Reportable Food Registry - First 6 months - 7/28/2010

For Immediate Release: July 28, 2010
Media Inquiries: Ira Allen, 301-796-5349, Ira.Allen@fda.hhs.gov
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA
New Early Detection System Helps FDA Identify More than 100 Food Safety Problems in First Seven Months
Electronic portal speeds identification and investigation of potential health hazards in human food, animal feed, pet food industries
More than 100 food safety reports were submitted by industry to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s new electronic portal in its first months of operation, the agency said today.
Mandated by Congress, the Reportable Food Registry (the Registry) is a new system that requires manufacturers, processors, packers and distributors to immediately report to the government safety problems with food and animal feed, including pet food, that are likely to result in serious health consequences.
“The FDA’s new reporting system has already proven itself an invaluable tool to help prevent contaminated food from reaching the public,” said FDA Deputy Commissioner for Foods Michael R. Taylor.
A report summarizing the Registry’s first seven months of operation (September 2009 -March 2010) finds that it logged 125 primary reports – initial reports about a safety concern with a food or animal feed (including food ingredients) – and 1,638 subsequent reports from suppliers or recipients of a food or feed for which a primary report had been submitted, from both domestic and foreign sources. These reports help FDA and the food industry locate hazardous foods in the supply chain and prevent them from reaching consumers.
Two notable reports first identified through the Registry prompted the following:
• A February 2010 recall of hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), without any report of illness. More than 1,000 industry reports specifically for products containing HVP resulted in the removal of 177 products from commerce.
• A November 2009 recall of products containing sulfites but not labeled as such. More than 100 reports regarding the inadvertent use of an ingredient containing sulfites in two nationally distributed prepared side dishes that were not labeled as containing sulfites resulted in their removal without any reports of illness.

Among the 125 primary reports, Salmonella accounted for 37 percent of hazards, undeclared allergens or intolerances accounted for 35 percent, and Listeria monocytogenes accounted for 13 percent. Among the 11 different commodity categories involved were: 14 animal feed or pet food, 12 seafood, 11 spices and seasonings, and 10 dairy products. Because the Registry has been operational for only a short period, it is too early to draw inferences concerning patterns of food and feed adulteration.
“Industry is increasingly detecting contamination incidents through its own testing, and FDA access to this information permits us to better target our inspection resources and verify that appropriate corrective measures have been taken,” Taylor said. “Ensuring that the American food supply is safe is a top priority of the FDA, and the Reportable Food Registry strengthens our ability to help prevent foodborne illness.”
Under legislation enacted in 2007 that created the Registry, industry must report foods or feeds that present a reasonable probability of serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals to the FDA within 24 hours. The law does not apply to infant formula or dietary supplements, which are covered by other mandatory reporting systems. The Registry does not receive reports about drugs or other medical products, reports about products under the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or reports from consumers.
If information indicates that a food or feed product may have been intentionally adulterated, the FDA immediately notifies the Department of Homeland Security.
For more information:
The Reportable Food Registry Report
http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/FoodSafetyPrograms/RFR/ucm200958.htmThe Reportable Food Registry – At A Glance
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodSafety/FoodSafetyPrograms/RFR/UCM181885.pdf

Two new e-learning courses available at NEHA - 7/27/2010

NEHA and the CDC have just launched two new courses in the insect and rodent control (IRC) sector. Bedbugs are becoming a national problem and public health officials need these new resources to help control the problem. Here is the synopsises of the two courses. http://www.neha.org/elearning/index.html

CDC1001: Biology and Control of Vectors and Public Health Pests: The Importance of Integrated Pest ManagementThis is a 2 ½ day workshop recorded in New Orleans, LA in January of 2010. The course includes lecture, discussion and visual training on integrated pest management (IPM) to control insects and rodents with a specific emphasis on the biology and control of rodents and bed bugs. This course is a modified and updated version of CDC0702, Biology and Control of Insects and Rodents but does not include all previous modules such as tick control and bioterrorism. In addition to detailed training in rodent and bed bug control, this course also includes a new module on the effect of global climate change on pests and disease vectors.

CDC0702: Biology and Control of Insects and Rodents
This program is a 2-day pre-conference workshop recorded at the 2007 and 2008 AECs. The courses includes lecture and discussion on integrated pest management (IPM), vector-borne diseases, biology and control of insect and rodent vectors and public health pests, effective pest control methods, and vector-borne diseases as possible bioterror agents.

Establishment of new "National Ocean Council" 7/23/2010

Read the entire executive order at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-18169.htm

Executive Order 13547--Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the
Great Lakes
Executive Order 13547 of July 19, 2010


Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the
Great Lakes

By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Purpose. The ocean, our coasts, and the
Great Lakes provide jobs, food, energy resources,
ecological services, recreation, and tourism
opportunities, and play critical roles in our Nation's
transportation, economy, and trade, as well as the
global mobility of our Armed Forces and the maintenance
of international peace and security. The Deepwater
Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and resulting
environmental crisis is a stark reminder of how
vulnerable our marine environments are, and how much
communities and the Nation rely on healthy and
resilient ocean and coastal ecosystems. America's
stewardship of the ocean, our coasts, and the Great
Lakes is intrinsically linked to environmental
sustainability, human health and well-being, national
prosperity, adaptation to climate and other
environmental changes, social justice, international
diplomacy, and national and homeland security.

This order adopts the recommendations of the
Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force, except where
otherwise provided in this order, and directs executive
agencies to implement those recommendations under the
guidance of a National Ocean Council. Based on those
recommendations, this order establishes a national
policy to ensure the protection, maintenance, and
restoration of the health of ocean, coastal, and Great
Lakes ecosystems and resources, enhance the
sustainability of ocean and coastal economies, preserve
our maritime heritage, support sustainable uses and
access, provide for adaptive management to enhance our
understanding of and capacity to respond to climate
change and ocean acidification, and coordinate with our
national security and foreign policy interests.

This order also provides for the development of coastal
and marine spatial plans that build upon and improve
existing Federal, State, tribal, local, and regional
decisionmaking and planning processes. These regional
plans will enable a more integrated, comprehensive,
ecosystem-based, flexible, and proactive approach to
planning and managing sustainable multiple uses across
sectors and improve the conservation of the ocean, our
coasts, and the Great Lakes.

HACCP for Processors Online Course - 7/22/2010

The latest online offering from NEHA is heading to beta testing and should be ready for purchase in about six weeks. HACCP for Processors is an in-depth, industry specific look at HACCP with regards to Processors and Manufacturers. In addition to the core module, the course will also look at the specific needs different segments of the processing community. The first course, while relevant in any segment of processing, will focus on HACCP for Bottle Water Processors.

Keep an eye on our web pages for further announcements
www.nehatraining.org
www.nehahaccp.org
National Environmental Health Association

Constituent Updates FDA Releases Details on How Retail Food Establishments and Vending Machine Operators with Fewer than 20 Locations Can Choose to Become Subject to the New Federal Menu Labeling Requirements

Constituent Updates FDA Releases Details on How Retail Food Establishments and Vending Machine Operators with Fewer than 20 Locations Can Choose to Become Subject to the New Federal Menu Labeling Requirements

Television Viewing Among Small Children - 7/19/2010

According to an article put out by the CDC this week. Studies indicate excessive TV and video viewing (more than 2 hours a day) by children aged 2 years is associated with impaired childhood development and childhood obesity. Article can be found here

NEHA releases position paper on Offshore Oil Drilling - 7/15/2010

NEHA Announces Position on Offshore Oil Drilling
NEHA’s board of directors just released a position paper on offshore oil drilling. Some of the board’s recommendations include the following:


Support legislation to require an accurate, comprehensive, and reviewed contingency plan for worst-case scenario prior to the issuance of any new drilling permit.
Support legislation that improves and increases a disaster relief fund such as the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF). For this and future disasters, the fund should have government oversight but be funded by the oil companies and managed by a neutral third party. Any and all fines levied on offshore drilling rigs should be put into this fund.
Support legislation to reorganize the Minerals Management Service, and move it from the Department of the Interior to U.S. EPA. This will separate the inspection and regulatory staff from revenue collection and development staff and place them in a separate federal agency.

EPA Strategic Plan for 2011 to 2015. Long term vision includes strong sustainability initiatives - 7/15/2010

EPA Strategic Plan - EPA Policies and Programs - The National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology (NACEPT), an EPA Advisory Committee, has scheduled a public teleconference for July 22, 2010 in Washington, DC to discuss comments it is developing on the draft EPA FY 2011-2015 Strategic Plan. -

To view or download the plan, go to http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-16328.htm

FDA looks at recordkeeping for HACCP. Is electronic the way to go? - 7/15/2010

Juice Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Procedures (HACCP) - FDA is seeking public comments on the paperwork and regulatory burdens associated with the "...recordkeeping requirements for applying hazard analysis and critical control point (HAACP) procedures for safe and sanitary processing for processors of fruit and vegetable juice..." - FDA notes that "... Information development and recordkeeping are essential parts of any HACCP system. The information collection requirements are narrowly tailored to focus on the development of appropriate controls and document those aspects of processing that are critical to food safety..."




Web site: The July 14, 2010 FDA Federal Register Notice is posted at:
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-17150.htm

HACCP for Processors Course - 7/14/2010

Following the continued growth and use of the HACCP for Retail Food Operations online course http://www.nehahaccp.org/ that compliments the NEHA hard copy training material, NEHA is getting ready to launch a new course on HACCP for Processors and Manufacturers. Keep an eye on this page and we'll make sure to give you "breaking news" as it launches!