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IAFP 2018 is here!
Chances are that, while you’re reading this issue of
IAFP Report, staff, exhibitors, Pre-Meeting Workshop attendees, and others are traveling to or are already in Salt Lake City, Utah, preparing for our biggest food safety event of the year! If you
plan on attending but have yet to register, save time onsite by doing so online. Our attendance is looking to be another record-breaker, which we’ve already accomplished with this year’s exhibitors and exhibit booths. You won’t want to miss “Mountains of Food
Safety” at IAFP 2018.
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Registered attendees can now download the
IAFP 2018 app to plan your Salt Lake City experience! It’s free and available for use on Android, iPhone, iPad and Mobile Web. Manage your meeting schedule and appointments; access program
information and exhibitor details; network with fellow attendees; and receive news, announcements and event information in real time.
Go here to learn more
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Comments or suggestions
for IAFP Report may be sent directly to the Contents Editor, Dr. Jeff Farber, Department of Food Science, University of Guelph. E-mail:
jfa...@uoguelph.ca.
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Upcoming Food Safety Events
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·
IAFP 2018 Pre-Meeting Workshops,
July 6–7, 2018.
Go here for more information.
·
IAFP 2018, July 8–11, 2018, Salt
Lake City, Utah.
Go here for more information.
·
IAFP’s 6th Latin American Symposium on Food Safety,
September 25–27, 2018, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Go here for more information.
·
Dubai International Food Safety Conference and IAFP’s Middle East Symposium on Food Safety,
October 29–31, 2018, Dubai, UAE.
Go here for more information.
·
China International Food Safety and Quality Conference (CIFSQ) + Exhibition,
November 7–8, 2018, Shanghai, China.
Go here for more information.
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Highlights from July–August
Food Protection Trends
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An assessment was conducted at the abattoir of Shire Endaselassie to evaluate the suitability of implementation of hazard analysis critical control points (HACCP) by small-scale
abattoirs in the Tigray region of Ethopia. In a study, an alternative to tunnel pasteurization is tested in a hot-fill method of pasteurization of cucumber pickle spears. To address food safety- and sanitation-related knowledge, behavior, attitude, and skills
of farmstead cheesemakers in the U.S., a customized counter-top food safety and sanitation training program was developed, disseminated, and evaluated. Using a food recovery program at a large, land-grant university, food-handling behaviors of student volunteers
were observed in-person and compared to self-reported behaviors and self-identified training needs gathered. Read
more here.
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Featured Abstract from
Journal of Food Protection
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The featured article in the June issue was “Transfer and Redistribution of
Salmonella Typhimurium LT2 and
Escherichia coli O157:H7 during Pilot-Scale Processing of Baby Spinach, Cilantro, and Romaine Lettuce.”
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Using Antimicrobials Responsibly
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Antimicrobials are important to safeguard the health of humans and animals, but these medicines need to be used responsibly, according to the Food and Agricultural Organization’s
(FAO’s) Director-General at a recent high-level United Nations coordination meeting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). “FAO advocates that antibiotics and other antimicrobials should only be used to cure diseases and alleviate unnecessary suffering. Only under
strict circumstances should they be used to prevent an imminent threat of infection,” he said. Increased use – and abuse – in both human and animal healthcare has contributed to an increase in the number of disease-causing microbes that are resistant to antimicrobial
medicines used to treat them.
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Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Pre-Cut Melons
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local officials are investigating a multi-state outbreak
of Salmonella Adelaide infections, likely linked to pre-cut melons as the source. As of June 19, 2018, CDC reports that there are now 70 cases in seven states with 34 hospitalizations. Illnesses
occurred from April 30, 2018 to June 3, 2018; no deaths have been reported. The product has been recalled.
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Putting on the Food Safety Pressure
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A Michigan couple is killing foodborne pathogens and extending the shelf life of foods while making their state home to one of the largest high-pressure processing machines
in the world. High-pressure pasteurization (HPP) can kill a variety of pathogens in food. The process, which can be applied to food after packaging, also extends shelf life.
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The U.S. FDA has announced a public meeting titled “Foods Produced Using Animal Cell Culture Technology.” Scheduled for July 12, 2018 at the FDA’s Center for Food Safety
and Applied Nutrition in College Park, Maryland, the meeting will provide the public with an opportunity to submit comments related to the production of foods using animal cell culture technology.
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Enhancing Openness and Transparency
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Government of Canada departments and agencies are working to maximize release of government data and information to support transparency, accountability, citizen engagement,
and socio-economic benefits. In support of this initiative, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) intends to refresh its approach to openness and transparency by releasing more information about its regulatory and scientific activities, decisions, programs
and services in useful, timely, and accessible formats. Comments are being accepted until
August 2, 2018.
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Cyclospora Outbreak Linked to Pre-Cut Fresh Vegetables
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One hundred eighty-five people from four states are confirmed to be infected by
Cyclospora linked to a specific brand of pre-cut vegetable trays, according to an outbreak update posted June 28, 2018 by the CDC. Seven people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.
The product is under recall.
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Food Safety during Power Outages
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During a power outage, the clock starts ticking on the safety of your perishable foods. If you’re aware of an approaching summer storm or hurricane, prepare yourself with
some helpful resources from the USDA before, during and after the power is out.
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The U.S. President is seeking executive reorganization authority to consolidate federal food safety under a single agency housed in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The
U.S. FDA, along with USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) are currently the two top federal food safety agencies. The CDC assists with foodborne outbreak investigations but does not have responsibility for food safety rules or enforcement of them.
“To address this fragmented and illogical division of federal oversight, FSIS and the food safety functions of FDA would be consolidated into a single agency within USDA, called the Federal Food Safety Agency,” according to the President’s Office of Executive
Management and Budget.
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Key Step will Help Streamline Requirements
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As part of the U.S. FDA and the USDA’s ongoing effort to make the oversight of food safety stronger and more efficient, the Agencies recently announced the alignment of
the USDA Harmonized Good Agricultural Practices Audit Program with the requirements of the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The new step is part of an ongoing effort to streamline produce safety requirements for farmers and will help by enabling
them to assess their food safety practices as they prepare to comply with the Produce Safety Rule.
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The Economics of Food Safety
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It’s been nine years since the signing of FSMA and nearly three years since the first of the seven foundational rules became final and larger businesses began their preventive
controls. With at least some aspects of all seven rules in effect, how do we measure the efficacy of this landmark rule? Are the investments and activities of FSMA producing the desired results? What is the economic impact from grower to consumer? This article
addresses these questions and others regarding the economics of food safety.
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Safe Food for Canadians Regulations
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The recently published final
Safe Food for Canadians Regulations will make the country’s food system even safer by focusing on prevention and reducing the time it takes to remove unsafe food from the marketplace. The
regulations will come into force on January 15, 2019. The period between the final publication of the regulations in the Canada Gazette, Part II (CGII) and coming into force will give businesses time to familiarize themselves with and prepare for the new requirements,
including licensing, traceability and preventive controls. Some requirements will have to be met immediately upon coming into force, while others will be phased in over a period of 12–30 months based on food commodity, type of activity and business size.
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Two FSMA Draft Guidances Released
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The U.S. FDA recently issued draft guidance to help animal food facilities needing a supply-chain program meet those requirements under the Current Good Manufacturing Practice,
Hazard Analysis, and Risk-based Preventive Controls for Animals rule (PC Animal Food rule). Mandated by FSMA, the animal food preventive controls requirements require animal food manufacturers receiving raw materials and ingredients to develop and implement
a risk-based supply-chain program when the facility determines that a supply-chain-applied control is the appropriate preventive control for a hazard in an incoming ingredient.
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The first of three installments of a draft guidance document designed to support compliance with the Intentional Adulteration (IA) Rule under FSMA was recently released.
The remaining two installments are expected to come out later in 2018. The final rule on intentional adulteration is designed to address hazards that may be intentionally introduced to foods, including by acts of terrorism, with the intent to cause wide-spread
harm to public health.
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20 Actions to Transforming Food and Agriculture
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To help policymakers and other development actors accelerate progress toward global promises to end poverty and hunger, FAO has released a set of 20 interconnected actions
designed to show the impact sustainable agriculture can have on tackling the world’s greatest challenges.
Transforming Food and Agriculture to Achieve the SDGs offers a practical guide for countries on how to strengthen food security; generate decent employment; spur rural development and economic growth;
conserve natural resources; and respond to climate change – all part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
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A Global Burden of Antimicrobial Resistance
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Despite the long-standing recognition of AMR across many settings, there is surprisingly poor information about its geographical distribution over time and trends in its
population prevalence and incidence. This makes reliable assessments of the health burden attributable to AMR difficult, weakening the evidence base to drive forward research and policy agendas to combat AMR. The inclusion of mortality and morbidity data related
to drug-resistant infections into the annual Global Burden of Disease Study should help fill this void.
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The American Meat Science Association (AMSA) became aware of the need to develop a Meat Science Lexicon for the standardization of various terms used in meat sciences that
have been adopted by researchers in allied fields, culinary arts, journalists, health professionals, nutritionists, regulatory authorities, and consumers. Two primary categories were considered, the first regarding definitions of meat including related terms,
and the second regarding terms describing the processing of meat.
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Early Findings of EU Hepatitis A Outbreak
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After the Epidemic Intelligence Information System for Food- and Waterborne Diseases (EPIS-FWD) notification of a cluster of hepatitis A cases infected with two distinct
strains in several European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries, a risk assessment presents the early findings of this multi-country hepatitis A outbreak and sets out initial options for response.
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How Retail Delis Refrigerate Food
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Most delicatessens keep food cold enough to reduce the growth of
Listeria monocytogenes and other bacteria that cause foodborne illness and outbreaks, but one in six delis do not. A study conducted by the Environmental Health Specialists Network (EHS-Net) provides
insight into some of the issues found at delis that can increase the risk of foodborne illness.
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Backyard Chicken Craze Going Viral!
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Homeowners with backyard chickens have now given federal agriculture officials reason to worry. A contagious viral disease affecting the respiratory, nervous and digestive
systems of birds and poultry is spreading through backyard exhibition chickens in two California counties. Virulent Newcastle Disease (vND) is not a foodborne illness, but humans working with or around the sick birds can be infected and develop mild symptoms.
For infected poultry, however, vND means certain death.
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Reduce Your Risks When Traveling
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While exploring new places during your hard-earned vacation, it’s wise to also focus on food and water safety. The CDC offers those who travel – especially in a foreign
country – sensible advice to help prevent diseases caused by contaminated food and drinks.
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