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We encourage you to join us on February 17 in Arlington, Virginia, as we present the second IAFP Timely Topics Symposium, "Raw Milk Consumption: An Emerging Public Health Threat?" Six prominent speakers will discuss current illness and outbreak data, dairy industry food safety practices, consumer perceptions and health claims related to raw milk consumption, and the legal and regulatory challenges surrounding this topic. Visit our Web site today to view the program and to register:
http://www.foodprotection.org/meetingsEducation/TimelyTopics09.asp
IAFP Updates
Registration Opens for IAFP 2009
We are pleased to announce that registration has opened for the Association's 96th Annual Meeting. Plan to join your colleagues and industry leaders for our renowned food safety conference to be held July 12–15 at the beautiful Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Texas.
[Link to IAFP 2009]
Online Voting Begins for IAFP Secretary
On January 28, all IAFP Members were E-mailed the necessary link and passcode to cast their electronic vote in the Association Secretary election, which closes March 17. Candidate profiles are available on our home page and when you access the online ballot. If you missed your E-mail, please visit the link below to access the voting center for assistance in obtaining your passcode.
[Link to vote]
January Food Protection Trends: Abstracts and Monthly Columns by IAFP President and Executive Director
A guidance for NRTE food processors discussing the factors that should be considered when validation testing is performed; the food safety challenges resulting from the widespread use of microwave ovens and microwaveable foods; Stan Bailey stresses the importance of building professional relationships, and shares tips on how to maximize your networking efforts; David Tharp explains how participating companies and Association programs flourish through the Sustaining Member program.
[Link to FPT]
Featured Abstract from Journal of Food Protection
"Analysis of Salmonella Control Performance in US Young Chicken Slaughter and Pork Slaughter Establishments" was the most widely-read article in the January issue. Read the abstract here.
[Link to abstract]
Food Safety News
Research Aims for Development of APEC Vaccine
At the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, a research team is working to develop a vaccine against avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC), a major poultry disease and emerging food pathogen that is part of the microbe group extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC).
[Link to article]
MRSA in US Swine Industry
University of Iowa researchers have published the first study documenting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the swine industry, based on their investigation of two Midwestern US swine production systems.
[Link to article]
Peanut Investigation Updates at CDC
This page at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Web site is providing ongoing updates in the outbreak investigation of Salmonella Typhimurium linked to peanut butter consumption. The strain has sickened more than 500 individuals since September 2008.
[Link to CDC]
Regulatory Updates
FDA Guidance on GE Animals
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released in January its final guidance on "The Regulation of Genetically Engineered (GE) Animals Containing Heritable rDNA Constructs" under the new animal drug provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).
[Link to guidance]
JEMRA Guidelines for Microbiological Hazards in Foods
These guidelines on exposure assessment are part of a series of guidelines on microbiological risk assessment that were developed by joint expert meetings between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The guidelines aim to provide a practical framework and approach for undertaking exposure
assessment of microbiological hazards in foods, in the context of a risk assessment or as a stand-alone process.
[Link to guidelines]
FSIS Notice for Raw Beef Processors
This January 7 notice from the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) addresses the importance of hazard analysis practices in establishments that process raw beef products.
[Link to FSIS]
Research & Reports
Risk Management of Viruses in Food
This article provides the link to a 79-page report from a 2007 FAO/WHO expert meeting on viruses in foods. The report serves as a point of review for Codex Alimentarius, which is presently working to develop risk management tools to protect the world's consumers from foodborne viral illness.
[Link to FAO]
Salmonella in Slaughter Pigs
This 73-page analysis from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is part B of a 2006–2007 task force report on the prevalence of Salmonella contamination in pigs at the time of slaughter.
[Link to report]
ESCO Final Report on Risk Assessment
Initiated in 2007, the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) Scientific Cooperation Working Group (ESCO) has produced this 39-page final report on fostering harmonized risk assessment approaches in the Member States.
[Link to report]
Items of Interest
Comments Requested for Draft on Food Irradiation
Through April 27, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in the UK is accepting comments and views of The Food Irradiation (England) Regulations 2009, which will replace The Food (Control of Irradiation) Regulations 1990.
[Link to FSA]
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:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food Standards Agency (FSA)
Photos: USDA/ARS, (poultry, by Stephen Ausmus); Science Photo Library (Salmonella bacterium, by USDA)
Publication Images: Microbiological Risk Assessment Series 7 (FAO/WHO 2008)
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