advising these organizations on increasing retail food regulatory programs’ application of risk-based inspections, as well as increasing enrollment and active participation in/application of the Voluntary Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards by SLTT retail food regulatory programs. Learn more and apply to become a member by Friday, November 6, 5:00 PM ET.
Call for Applications: 2020-2022 Food Safety Advisory Group
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New Website on COVID-19: FoodCoVNET
This new project team (North Carolina State University, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, the University of Florida, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln) associated with each other through interest and activities in the field of microbial food safety, now known as FoodCoVNET has established itself already as an authority on SARS-CoV-2 management in the food supply chain. Initially not a food safety issue, it soon became one as stakeholders in food, including consumers, began to question why it was not. FoodCoVNET recognized the need to provide COVID-19 information to alleviate fears about the food supply and to provide much needed information on how to mitigate community spread of the virus.
Through this project, this team will address SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 concerns by evaluating practices and confirming efficacy through laboratory research on virus persistence, inactivation and transfer. The team will translate that knowledge into a variety of forms to aid in future decisions, and house the outputs here on the new website. FoodCoVNET has a foundation of stakeholder engagement, utilizing an iterative approach to gather information from food sector constituents and industry leaders to ensure that data gaps are identified and filled. They will focus on providing science-based strategies and practices to reduce the public health and economic impacts of COVID-19 on the food sector.
Read more at: https://foodcovnet.ces.ncsu.edu/welcome-to-foodcovnet/
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NSF International Honors Dr. Jennifer McEntire
NSF International, a global public health and safety organization, has announced Dr. Jennifer McEntire, senior vice president of food safety and technology at the United Fresh Produce Association, as this year’s Food Safety Leadership Award recipient. Dr. McEntire developed United Fresh’s Produce Safety Immersion program to help accelerate the education and careers of aspiring food safety professionals. McEntire is a member of AFDO. Read the full article.....
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USDA FSIS Directive Revision on Using Results From Non-FSIS Laboratories
The Association of Public Health Laboratories and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) will be co-hosting a free webinar to review the new version of USDA FSIS Directive 10,000.1, "Policy on Use of Results from Non-FSIS Laboratories." The new version was issued to clarify documentation and information needed by FSIS to complete the review of results provided to FSIS by non-FSIS laboratories. The webinar will focus on how FSIS Office of Public Health Science works with public health partners, as well as documentation needed from state laboratories that test FSIS-regulated product during outbreak investigations.
This topic will be also be addressed in an upcoming AFDO foodborne illness webinar in December of 2020. Please watch AFDO eNews for details.
SPEAKERS
- Maria E. Scott, PhD, Microbiologist, USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Office of Public Health Science
- William A. Lanier, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, CDR, US Public Health Service, USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Office of Public Health Science, Applied Epidemiology Staff
For more information, please email Kirsten Larson
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Webinar Announcement: Sampling Practices for Accurate Test Results
Designed for industry and food safety testing stakeholders as well as accredited laboratories, this one-day training course is being held on November 19 and includes:
- Field sampling for enteric pathogens
- Sampling in manufacturing sites
- Laboratory analysis of environmental samples
- Statistical considerations
The course is led by subject matter experts from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, joined by other nationally recognized experts from the University of Maryland, IEH Laboratories & Consulting Group, and AOAC INTERNATIONAL.
Get expert insights into theoretical considerations for the reliable collection of test samples and the practical applications for testing water, soil amendments, fresh produce, and grains for several highly pathogenic microbial contaminants. View the full agenda >
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Meeting Tomorrow:
2020 AFDOSS Annual Business Meeting & Virtual Member Update
The AFDOSS Business Meeting & Membership Update is tomorrow, October 27 at 9 a.m. EDT. AFDOSS is hosting this event to share important board updates and annual AFDOSS news with the entire membership. Meet the new 2020-2021 AFDOSS Board and hear the latest updates on activities pertaining to AFDO and AFDOSS!
Meeting Details:
2020 AFDOSS Annual Business Meeting & Virtual Member Update
https://afdo.my.webex.com/afdo.my/j.php?MTID=m4d5f41cc71b83806866f8581477a743b
Meeting number: 126 083 9581
Password: PPswS9pAC87 (77797972 from phones and video systems)
abec86a34cfa43858206f8e099e41a96
Join by video system
Dial 1260839581@webex.com
You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number.
Join by phone
+1-510-338-9438 USA Toll
Access code: 126 083 9581
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Today's FDA Webinar Full - Recording Will be Available:
The First 100 Days: New Era of Smarter Food Safety
The FDA webinar scheduled for today, October 26, 2020 from 3 to 4 p.m. on the highlights of the first 100 days since FDA issued its blueprint for the New Era of Smarter Food Safety is full. During this one-hour webinar, Deputy Commissioner Frank Yiannas and leaders of the four Core Elements of the blueprint will discuss the new approach FDA is taking to food safety, leveraging technology and other tools to create a safer and more digital, traceable food system. A recording will be made available as soon as possible.
You will hear about:
- The people at FDA who are leading this effort, their vision for achieving the goals set forth in the blueprint, and an inside look at how they are doing that.
- The milestones/achievements of the first 100 days since the blueprint was issued.
- Key next steps and priorities for the next two years – and beyond.
- Our plans to engage with stakeholders
Remarks provided by:
- Frank Yiannas, Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response, FDA
- Leaders of the Core Element teams:
- Core Element 1: Tech Enabled Traceability
- Core Element 2: Smarter Tools and Approaches for Prevention and Outbreak Response
- Core Element 3: New Business Models and Retail Modernization
- Core Element 4: Food Safety Culture
Date: Monday, October 26, 2020
Time: 3:00PM - 4:00PM EDT
*The webinar is full, but it will be recorded and posted on the FDA website.
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Webinar Announcement:
Your Questions, Your Topics: Body Art Regulations and Innovations
Join AFDO and the Body Art Committee for a one-of-a-kind thought-provoking body art adventure with a panel of body art experts including environmental health specialists, body artists that specialize in different techniques, FDA regulators past and present.
This interactive session will answer your questions about the behind-the-scenes focus on COVID-19 in the body art world, color additives, FDA regulations impacting the body art industry, tattoo pigments, the overview of cosmetic tattooing and much more!
YOU are in control of the content of this webinar. Please submit your questions at the link below by October 26, 2020, and every effort will be made to address topics you bring forward through your questions during this webinar.
Date: November 2, 2020
Time: 2:00PM - 3:30PM ET
Speakers:
• Hannah Wolf, Tattoo Artist
• Katherine Martinez, Environmental Health Specialist, Kent County
• Lou Rubino, Owner of World Famous Tattoo Ink, Tattoo Lous, United Ink, Ultimate Tattoo Supply, and Kuro Sumi Ink
• Kay Lewis, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• Michael Crea, Executive Director, Florida Environmental Health Association
• John Misock, Ceutical Labs
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Recording Available:
New Era of Smarter Food Safety Blueprint: What Does It Mean for the Regulatory Community?
FDA released the New Era of Smarter Food Safety Blueprint on July 13, outlining the agency’s plans over the next 10 years to create a more digital, traceable, and safer food system. Frank Yiannas, FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Food Safety and Response, took a deeper dive into the plan including areas of particular interest to state and local government staffs, and how AFDO members and stakeholders will play a role in its success. If you missed this hour of comments and questions, here is your chance to catch the insights Yiannas shared October 14th.
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FSIS Posts After-Action Review Report for Salmonella Reading Outbreak Linked to Turkey
FSIS has posted an after-action review report for the investigation of a 2017–2019 outbreak of Salmonella Reading illnesses associated with turkey. Public health officials in multiple states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FSIS, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and the National Turkey Federation (NTF) investigated an outbreak of 356 reported Salmonella Reading illnesses linked to turkey.
In contrast to many other foodborne outbreaks that are associated with a specific brand or source of product, evidence suggested that this outbreak was linked to multiple producers of turkey products and that the outbreak strain was spread throughout the turkey industry. This outbreak response, in which government and industry worked together toward their shared goal to protect consumers, has been used as a model for government-industry collaboration in subsequent outbreak investigations. In response to this outbreak, NTF published best practices for reducing Salmonella in turkeys and turkey products.
The purpose of FSIS outbreak investigation after-action review reports is to share lessons learned with industry and public health partners to help prevent illness and improve response.
To view the full report, visit https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/foodborne-outbreak-investigation/outbreak-salmonella-turkey-2017-2019.
To view additional reports and learn more about outcomes of FSIS outbreak investigations, visit https://www.fsis.usda.gov/OutbreakOutcomes
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FDA Seeks Input on Labeling of Food Made with Cultured Seafood Cells
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is issuing a Request for Information titled “Labeling of Foods Comprised of or Containing Cultured Seafood Cells,” to solicit information and data to help inform the agency and help determine what next steps may be needed to ensure that these foods are labeled properly.
Various companies, both domestic and foreign, are developing products using animal cell culture technology, and these products may soon enter the U.S. marketplace. This technology involves the controlled growth of animal cells and their harvesting and processing into food, either alone or combined with other food. The FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have agreed to jointly oversee the production of food products derived from the cultured cells of livestock and poultry while the FDA will regulate food products derived from the cultured cells of species under its jurisdiction, such as seafood (except Siluriformes fish, commonly known as catfish, which is regulated by the USDA).
The labeling of food derived from cultured seafood cells generally falls under the jurisdiction of the FDA while the labeling of food derived from cultured meat and poultry cells will be overseen by the USDA. The FDA and USDA are working to develop joint principles for product labeling and claims to ensure that products are labeled consistently and transparently.
Further information available here
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FDA to Hold Public Meetings to Discuss the Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods: Proposed Rule
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be holding a series of three virtual one-day public meetings to discuss the recently released proposed rule “Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods.” The purpose of the public meetings is to discuss the proposed rule, which was issued under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. These public meetings are intended to facilitate and support the public's evaluation and commenting process on the proposed rule.
First Virtual Public Meeting
November 6, 2020, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. EST
Register for November 6, 2020
Second Virtual Public Meeting
November 18, 2020, 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. EST
Register for November 18, 2020
Third Virtual Public Meeting
December 2, 2020, 11:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. EST
Register for December 2, 2020
Registration is required to attend one of the virtual meetings. Space is limited so please register early. For general questions about the meetings, contact Juanita Yates, FDA, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, e-mail: Juanita.Yates@fda.hhs.gov.
More information here!
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40th Annual Food Safety & Sanitation (FSS) Workshop is FREE This Year!
The Northwest Food Safety & Sanitation Workshop addresses basic sanitation as well as cutting edge issues related to food sanitation and food safety. Topics having broad interest are covered in the general sessions. There are more specific subjects discussed in small breakout sessions, with basic and advanced tracks available.
You must register to receive the Zoom link. All interested attendees are required to have their own registration.
Please visit our website for additional workshop information and registration: http://ext100.wsu.edu/foodsanitation/
See more information here:
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Milk and Shellfish Grant Program:
Grant Portal Closes Tomorrow - October 27, 2020
The 2021 Milk and Shellfish Grant Program is open until October 27 so plan now! 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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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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Spotlight for Food Protection Blog
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Meijer Recalls Whole Cantaloupes and Select Cut Cantaloupe Trays Due to Potential Health Risk
Meijer, in conjunction with Eagle Produce, LLC in Aguila, AZ., is announcing a voluntary recall of whole cantaloupe and select cut cantaloupe fruit trays and bowls. The recall is part of a sampling investigation by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and is due to the potential risk of Salmonella.
Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis. Read the full article....
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Other Training Opportunities
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Preventive Controls for Human Foods and Foreign Supplier Verification Programs
Intentional Adulteration Conducting Vulnerability Assessments (IAVA) Pilot (vILT) – NEW – 1 Day – Course Information Page
Preventive Controls for Human Foods (PCQI) Blended Course Part 2 Virtual (vILT) – NEW – 1 Day – Course Information 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
- 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
Click here to access the schedule of online FSVP-QI courses
- Intentional Adulteration Vulnerability Qualified Individuals (IAVA-QI) Courses
- 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
October 19 - 20, 2020
October 21 - 23, 2020
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