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Date:         Thu, 29 Mar 2001 16:40:31 -0500
Reply-To:     EdNet@FOODSAFETY.GOV
Sender:       National Food Safety Educator's Network <EDNET-L@FOODSAFETY.GOV>
From:         EDNET@FOODSAFETY.GOV
Subject:      EdNet Update March 2001
 
   * * * *      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
  NEWS FROM THE USDA/FDA FOODBORNE ILLNESS EDUCATION INFORMATION CENTER
  MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES
  SPECIAL INTEREST - Foot and Mouth Disease
  INDUSTRY INFO
  FEEDBACK
  SUBSCRIBE
 
 
 
FIGHT BAC!(tm)
 
Create a Seasonal Food Safety Campaign!
 
Click on the Fight BAC!(tm) Tools button on the Fight BAC!(tm) Web site for
"virtual" toolboxes full of resources to help you implement effective outreach
programs and educate consumers about food safety.  Choose from a variety of
great seasonal and holiday toolboxes including spring and summer!
 
Food Safety Fact Sheets!
 
Visit the Fight BAC!(tm) Web (Tools button) for Food Safety Fact sheets: Clean,
Cook, Chill, Cross-contamination and Egg Facts.
http://www.fightbac.org
E-mail: fightbaced@mindspring.com
 
 
RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS
 
Coordinate a Thermy(tm) event.
 
To all educators and subscribers:  If you would like to plan a food thermometer
education event for your class, school, church, grocery store or other community
organization, USDA/FSIS can help you coordinate your local event.  The Food
Safety Education Staff can help provide you with TV and radio Thermy(TM)
promotions, sample news releases, give-aways, a CD-ROM for your local printer to
personalize your Thermy(TM) materials, contacts or leads in your area, grocery
chains, kitchen and department stores, and thermometer companies that can help
donate sample food thermometers for your efforts.
 
Spring barbecues, cook outs, and family picnics are right around the corner.
Remind your students, staff, friends, and families to buy and use a food
thermometer!  Remember, Thermy(TM) says: "It's Safe to Bite When the Temperature
is Right!"
Contact the Thermy(TM) program coordinator at fsis.outreach@fsis.usda.gov.
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/thermy
 
 
New! "Cooking for Groups-A Volunteer's Guide to Food Safety"
 
Whether preparing food for a family reunion or a community gathering, people who
are great cooks at home don't necessarily know how to safely prepare and store
large quantities of food for large groups.  For this reason, USDA's FSIS' Food
Safety Education Staff has developed "Cooking for Groups--A Volunteer's Guide to
Food Safety."  This colorful, 40 page "Guide" will take consumers through the
steps necessary to prepare and serve food for a safe and successful event.  The
"Guide" has been distributed widely to cooperative extension agents, health
educators and other information multipliers.
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/pubs/cfg/cfg.htm
 
 
Updated FDA Consumer Advisory on Risks of Mercury in Fish (March 2001)
 
The FDA, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition's Consumer Advisory
entitled "An Important Message for Pregnant Women and Women of Childbearing Age
Who May Become Pregnant About the Risks of Mercury in Fish" has been updated.
Seafood can be an important part of a balanced diet for pregnant women.  It is a
good source of high quality protein and other nutrients and is low in fat.
However, some fish contain high levels of a form of mercury called methyl
mercury that can harm an unborn child's developing nervous system if eaten
regularly.
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/admehg.html
 
 
New Food Safety Program for Seniors -- Now available on the Web
 
"To Your Health! Food Safety for Seniors" is a new food safety education program
designed especially for seniors, preparing and eating food - from the way food
is produced and distributed, to the way it is prepared and eaten.  Produced by
USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Food and Drug Administration,
the package includes a 14-minute video and a 17-page four-color publication
printed in 14-point type.
Single copies of the publication are available from the Federal Consumer
Information Center.  Write: Federal Consumer Information Center
                         Item# 596H
                         Pueblo, CO 81009
You can also access the publication on the Web.
http://www.foodsafety.gov/~fsg/sr2.html
 
 
National Food Safety Education Month (SM) - September 2001
 
Planning for National Food Safety Education Month (NFSEM)(SM) 2001 is underway.
The topic this year is the final Fight BAC!(TM) message - Chill.  A "cool"
slogan has been developed: "Be Cool, Chill Out, Refrigerate Promptly." Stay
tuned!
For information about NFSEM (SM):
http://www.foodsafety.gov/september
 
CSREES Grants are Now Available
 
The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES)
announced, on March 13th, the availability of grant funds and requests proposals
for the Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program
- National Integrated Food Safety Initiative for fiscal year (FY) 2001 to
support integrated, multifunctional agricultural research, extension, and
education activities that address food safety priorities in the United States.
The application kits are located at the site listed below in both Word and
WordPerfect formats.  Please note that the closing date for applications is May
14, 2001.
http://www.reeusda.gov/integrated/
 
 
Release of a FDA Backgrounder, "BSE: Background, Current Concerns, and U.S.
Response"
The United States has aggressive BSE surveillance and prevention programs in
place. FDA's restrictions on certain animal feed ingredients and its import
alerts on cattle products are a critical part of this program. In addition, USDA
has an import ban on certain cattle and cattle products, and CDC has established
surveillance and investigation programs for suspected human TSE cases.
http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/bse.html
 
New Issue of FDA Consumer Article Features Two Food Safety Articles
 
"Trying to Keep 'Mad Cow Disease' Out of U.S. Herds," is an FDA article about
the import restrictions and rigorous animal feed rules designed to keep BSE, and
the associated human neurological disease, out of the United States.
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2001/201_cow.html
 
"Proposed Rules Issued for Bioengineered Foods," is an FDA article describing
how producers would be required to consult with FDA at least 120 days before
marketing bioengineered foods under new proposed rules.  The Agency is also
developing labeling guidelines.
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2001/201_food.html
 
 
CDC's MMWR Article on Blood and Hair Mercury Levels
 
The March 2 MMWR contains an article entitled,  "Blood and Hair Mercury Levels
in Young Children and Women of Childbearing Age - United States, 1999." The
report presents preliminary estimates of blood and hair Hg levels from the 1999
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 1999) and compares them
with a recent toxicological review by the National Research Council (NRC). The
findings suggest that mercury (Hg) levels in young children and women of
childbearing age generally are below those considered hazardous. These
preliminary estimates show that approximately 10% of women have Hg levels within
one tenth of potentially hazardous levels indicating a narrow margin of safety
for some women and supporting efforts to reduce methyl mercury exposure. CDC's
NHANES is a continuous survey of the health and nutritional status of the U.S.
civilian, non-institutionalized population with each year of data constituting a
representative population sample.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5008a2.htm
 
 
"Food Safety Educator"
 
The "Food Safety Educator" is a free quarterly newsletter that reports on new
food safety educational programs and materials as well as emerging science
concerning food safety risks.  The latest issue of the "Food Safety Educator"
(Vol. 5, No.4) is off the press!  Articles in this issue focus on "The Power of
Partnering" and include highlights from last fall's Food Safety Education
Satellite Video Teleconference.
You can receive a free video of the teleconference as well as a free copy of
"Using Partnerships to Fight BAC!(tm)--A Workbook for Local Food Safety
Educators."  To receive either the video or the workbook, e-mail your
request-with your name and mailing address to:
E-mail:  fsis.outreach@usda.gov
To FAX a request:  202/720-9062
To download the pdf file of the workbook:
http://www.fightbac.org
 
For "Food Safety Educator" subscription information and to access the
publication on-line:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/educator/educator.htm
 
 
NEWS FROM THE USDA/FDA FOODBORNE ILLNESS EDUCATION INFORMATION CENTER
 
On-line Training Manuals and Guides
Highlights of some food safety training manuals and guides that can be found
on-line:
 
Diagnosis & Management of Foodborne Illnesses: A Primer for Physicians
(American Medical Association)
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/3629.html
 
On-line Food Safety Training Manual (University of Florida)
http://www.foodsafety.ufl.edu/educate/train/toptrain.htm
 
Good Learners Need Good Food - A Reference Guide for School Food Service (PA
Dept. of Agriculture)
http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Agriculture/bureaus/food_safety/school_food_service/index.html
 
Chef Mars Kitchen Training Manual
http://www.webcom.com/mars/kit_manual/manual.html
 
Training Program for the Professional Food Service Sanitarian (MI Dept. of
Agriculture)
http://www.mda.state.mi.us/food/sanitarian/training/index.htm
 
Safe Aid - A Food Safety Training Program for Food Banks (Montana State
University Extension)
http://www.montana.edu/wwwnutr/extension/safeaid/safeaid.htm
 
Sanitation Techniques for the Food Service Worker (Maricopa County, Arizona
Environmental Health Div.)
http://www.maricopa.gov/envsvc/ENVHLTH/FDWKR/Engbook.pdf (English)
http://www.maricopa.gov/envsvc/ENVHLTH/FDWKR/Spanbook.pdf (Spanish)
 
Serving It Safe: A Manager's Toolkit (USDA Team Nutrition)
http://schoolmeals.nal.usda.gov:8001/Safety/safe.html
 
The above Web sites and more can be found at the center's Food Safety Index at:
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodborne/fbindex/index.htm
 
For more food safety information, visit the center's Web site at:
http://www.nal.usda.gov/foodborne
 
 
MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES
 
 
CDC Sponsors Public Health Grand Rounds
 
"Preparing for West Nile Virus: Will Your Community Be Next?"
Date: May 23, 2001
Time: 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. (EST)
 
You are invited to participate in a national live satellite broadcast and web
cast to discuss the emerging risks of West Nile Virus.  Continuing education
credit will be offered for various professions based on one hour of instruction.
An on-line registration and evaluation must be completed to receive the
appropriate continuing education credit.
Registration for this program, which began in mid-March, will only be available
on-line. If you do not have Internet access, please seek assistance from a
public resource such as a library.  Target Audience: public health leaders,
managers, and professionals from local and state health departments, federal
agencies, hospitals, clinics, academic institutions, managed care organizations,
and others who seek to increase awareness of the factors contributing to West
Nile Virus and the public health response.
Sponsors:
School of Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
To register and for more information, call 919-966-2248, e-mail or visit:
GrandRounds@sph.unc.edu
http://www.PublicHealthGrandRounds.unc.edu
 
 
Public Meeting to Address Codex Committee on Food Labeling Agenda
 
Issues on the agenda for the twenty-ninth session of the Codex Committee on Food
Labeling will be discussed at a public meeting on April 11, 2001.  The meeting
will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p. m. in Room 1813, Federal Office Building 8,
Food and Drug Administration, 200 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20204.
USDA/FSIS Press Release:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/news/2001/codex0314.htm
 
 
  SPECIAL INTEREST - Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)...In the News!
 
  Government agency Web pages for information on the disease:
 
USDA:
   http://www.usda.gov/special/fmd/fmd.html
 
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS):
   http://www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/fmd/index.html
 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel information:
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/other/fmd-europe-mar2001.htm
 
 
800 Number for Questions about BSE and FMD!
 
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's Emergency Operations Center
has established a temporary 800 number to answer questions about Bovine
Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).
800/601-9327 (8:00-5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time)
 
 
 
INDUSTRY INFO
 
 
FSIS' New Proposed Food Safety Regulation
 
Washington, Feb. 20, 2001-The U.S. Department of Agriculture submitted to the
Federal Register a proposed regulation to help prevent contamination by Listeria
and other harmful pathogens.  This regulation would require meat and poultry
establishments to conduct food contact surface testing for generic Listeria or
address post-lethality contamination in their Hazard Analysis and Critical
Control Point (HACCP) plans.
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/ProposedRules.htm
 
 
HHS and USDA Listeria Risk Assessment and Listeria Action Plan-NOTICE: EXTENSION
OF COMMENT PERIOD
 
Washington, January 18, 2001-- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services'
Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food
Safety and Inspection Service released a draft risk assessment of the potential
relative risk of listeriosis from eating certain ready-to-eat foods--as well as
an Action Plan designed to reduce the risk of foodborne illness caused by
Listeria monocytogenes.  THE COMMENT PERIOD HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL MAY 21,
2001.
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FRPubs/E00-048N.htm
 
 
Agricultural Outlook Forum: 2001
 
Agricultural Outlook Forum 2001 was held February 22-23, in Arlington, VA.
Included in the program was a presentation entitled "Reducing the Risk of
Foodborne Illness" which included speeches on the topics of risk assessment,
management, communication and reduction.
To access the Outlook Forum program and speeches on the Web, visit the site
listed below and scroll down to "Reducing the Risk of Foodborne Illness."
http://www.usda.gov/oce/waob//oc2001/speeches/speechpage.htm
 
 
Letter to FDA's Foods Community Regarding Biotechnology
 
FDA, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), Office of Premarket
Approval, sent a letter regarding the updating of Internet sites of completed
consultations between FDA and developers of foods derived through biotechnology.
The revised Internet site regarding foods derived through biotechnology is part
of CFSAN's ongoing commitment to improve public access to information through
electronic dissemination.
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/bioltr.html
 
 
EPA Has Released the Second Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey
 
The 1996 SDWA Amendments directed the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) to conduct a survey of the infrastructure needs facing public water
systems every four years - with the first report published in 1997. The second
survey released in 2001 estimates that drinking water systems will need to
invest $150.9 billion over a 20 year period to ensure the continued provision of
safe drinking water.
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/needs.html
 
 
FEEDBACK
 
 If you have any comments or suggestions regarding this issue, please
 contact us via e-mail at:
 ednet@foodsafety.gov.
 
 
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- USDA/FSIS: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/
- CDC/NCID:  http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/ncid.htm
 
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