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Date:         Mon, 28 Feb 2000 09:22:44 EST
Reply-To:     EdNet@FOODSAFETY.GOV
Sender:       National Food Safety Educator's Network <EDNET-L@FOODSAFETY.GOV>
From:         EDNET@FOODSAFETY.GOV
Organization: National Food Safety Educator's Network
Subject:      EdNet Update 02/2000
 
   * * * *      National Food Safety Educator's Network      * * * *
   * * * *             EdNet-L@foodsafety.gov                * * * *
 
EdNet is an  electronic newsletter from the Food  and Drug Administration
(FDA), Food  Safety and  Inspection Service (FSIS),  and the  Centers for
Disease Control  and Prevention (CDC),  providing updates on  food safety
activities  to   educators  and  others  concerned   about  food  safety.
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IN THIS ISSUE
 
 
  FIGHT BAC!(TM)
  RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS
  NATIONAL FOOD SAFETY INITIATIVE
  NEWS FROM THE USDA/FDA FOODBORNE ILLNESS EDUCATION INFORMATION CENTER
  PUBLICATIONS
  MEETINGS/CONFERENCES
  SPECIAL INTEREST - Biotechnology
  INDUSTRY INFO
  FEEDBACK
  SUBSCRIBE
 
 
FIGHT BAC!(TM)
 
Fight BAC!(TM) Travels 2000
BAC! is on the go!!
 
BAC! was invited to Publix Supermarket, Inc., in Lakeland, Florida
for events held at Publix grocery stores February 17-24, 2000.
Publix's Quality Assurance Food Safety Manager was in charge of
getting BAC! and promoting food safety for the public and for the
stores' employees!
 
BAC! has a guest appearance with Pfizer's Traveling Microbe Education
Show coming up March 9-13 in Buffalo, NY!  The Fight BAC!(TM) exhibit
will provide food safety educational materials and the BAC! costume
character will be on hand to greet show-goers, bacteria-style!
 
During March 16-27, the University of Florida and Dade County
Cooperative Extension are putting on a Fight BAC!(TM) event to
promote food safety education messages.
 
Stay tuned for more BAC Travels...next month.
 
 
Fact Sheets Now in Virtual Tool Box
This just in...two new Food Safety Fact Sheets "Cook" and "Chill" are
now in the Virtual Tool Box on the Fight BAC!(TM) Web site. You can
find these new and exciting Fact Sheets in the following locations
on the Web site:
  For Consumers
  For Educators and BAC Fighters
  For Media
  What's New
 
Keep an eye out for "Clean" and "Don't Cross Contaminate", coming
in March.
http://www.fightbac.org/new/
 
 
RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS
 
Thermometer Education Campaign
 
Thermy(TM) is coming...Thermy(TM) is coming...
Who's Thermy(TM)? Thermy(TM) is a new food safety messenger developed
by the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to promote
the consumer use of food thermometers to check for safe internal
temperatures in everyday meals.
 
The thermometer education campaign is due to be launched this
Spring.  Grocery chains and the thermometer industry are working
together to help launch Thermy(TM) to the public nationwide.  A
public service announcement is planned and Thermy(TM) kit materials
will be available to all food safety educators. Resources will also
be available on FSIS's Web site.  More on Thermy(TM) next month...
 
Thanks to all the EdNet subscribers who submitted possible slogans
for the campaign.  Focus groups held this past year, helped to
create "Thermy(TM)," and select his national message. If you
have any comments or would like to join in the launch of Thermy(TM)
at your location, please contact Holly McPeak at:
Holly.Mcpeak@usda.gov.
 
 
CFSAN Provides Food Safety Initiative Constituent Updates
The FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition developed a
"Constituent Update" to keep stakeholders informed of activities on
major food safety initiatives.  The first updates using this format
were issued on the Egg Safety Action Plan, the National Food Safety
System, and the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments Dairy
HACCP Pilot.  These Constituent Updates, which contain information on
the latest developments on each initiative, also provide Web site
addresses where individuals may obtain additional information on each
activity.  CFSAN intends to issue these updates to achieve better
communications with stakeholders on important food safety topics.
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fsiupdat.html
 
USDA's Food and Nutrition Service Announces Team Nutrition Training
Grants 2000- Request for Applications
 
The 2000 Team Nutrition (TN) Training Grants offer funding to state
agencies that administer the National School Lunch Program and/or
Child and Adult Care Food Program.  Through a competitive grants
process, funds will be made available for states to deliver new
and innovative training programs on the Dietary Guidelines for
Americans 2000 to school and child care decision makers including
teachers, school food service personnel, principals,
superintendents, board members, parents and leaders of children's
organizations.
 
TN Training Grants will be funded September 1, 2000, to
December 31, 2001.  Grant application and forms on Web.  Critical
dates for 2000 TN Training Grants are as follows:
 
January 24, 2000, TN Training Grants Requests for Applications issued
to State agencies.
 
February 22, 2000, Intent to Submit an Application Form due to FNS.
 
April 7, 2000, Applications due to FNS
http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Grants/tnt00.html
 
 
USDA Announces New Competitive Grants Program
A new competitive grants program, "Initiative for Future Agriculture
and Food Systems (IFAFS)" was announced today by USDA's Secretary
Glickman.  The Secretary's new $120 million IFAFS promises to help
address some of the most critical issues facing American agriculture.
The initiative, authorized by Congress in 1998, will fund competitive
research, education, and extension grants that focus on production
agriculture, natural resources management, and consumer issues.  The
Initiative's priorities include agricultural genomics and
biotechnology risk assessment, and food safety.  Grants will be
distributed through a competitive grant process under IFAFS.  Later
this year, USDA will issue a request for proposals to solicit specific
project proposals for the initiative.
http://www.usda.gov/news/releases/2000/01/0007
 
Healthy People 2010 Resources Now Available:
 
Healthy People 2010 was launched at the "Partnership for Health
in the New Millennium" conference held January 24-28, 2000, in
Washington, D.C. This conference edition of the new Healthy People
2010 goals and objectives is available online, in print, and on
CD ROM.
http://www.health.gov/healthypeople/
 
"Understanding and Improving Health," a document explaining the
background, context, goals, and Leading Health Indicators for
Healthy People 2010 is available for sale and on the Web.  The
seventy page document (Stock Number 017-001-00543-6) is for sale by
the U.S. Government Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents,
P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954, (202) 512-1800.
http://www.health.gov/healthypeople/Document/HTML/Volume1/Opening.htm
 
Healthy People 2010 Conference Edition: Volumes I and II are
available in print and on CD-ROM.
 
In print: Includes "Understanding and Improving Health," "Objectiives
For Improving Health," and "Tracking Healthy People 2010."  This
1,244 page document explains the background, context, goals, and
Leading Health Indicators for Healthy People 2010.  The document also
sets national objectives for the decade to increase the span of
healthy life and eliminate health disparities for all Americans.
Limited number of copies are available from the Office of Disease
Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) Communication Support Center
Center, P.O. Box 37366, Washington, DC 20013-7366, (301) 468-5960
Cost of Volumes I and II is $22 (B0074).
 
CD-ROM: This CD-ROM contains Healthy People 2010: Conference
Edition, Volumes I and II.  Available from ODPHP Communication
Support Center for $5 (B0071).
 
Healthy People Objective 10-5, "Increase the proportion of consumers
who follow key food safety practices" is based on the four Fight BAC!
(TM) Campaign messages.  They are Clean, wash hands and surfaces often;
Separate, don't cross-contaminate; Cook, cook to proper temperatures;
and Chill, refrigerate promptly.  Details are located at:
http://www.health.gov/healthypeople/Document/HTML/Volume1/10Food.htm
 
 
NFSMI's Satellite Program Now Available on Web
National Food Service Management Institute's Satellite Program
Managing Food Safety: The Next Step that took place on
January 26, 2000, is available on the Web.  This video is best
viewed on a T-1 connection, it can be viewed on DSL lines.
http://www.nfsmi.org
http://schoolmeals.nal.usda.gov:8001/Safety/fnssafety.html
 
 
NATIONAL FOOD SAFETY INITIATIVE
 
National Food Safety Education Month
September will be here before we know it.  The theme of this year's
sixth annual National Food Safety Education Month is "Be Smart, Keep
Foods Apart--Don't Cross-Contaminate."  The theme focuses on how to
avoid cross-contamination, a frequent cause of foodborne illness. The
scene is now set to communicate our messages on the many ways how to
avoid cross-contamination.  EdNet issues will keep you posted on the
development of new materials related to National Food Safety
Education Month.
E-mail: ednet@foodsafety.gov or go to the Web site:
http://www.foodsafety.gov
 
 
NEWS FROM THE USDA/FDA FOODBORNE ILLNESS EDUCATION INFORMATION CENTER
 
Alphabet Soup -  What Do Those Initials Mean?  Food Safety Credentials.
With the increasing interest in food safety has come a proliferation of
credentials and exams to certify food safety knowledge. What follows is
a short synopsis of options.  For more information, contact the Web
sites below.
 
1) Certified Food Safety Professional (CFSP)
The National Environmental Health Association and Experior Assessments
administer this advanced credential for health inspectors, quality
assurance inspectors, food managers and trainers, commercial food
processors, food protection supervisors, chefs, and dietitians.
http://www.neha.org
 
2) Certified Food Protection Professional (CFPP)
The Dietary Managers Association's CFPP credential is geared toward
the food service professional.  After completion of DMA's food
protection course participants are eligible to take the CFPP exam.
Options for the course are a 16-hour classroom food safety training
course, independent study via print materials, or independent online
study.
http://www.dmaonline.org
 
3) National Certified Professional Food Manager (NCPFM)
Experior Assessments administers the NCPFM exam, which tests knowledge,
skills, and abilities related to food protection, and the ability to
organize and supervise employees within the work environment.  The
NCPFM exam is appropriate for site supervisors, managers, or first
line supervisors in establishments that prepare and serve food.
http://www.experioronline.com
 
4) Certified Food Safety Manager
This certification, offered by the National Registry of Food Safety
Professionals, Inc., serves the food service industry, regulatory
agencies, and academia.  The Food Safety Manager Certification
Examination is designed to be used with any food safety training
program available on the market.
http://www.nrfsp.com
 
5) ServSafe
More federal, state, and local jurisdications recognize the Educational
Foundation of the National Restaurant Association's ServSafe food
safety training program than any other food safety program.
http://www.edfound.org
 
6) Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian
(REHS/RS)
The National Environmental Health Association and Experior Assessments
offer the REHS/RS credential.  While a Registered Sanitarian covers
other areas of public health in addition to food safety, many food
safety inspectors are also Registered Sanitarians.
http://www.neha.org
 
 
PUBLICATIONS
 
Dietary Guidelines For Americans 2000 Report - Fifth Edition
The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee presented its report to
Agriculture Secretary Glickman.  The recommended revision for the
Dietary Guidelines for Americans carries three basic messages-
the ABCs for your health and that of your family - with ten guidelines
to "point the way to good health."  New this year, the Dietary
Guidelines include a food safety recommendation: "Keep Foods Safe
to Eat."
http://www.ars.usda.gov/dgac
 
 
MEETINGS/CONFERENCES
 
USDA Announces Public Meeting on E.coli O157:H7 Policy
USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will hold a public
meeting February 29, 2000, to discuss their policy regarding
E. coli O157:H7 and new information concerning the pathogen and its
relation to human health.  The public meeting will be held from 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m., at the Holiday Inn Rosslyn Westpark Hotel,
1900 North Fort Myer Drive, Arlington, Virginia.  The purpose of
the public meeting is to present new data, information, and development
related to E. coli O157:H7 that may affect the agency's policy on the
pathogen or implementation of the policy. In addition, FSIS will
allow time for comments and discussion regarding the agency's testing
procedures and other issues on E.coli O157:H7.
 
To register for the meeting or arrange for a sign language interpreter
or other special accommodation, contact Mary Gioglio, at: 202-501-7244
or fax: 202-501-7642.
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/news/ecmeet1.htm
 
Public Meeting on Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Report
The USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
provide notice of a public meeting to solicit oral comments
on the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Report.  The meeting
will be held at the Jefferson Auditorium of the South Agriculture
Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC.  No
registration is required to attend the public meeting, but pre-
registration is required to provide oral comments at the meeting.
 
Written comments on the Committee Report can be submitted and
must be received by the Agencies on or before March 15, 2000.  The
public meeting to solicit oral comments on the Report will be held
on March 10, 2000, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. E.S.T.  The final Report
is available electronically and in hard copy; for availability and
contact and meeting addresses, refer to Unit I. of the
supplementary information section.  For further information, contact
Shanthy Bowman, Ph.D., USDA, Agricultural Research Service,
10300 Baltimore Boulevard, Building 005, BARC-West, Beltsville, MD
20705-2350, telephone: 301-504-0610.
http://www.ars.usda.gov/dgac
 
 
SPECIAL INTEREST- Biotechnology
 
On January 19, President Clinton proclaimed January 2000 as National
Biotechnology Month.  President Clinton believes we must strengthen
our efforts to improve science education for all Americans and provide
Federal regulatory agencies with sufficient resources to maintain
sound, science-based review and regulation of biotechnology products.
As a result, FDA has a new initiative to engage the public about foods
made using bioengineering.  This initiative began with a series of
public meetings in November and December, 1999.  Transcripts from
these meetings, in addition to a new FDA Consumer article entitled
"Are Bioengineered Foods Safe?," can be accessed from the following
Web site:
http://www.fda.gov/oc/biotech/default.htm
 
USDA Forms Advisory Committee on Agricultural Biotechnology
In a USDA News Release, Agriculture Secretary, Dan Glickman named 38
members to a newly-formed USDA Advisory Committee on Agricultural
Biotechnology.  The Committee will advise the Secretary on policy
related to the creation, application, marketability, trade and use
of agricultural biotechnology.  The Committee, authorized for two
years, will hold its first meeting which is open to the public, on
March 29-30, 2000, in Washington, D.C.
http://www.usda.gov/news/releases/2000/01/0023
 
 
INDUSTRY INFO
 
FDA Offers Guidance in Seafood HACCP
FDA's Seafood HACCP Transition Guidance outlines a procedure for
requesting the agency to consider exercising enforcement discretion
on certain matters under the seafood Hazard Analysis Critical Control
Point (HACCP) regulations (21 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 123)
pending the scientific resolution of issues bearing on food safety
hazards.
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~comm/seaguide.html
 
 
FEEDBACK
 
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contact us via e-mail at:
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