WASHINGTON NEWS
The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture on April 18 released data showing that the prevalence of Salmonella in raw meat and poultry has decreased compared to studies conducted prior to the 1998 implementation of the pathogen reduction/HACCP system of inspection. Combined test results for establishments of all sizes show lower Salmonella prevalence in 1998–2001 than in baseline studies: for broilers, 10.7% under HACCP, compared to 20.0% prior to HACCP; market hogs, 5.4% vs 8.7%; cows and bulls, 2.2% vs 2.7%; steers and heifers, 0.4% vs 1.0%; ground beef, 3.4% vs 7.5%; ground chicken, 15.7% vs 44.6%; and ground turkey, 29.2% vs 49.9%. Details can be found at www.fsis.usda.gov.
Guidance regarding food-contact petitions available
The Food and Drug Administration has announced the availability of two documents providing guidance for industry regarding the preparation of food-contact notifications and food additive petitions for food-contact substances. Details are in the Federal Register of April 11 (67 FR 17703-17704). For more information, contact Mitchell Cheeseman at FDA, 5100 Paint Branch Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740-3835 (phone 202-418-3083).
Grants available for food safety research
FDA is soliciting applications for approximately $750,000 in grants for fiscal year 2002 for collaborative research efforts in five project areas to reduce the incidence of foodborne illness and to protect the nation’s food supply, food additives, and dietary supplements. Deadline for applications is May 30. Details are in the Federal Register of April 15 (67 FR 18227-18230). For more information, contact Maura Stephanos at FDA, 5600 Fishers Ln., Rockville, MD 20857 (phone 301-827-7183).
Antimicrobial agent approved for processed produce
FDA is allowing use of acidified sodium chlorite solutions as an antimicrobial agent in water applied to processed fruits and vegetables, including those that are ground, chopped, sliced, cut, or peeled, in response to a petition filed by Alcide Corp. Details are in the Federal Register of April 3 (67 FR 15719-15720). For more information, contact Robert L. Martin at FDA, 5100 Paint Branch Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740 (phone 202-418-3074).
Workshop on food labeling scheduled
FDA has announced that a public workshop will be held on August 14–15 in Dallas, Tex., to provide information about FDA food labeling regulations, allergen declaration, and other related matters to industry, particularly small businesses and startups. Pre-registration deadline is July 31. Details are in the Federal Register of March 29 (67 FR 15211-15212). For more information, contact David Arvelo or Sue Thomason at FDA, 7920 Elmbrook Dr., Dallas, TX 75247 (phone 214-655-8100 ext. 130 or 128).
Grants available for TSE research
FDA is soliciting applications for approximately $500,000 in grants for fiscal year 2002 for collaborative research efforts in the area of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies to avoid their presence in the nation’s food supply, food additives, and dietary supplements. Deadline for applications is June 10. Details are in the Federal Register of April 11 (67 FR 17701-17703). For more information, contact Maura Stephanos at FDA, 5600 Fishers Ln., Rockville, MD 20857 (phone 301-827-7183).
Food safety education conference scheduled
A second national conference on food safety education will be held in Orlando, Fla., on September 18–20, 2002. The first national conference, held in June 1997 in Washington, D.C., was devoted to adopting new strategies to educate consumers about safe food handling behaviors. The 2002 conference, “Thinking Globally—Working Locally: A Conference on Food Safety Education,” will focus on the food safety education implications of the global nature of the food supply, while recognizing that worldwide food safety education is very much a local effort. The conference is sponsored by FSIS, USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, FDA, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in cooperation with the Partnership for Food Safety Education. More information is available at www.fsis.usda.gov/Orlando2002 or from USDA Graduate School (phone 202-314-3459).
by NEIL H. MERMELSTEIN
Editor
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