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It is with pleasure that we extend greetings for a prosperous New Year!
This is also an occasion to thank our faithful readers, content contributors, and sponsors for ensuring that your IAFP Report—now entering its third year—remains a quality publication and benefit for all IAFP Members. Your regular feedback and support allow us to achieve our mission of providing you with timely and useful global news and resources relevant to the field of food safety.
We gratefully acknowledge Litmus Rapid-B, DuPont Qualicon, and bioMérieux for their generous sponsorship of IAFP Report in 2008. In every issue, we encourage you to click on the sponsoring company's ad, which will link you to their Web site to learn about their valuable products and services.
Finally, we invite you to the Membership Directory page of our Web
site to access the 2009 Member Guide, available for the first time as
a convenient online resource.
[Link to page]
IAFP Updates
Timely Topics Series to Address Raw Milk Issues
We are pleased to announce that "Raw Milk Consumption: An Emerging Public Health Threat?" will be the focus of the second IAFP Timely Topics Symposium, to be held February 17 in Arlington, Virginia. This symposium series was successfully introduced in January 2008 to address the issues surrounding ready-to-eat foods.
[Link to IAFP]
IAFP 2009: Abstract, Award, and Scholarship Deadlines Approaching
Preparing to submit your technical or poster abstract for presentation at our 96th Annual Meeting in Grapevine, Texas? To be considered for acceptance, abstracts must be received at the IAFP office by January 21. Nominations for IAFP Awards and applications for Student Travel Scholarships must be received by February 3, and meeting registration opens in early February. Current information on the Annual Meeting is always available on our Web site.
[Link to IAFP 2009]
Featured Abstract from Journal of Food Protection
"Survival and Dissemination of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on Physically and Biologically Damaged Lettuce Plants" was the most widely-read article in the December issue. Read the abstract here.
[Link to abstract]
January Food Protection Trends: Abstracts and Monthly Columns by IAFP President and Executive Director
Televised cooking shows are studied for how well they demonstrate food safety practices; managers of independent and chain restaurants are surveyed for their certification levels and attitudes regarding the promotion of food safety training for their employees; Stan Bailey's reflections on mealtime at the family farm of his youth lead to thoughts on today's US agricultural force; David Tharp offers briefs on the February conference in Dubai, Annual Meeting developments, and the 2009 Secretary election and Member Guide.
[Link to FPT]
Food Safety News
Ireland Takes a Close Look at Bottled Water Supply
In this December 4 press release, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) announced the publication of a report on the state of bottled water available in Ireland, and summarized the findings. A link to the full report is also provided
[Link to FSAI]
FDA Food Protection Plan: Progress Update
One year after launching its Food Protection Plan (FPP), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a progress summary of the FPP's efforts to reinforce safety in the food supply chain.
[Link to FDA]
New Zealand Committed to Campylobacter Management
Five scientific studies released by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) in December, along with a recent update of the agency's Campylobacter Risk Management Strategy, demonstrate the country's dedication to reducing foodborne campylobacteriosis.
[Link to NZFSA]
Swift Recall Assures Government's Commitment to Food Safety
In an early December scare, food safety authorities in Ireland raised consumer confidence by acting without hesitation to recall all Irish pork and pork products due to the potential for dioxin contamination.
[Link to BBC]
Regulatory Updates
Directive for Foodborne Illness Investigations
The US Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) published in November a 21-page resource for use by personnel investigating foodborne illness potentially linked to its regulated meat, poultry, or processed egg products.
[Link to document]
Research & Reports
Salmonella and Frozen Pot Pies
This report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) details an investigation into a large 2007 multi-state outbreak of salmonellosis, which was associated with the consumption of frozen, not ready-to-eat pot pies.
[Link to CDC]
WHO Experts Examine China Melamine Event
In response to China's recent battle with melamine contamination in food, the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Health Canada, met in early December to discuss the toxicological aspects of melamine and cyanuric acid.
[Link to WHO]
Draft Report on Listeriosis in the UK
This page at the Food Standards Agency (FSA) Web site provides the link to a draft report by the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) on the rise of listeriosis in the UK. Responses to the draft are being accepted through February 19.
[Link to FSA]
International STEC Outbreak, 2007
In December, the Eurosurveillance journal published this report on a 2007 outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), which was likely associated with lettuce consumption in The Netherlands and Iceland.
[Link to report]
Items of Interest
Podcast Explains Food Safety and Prevention in Europe
This European Food Information Council (EUFIC) Web page provides the link to a podcast interview in which the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) Executive Director explains the agency's efforts to manage food safety in Europe.
[Link to EUFIC]
INFOSAN Annual Meeting Report
This 8-page report from the December 10–12 meeting of the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) Advisory Group summarizes the group's current and future projects.
[Link to report]
Comments or suggestions for IAFP Report may be sent to report@foodprotection.org, or directly to the Contents Editor, Dr. Jeff Farber,
Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Health Canada. E-mail jeff_farber@hc-sc.gc.ca
Thank You to Our Contributors
Logos: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN)
Photos: Science Photo Library (bottle of mineral water, by Mark Sykes; Campylobacter food poisoning, by Tim Vernon; melamine, molecular model, by Pasieka; SEM of E. coli bacteria on lettuce, by Scimat)
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