FSIS / United States Department of Agriculture
Food Safety and Inspection Service
OPPED Regulatory Developments Communique’
September 2, 2005 / Volume 1, Number 16
In This Issue:
Issuances
FSIS Directive 5420 Food Defense Verification Procedures
FR Notice Request for New Information
Public Meeting Salmonella in Poultry
FSIS Directive 6030.1 Religious Exemption
FSIS Directive 5610.1 Consumer Complaint Monitoring System
FSIS Notice 50-05 Incident Investigation Teams
FR Notice 05-024N HACCP Review
Organizational Activities
Dr.Masters Administrator
Bryce Quick Deputy Administrator
Dr. Mann Deputy Under Secretary
New Technology Speech
Diversity Conference
MSG Meeting
Tips of the Week / Issuances
FSIS Directive 5420.1 Revision 2
Homeland Security Threat condition Response-Food Defense Verification Procedures
On July 20, 2005, FSIS issued a revised version of the directive that details Food Defense Verification Procedures that inspection program personnel will follow when a threat condition yellow, orange, or red is declared by the Department of Homeland Security.
This directive was reissued in its entirety to clarify how inspection program personnel are to document findings when they find a food defense breach or concern, and there is evidence of product adulteration. Specifically, the directive provides instructions for the Inspector-In-Charge (IIC) to inquire whether an establishment has a food plan that is written, implemented, tested, assessed and maintained and addresses food defense concerns such as general security, slaughter and processing security, and storage security.
Federal Register Notice Docket No. 05-019N
Notice of Request for a New Information Collection
(Voluntary Recalls of Meat and Poultry Products)
On August 2, 2005, FSIS issued a notice in the Federal Register on the Agency’s intention to collect information regarding the voluntary recalls from commerce of meat and poultry products. The question of how much product was received by a retail consignee has been a matter of controversy in recalls. Sometimes the Agency is not able to obtain this information. Therefore, FSIS is revising its Report of Recall effectiveness form to provide a space for an explanation of why the amount of product received by a retail consignee cannot be determined. Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary, when this information is not available; (b) the accuracy of FSIS’ estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection on those who are to respond.
For more information contact John O’Connell.
Federal Register Notice Docket No. 05-027
Public Meeting on Advances in the Pre-Harvest Reduction of Salmonella in Poultry
Patty Bennet of the TAS staff attended the meeting and wrote the following summary.
A public meeting on “Advances in Pre-Harvest Reduction of Salmonella in Poultry” was held August 25-26, 2005 in Athens, Georgia. The meeting included presentations on research as well as practical experiences aimed at reducing Salmonella at the poultry production level before poultry reaches federally inspected plants. There were three goals for this meeting: determine the adequacy of available interventions, identify promising new interventions and ways to implement them, and identify gaps in the overall process. Several of the presenters discussed food safety Best Management Practices (BMP) emphasizing the importance of good sanitation practices including rodent and moisture control as well as biosecurity measures. There were several lectures on the pros and cons of using Competitive Exclusion products, vaccinations, and bacteriocins as a means of augmenting what is being accomplished already through sanitation. Almost uniformly, presenters rejected the promise of a “magic bullet” and instead embraced multiple interventions as the most prudent and realistic means for reducing Salmonella at the production level. They encouraged continued focus on effective management practices coupled with updated policies and protocols for the use of vaccinations, Competitive Exclusion, bacteriocins, and bacteriophages, recognizing that some interventions are more effective than others at different levels of production, and that there is often a synergistic effect when several protocols are implemented throughout the system.
This meeting was the first in a series of public meetings that FSIS intends to hold to discuss new approaches for strengthening food safety. An agenda is available on the FSIS website at
FSIS Directive 6030.1 Revision 1
Religious Exemption for the Slaughter and Processing of Poultry
On August 8, 2005, FSIS issued a directive providing instructions to inspection program personnel for verifying that establishments are properly operating under a religious exemption for slaughter and handling of poultry. This directive announces the use of the new poultry exemption form (FSIS form 6030-1) which is a combination of the four previously used forms.
For more information contact Teresa Taylor.
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FSIS Directive 5610.1
Procedures to Complement the Consumer Complaint Monitoring System (CCMS)
On August 8, 2005, FSIS issued a directive that describes the purpose and activities of the Consumer Complaint Monitoring System (CCMS). The CCMS is an electronic database used by FSIS to record, triage, analyze, and track all consumer complaints reported to the Agency. The complaints that are tracked by the system include those reported to FSIS by a state local health department or another federal agency such as FNS, AMS or FDA. It also includes complaints that involve imported products that have been reinspected by FSIS at ports of entry. The FSIS Human Health Science Division of the Office of Public Health Science is responsible for the overall management of the CCMS program. For more information, contact Mary Poretta.
FSIS Notice 50-05
Availability of Specialized Methodologies for Incident Investigation Teams.
On August 10, 2005, FSIS issued a notice that announces the availability of the specialized methodology, Incident Investigation Team Methodology for Escherichia coli (E. coli) 0157:H7 in Beef Slaughter Establishments. This methodology will be used by incident investigation teams as instructed in FSIS Directive 6500.2, Incident Investigation Team Reviews.
The specialized methodology is available on the FSIS web site at: http: Management Policies
Note in the Communique 7/1/04, number 5, FSIS Directive 6500.1 which established the Emergency Management Committee (EMC) whose responsibility it is to address emergency incidents such as grave or potentially grave threats to public health involving an FSIS-regulated product. At times, the EMC may need to form an Incident Investigation Team (IIT) to investigate and provide information regarding an emergency incident.
IITs typically include persons who can conduct investigations, review microbial testing, analyze scientific data, examine epidemiological evidence and who are familiar with FSIS’s regulations and chain of command.
The IIT conducts a review of the establishment that is being investigated and if appropriate uses the specialized methodologies for specific reviews that are available on the FSIS web page. After the review, the IIT writes a report that documents relevant findings and is then sent to the relevant Assistant Administrator and the Emergency Management Committee.
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Federal Register Notice Docket No. 05-024N
Notice of Section 610 Regulatory Flexibility Act review of the Pathogen Reduction Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) Systems Final Rule
(Impact of HACCP Regulations on Small and very Small Plants)
On August 12, 2005, FSIS issued a Federal Register notice announcing that it is seeking public comments on the impact of the HACCP regulations on small and very small plants. FSIS is conducting a review of the regulations established by the Pathogen Reduction/HACCP final rule under section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. These provisions require all Federal agencies review existing regulations that have significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities to determine whether the impact can be minimized.
All comments on this notice must be received on or before October 11, 2005.
For more information contact Dr. Quita Bowman Blackwell.
Organizational Activities
Dr. Masters Appointed New FSIS Administrator
On August 1, 2005, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced the appointment of Dr. Barbara Masters as the new FSIS Administrator.
As a veterinarian with FSIS since 1989, Master has held a number of positions both in plants and headquarters. She has served as the acting administrator of FSIS since March 1, 2004.
Bryce Quick Named new FSIS Deputy Administrator
On September 1, 2005, USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Raymond named Bryce Quick as FSIS’s Deputy Administrator.
Quick joined FSIS in 2001 and most recently served as the Assistant Administrator of the Office of Public Affairs, education and Outreach.
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Dr. Curt Mann Appointed as Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety
On August 12, 2005, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced the appointment of Dr. Curt Mann as the Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety. Previously, Dr. Mann served with the White House Security Council as the Director of Agriculture and Water Security. Prior to his White House service, Mann was a special assistant to the Secretary of Agriculture where he focused on coordinating the Department’s role in Homeland Security. Mann has also practiced as a clinical veterinarian, served as a professional staff member in Congress on the House Committee on Agriculture, and as executive director of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges.
New Technology Presentation at the Institute of Food Technology (IFT)
Patrick Burke gave a presentation about FSIS’sNew Technology activities at the IFT annual meeting and Food Expo in New Orleans, LA., July 16-20. Burke’s speech provides
information about FSIS’s definition of new technology and examples of new technologies
that are submitted to the Agency for review.
The attachment below contains the full speech.
7th Annual Diversity Conference
On August 16-18, 2005, the Agency held its seventh Annual Diversity Conference, the theme of which was “Hand in Hand with Diversity.” Forty four OPPED employees (ranging from GS-5 to the SES) attended the conference organized by the Civil Rights Division of the Office of Management.
The conference has grown better every year and is not simply about our EEO/CR rating element or some Departmental mandate. There was a broad array of workshop subjects offered which included topics like “Healthy Eating for Very Busy People.” “Enhance Your Career by Managing Your Performance,” “Building Trust,” “Disability Awareness,” and “New Frontier in EEO Law” to name just a few. There was time set aside for program areas to hold forums to foster open communication and direction of the program.
The conference demonstrated the Agency’s commitment to creating an organization that values, respects, accommodates, and makes use of the individual talents of each and every FSIS employee. The conference was well attended by folks from all parts of the Agency, including many from field locations. There was ample time for and encouragement of networking and learning more about our colleagues across the Agency and the country. If you have not been to the Annual Diversity Conference or have not attended in a number of years, make an effort to do so next year. You will find it a rewarding, learning experience.
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Monosodium Glutamate (MSG Meeting)
On August 17, LCPS and other representatives from the Agency met with officials from the Glutamate Association on the issue of MSG as a source of adverse reactions (food intolerance) in sensitive individuals. The focus of the discussion was FSIS Notice 45-05, Verification of Activities related to an Establishment’s Controls for the use of Ingredients of Public Health Concern, which reminds inspectors of existing tasks related to verifying that establishments have considered the steps necessary to ensure that ingredients are controlled and declared on labeling. The notice lists examples of substances that have been reported to be potential sources of food sensitivity. It was The FSIS attendees explained that the focus of the notice is not to define substances that cause sensitivities; rather it cites examples of substances associated with recalls of products because of undeclared ingredients.
Further, while there are credible research reports that dismiss assertions that MSG causes food sensitivities, nevertheless consumers have reported adverse reactions to consuming MSG. FSIS will include questions and answers to address this issue as a follow-up to FSIS notice 45-05.
Tips of the Week from LCPS
- Calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium chloride, magnesium and sulfur
- Trace minerals are those required in the diet in amounts less than 100 mg
- Boron, chromium, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium,
- Fluorine, cobalt, and nickel are other trace minerals that may be necessary in
- Amino acids are organic acids, containing both amino group (NH2) and
- This weekend, think about eating fewer calories, being more active and
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