FSIS Releases New Video Showcasing How Employees Impact Food Safety

On Sept. 28, 2016, FSIS proudly released a new video on the i-Impact Food Safety web page at www.fsis.usda.gov/iimpact. The video begins with an animation of a hypothetical family in the United States, which represents the millions of consumers that the employees of FSIS impact every day. The video goes on to highlight various FSIS careers and how the work performed by employees impacts the safety of the food every family eats. This video is one piece of a large scale commitment made by FSIS to ensure that each and every employee fully understands his or her impact on food safety. The video will also be used for recruiting and other informational events.

FSIS Releases Updated Compliance Guideline for Animal Raising Claims

FSIS announces the availability of an updated compliance guideline outlining the documentation that companies need to submit in support of label applications for products that bear animal raising claims. The guideline is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/6fe3cd56-6809-4239-b7a2-bccb82a30588/RaisingClaims.pdf?MOD=AJPERES.

FSIS previously issued a compliance guideline on animal-raising claims in 2002. The changes in the updated version of the guideline include: definitions for frequently used animal raising claims, the required supporting documentation for each specific claim that appears on the label, additional information regarding the grass fed claim, information required for duplicating raising claims from purchased product and examples of labels bearing claims. The Animal Raising Claims Guideline intends to clarify the approval process of labels bearing animal raising claims.

FSIS invites interested people to submit comments on this notice in the next 60 days. Comments may be submitted online via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov; by mail including CD-ROMs sent to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Patriots Plaza 3, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Mailstop 3782, Room 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700; or by hand-or courier-delivery to Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700. All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2016-0021.

Revised Compliance Guidance for Omega Fatty Acids Claims Posted on the FSIS Website

FSIS updated its guidance on omega fatty acids for the first time since July 11, 2007. Omega fatty acid statements are special claims that need to be submitted to FSIS for approval before they can be used on product. The updated guidance provides a comprehensive list of the types of omega fatty acid statements that may be made and the documentation needed when submitting label applications for FSIS approval. Other changes to the guidance include: a key-points reference chart, expanding the types of omega fatty acids discussed in the guidance from only omega-3 to include omega-6 and 9 and single fatty acids such as Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) and the inclusion of label examples bearing omega fatty acid statements.

The updated guidance is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/aff1ec68-a0be-431f-b3de-1ddb53079534/omega-fatty-acids.pdf?MOD=AJPERES.

Additional label application information is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/regulatory-compliance/labeling. Questions about this new guidance may be submitted via askFSIS or by contacting the Labeling and Program Delivery Staff at (301) 504-0878.

Food Safe Families Public Service Announcement (PSA) Campaign Highlights

In September 2010, FSIS secured the support of the Ad Council to develop a food safety education campaign to help the U.S. Government (USDA, Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and its partners educate consumers about safe food handling behaviors. The Ad Council-sponsored campaign, Food Safe Families, generates national media attention to food safety by increasing awareness about the risk of foodborne illness and simple steps to prevent it. FSIS’ new fact sheet summarizes the Food Safe Families campaign and highlights some of the major successes since implementation. For more information, please visit http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/73f6fcd5-74f0-4a67-8bcd-810973d67537/Ad-Council-Highlights-Fact-Sheet.pdf?MOD=AJPERES.

FSIS Posts Q&A on Final Rule Requiring Recordkeeping for Raw Beef Grinding

FSIS posted several questions and answers (Q&As) relating to the final rule “Records To Be Kept by Official Establishments and Retail Stores That Grind Raw Beef Products” (Dec. 21, 2015, 80 FR 79231). These Q&As will also be posted individually on askFSIS. The final rule is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/6bb824d5-70ce-4c1d-8801-b18346fa595c/2009-0011F.pdf?MOD=AJPERES and the Q&A document can be found at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/regulations/federal-register/interim-and-final-rules/related-docs/faq-final-rule.

Updates to Random and Risk-based Scheduling Criteria for the Ready-to-Eat (RTE) Product Routine Sampling Programs

Starting with samples scheduled for October collection (around Sept. 30, 2016), FSIS will implement revised scheduling criteria for the RTEPROD Sampling Programs (RTEPROD_RISK and RTEPROD_RAND). Under these programs, RTE products are analyzed for Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella.

FSIS is making changes to the scheduling criteria used to assign sampling tasks at establishments based on a review of the existing sampling algorithm for both RTEPROD projects. In addition, FSIS conducted an analysis to identify the product groups most likely to be associated with Listeria monocytogenes positives and observed trends in Listeria monocytogenes positives in product groups not traditionally associated with the pathogen, possibly due to less effective controls. For example, an analysis of RTEPROD data from 2010-2013 showed acidified/fermented meat and poultry products have a higher percent positive for Listeria monocytogenes than hot dogs (0.46% vs. 0.37% respectively). Based on these analyses, FSIS identified improvements to the sampling algorithm that could increase the Agency’s likelihood of detecting positives. These improvements are in line with the “FSIS Risk Assessment for Risk-Based Verification Sampling of Listeria monocytogenes” from 2010 and include updating the method used to assign sampling tasks each month, as well as updating several weighting factors used for RTEPROD_RISK such as the weighting factor used for product group.

In addition, the sampling allocation will be modified so that the total number of RTEPROD samples is split equally between the two projects (approximately 700 samples per month each). As a result of these modifications, establishments might notice a slight change in the frequency of sampling requests over time; however, the existing maximum of 1 RTEPROD sample per establishment, per month will remain unchanged. The existing minimum of 2 RTEPROD samples per establishment, per year will also remain unchanged. No changes are being made to the instructions for FSIS personnel for collecting RTEPROD samples in FSIS Directive 10,240.4 Verification Activities for the Listeria monocytogenes (Lm Regulation and the Ready-to-Eat (RTE) Sampling Program. More information about the algorithm changes can be accessed at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/8397556d-4b7e-487c-b163-81a20a330c02/Scheduling-Criteria-RTE-Sampling.pdf?MOD=AJPERES

Export Requirement Updates

The Library of Export Requirements has been updated for products for the following countries:
•Brazil
•South Africa
•Taiwan

Complete information can be found at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/international-affairs/exporting-products.

Policy Updates

FSIS notices and directives on public health and regulatory issues are available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/regulations. The following policy updates were recently issued:
•Notice 74-16 - WebTA 4.2 New Implementation Date
•Notice 75-16 - Verifying That Records Are Kept By Official Establishments and Retail Stores That Grind Raw Beef
•Notice 76-16 - Fiscal Year 2017 Accounting Codes in WEBTA 3.8
•Directive 1306.18 - Safeguarding Mobile or Portable Electronic Equipment and Data
•Docket No. FSIS-2016-0021 - Food Safety and Inspection Service labeling Guideline on Documentation Needed to Substantiate Animal Raising Claims for Label Submission (Advance Copy)

Food Recalls and Alerts

For information regarding recalls, please contact the Congressional and Public Affairs Staff at (202) 720-9113. You can also receive e-mail notifications when public health alerts and recalls are issued by registering at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe.

Follow Us On Twitter

Follow FSIS on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/USDAFoodSafety to find food safety information for at-risk populations, along with tips and resources to keep consumers and other interested groups informed of the latest Agency news and events.

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/newsroom/meetings/newsletters/constituent-updates/archive/2016/ConstUpdate093016