Volume 5, Issue 28 

United States Department of Agriculture 

Food Safety and Inspection Service 

July 23, 2004

FSIS Constituent Update 

Protecting Public Health Through Food Safety 

FSIS Honors Scientist with Food 

Safety Award 

On July 22, USDA’s Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Elsa Murano presented 

Dr. Dell Allen with the prestigious 2004 Howard E. Bauman Award. Dr. Allen was 

recognized for his achievements in advancing and applying the science of food 

safety. The award ceremony was held at FSIS’ office in Chicago, Ill. 

The Bauman award, the highest food safety honor presented by FSIS, recognizes 

an individual who has exhibited leadership and a longstanding commitment to 

improving food safety. 

“Dr. Allen has had a long and dedicated career in helping advance the cause of 

food safety,” said Dr. Murano. “It gives me great pleasure to honor him with the 

2004 Howard Bauman Award.” 

A former animal science professor, Dr. Allen spent more than 38 years of his 

professional life working to improve the level of safety associated with meat and 

poultry products. Dr. Allen oversaw all aspects of food safety for Cargill Meat 

Solutions and played a leadership role in advancing processes and new technologies 

that benefited the entire beef industry, from cattle production through processing. 

Additionally, Dr. Allen’s accomplishments include: promoting the use of the Hazard 

Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) food safety system, pioneering the 

use of steam pasteurization, leading the effort to co-develop a new animal hide 

washing system and initiating food safety seminars that helped educate all parts of 

the industry about the latest and best practices and technologies that improve meat 

safety. 

Dr. Allen served on USDA’s National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry 

Inspection and is an active member of the American Meat Science Association, 

where he previously served as a board member and president. 

Export 

Requirement 

Updates 

The Library of Export 

Requirements has been 

updated to reflect changes 

in export requirements for 

the following countries: 

Brazil 

Indonesia 

Iraq 

Complete information can 

be found at: 

www.fsis.usda.gov/OFO/ 

export/explib.htm

FSIS Constituent Update - July 23, 2004 1 Congressional & Public Affairs Office 
THIS 

WEEK’S 

HOT WEB

 LINKS 

Newsletters 

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/ 

News_&_Events/ 

Newsletters/ 

Problems with 

www.fsis.usda.gov/ 

fsis_recalls/ 

problems_with_food_products/ 

Federal Inspection 

Programs 

www.fsis.usda.gov/ 

regulations_&_policies/ 

federal_inspection_programs/ 

Answers on New Directives to 

Prevent E. coli O157:H7 

A new FSIS document is designed to respond to questions from industry 

and FSIS personnel concerning Directives 5000.2 , 6420.2, and 10,010.1, 

Revision 1 and the guidance, entitled, “Compliance Guidelines for 

Escherichia coli FSIS issued the 

directives on March 31, 2004, and the guidance on April 13, 2004. Directives 

6420.2 and 10,010.1, Revision 1, were implemented on May 17, 2004. 

The questions and answers in the document address: risk-based sampling; 

products subject to sampling; implications of E. coli O157:H7 positive test 

7, 2002, 

of establishment data by inspection program personnel. 

FSIS intends to issue additional documents to respond to other questions 

www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies 

FSIS has compiled the SPS Compliance Guide to assist industry in meeting 

effective in maintaining sanitary conditions in meat and poultry 

establishments, including: past FSIS regulations and guidance, 

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FRpubs/ 

SanitationGuide.htm 

Food Products 

FSIS Issues Questions And 

Contamination 

Establishments on the FSIS Microbiological Testing Program and Other 

Verification Activities For O157:H7.” 

results and information on testing; FSIS’ sampling procedures; the October 

Federal Register notice; retail sampling; import sampling and importers; 

instructional and disclaimer statements; compliance guidelines; and review 

on these directives and the compliance guidelines, as necessary. To view the 

questions and answers visit: 

Sanitation Performance Standards (SPS) are regulations designed to address 

plant conditions that may result in the production of adulterated products. 

the SPS. The guide describes methods that have historically proven to be 

recommendations from the 2001 Food Code and other technical sources. 

The guide is available at 

Sanitation Performance 

Standards Compliance Guide 

FSIS Constituent Update -July 23, 2004 2 Congressional & Public Affairs Office 
Microbiology 

Division 

Featured 

Office of the 

The Microbiology Division 

provides scientific support for 

hazard analysis and advances 

the application of new 

technologies and approaches 

to detect, prevent, and control 

responsibility include the 

design and coordination of 

microbiological baseline 

studies, foreign equivalency 

reviews, training, in-plant 

auditing 

http:// 

www.fsis.usda.gov/about_fsis/ 

OPHS/ 

E. coli

Continue Through September 

FSIS is holding a series of teaching workshops around the nation through 

September 2004 on new directives designed to strengthen E. coli O157:H7 

small federally-inspected plants, state-inspected plants, federal and state 

three FSIS directives to be covered during the sessions are: Directive 10,010.1 

for E. coli O157:H7 in Raw Ground Beef Products and Raw Ground Beef 

Operations; and Directive 5000.2, Review of Establishment Data by 

Inspection Program Personnel. 

Date Meeting location 

July 24 Doubletree Hotel and Conference Center 

16625 Swingley Ridge Road 

Chesterfield, MO 63017 

(636) 532-5000 

July 31 Ramada Inn - East 

1355 East Boulevard 

(334) 277-2200 

(202) 690-6520 or e-mail renee.ellis@fsis.usda.go

this workshop and all future workshops by calling (866) 553-3052 or via FSIS’ 

www.fsis.usda.gov/News/Meetings_&_Events E. coli

materials at www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/ 

Workshop_SmallPlants_ecoli/ 

Week 

foodborne diseases. Areas of 

and regulation review. 

To learn more visit: 

 O157:H7 Workshops 

prevention procedures. The workshops are scheduled on Saturdays from 9 

a.m. to 2 p.m. The workshops are designed for operators of small and very 

inspection personnel, members of academia and other interested parties. The 

Revision 1, Microbiological Testing Program and Other Verification Activities 

Components and Beef Patty Components; Directive 6420.0, Verification of 

Procedures for Controlling Fecal Material, Ingesta and Milk in Slaughter 

Workshops scheduled for July are as follows: 

Montgomery, Ala. 36117 

To pre-register for this weekend’s workshop in Chesterfiel, Mo., please call 

v. You may also register for 

Web site: workshop 

are now available 

FSIS Constituent Update - July 23, 2004 3 Congressional & Public Affairs Office 
Upcoming National Advisory 

Committee on Microbiological 

Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) 

Meetings 

The Scientific Criteria for Redefining Pasteurization Subcommittee of the 

National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods The USDA 

(NACMCF) will meet in Washington, DC, July 27-28 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 Food Safety p.m. and on July 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Aerospace Center,

Room 369, 901 D Street, SW Washington, DC, 20024, telephone (202) 690- Mobile:

6620. A meeting agenda is available at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/ophs/ Taking Food nacmcf/meetings.htm

Safety

The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods Education on

(NACMCF) will hold public meetings August 24-27. The full committee 

will discuss performance standards for ground chicken/ground turkey, the the Road 

scientific basis for establishing safety-based “use by” date labels for 

refrigerated ready-to-eat foods and scientific criteria for redefining The USDA Food Safety Mobile

pasteurization. All meetings are open to the public and will be held at the is a 35-foot, recreational-style

Hotel Monaco, Athens Room, 700 F Street, NW, Washington, DC. A meeting vehicle covered with a bold, 

agenda is available at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/ophs/nacmcf/meetings.htm eye-catching design and 

prominent food safety

The full committee will meet Friday, Aug. 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Three messages, including the four

NACMCF subcommittees will meet prior to the full committee meeting. Fight BAC!® messages of the

The Perfor mance Standards for Ground Chicken/Ground Turkey Partnership for Food Safety

subcommittee will meet Aug. 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Aug. 25 8:30 Education. 

a.m. to noon. The Scientific Criteria for Redefining Pasteurization 

subcommittee will meet Aug. 25 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Scientific Basis 

for Establishing Safety-Based “Use By” Date Labeling for Refrigerated Ready- July 23-25, 2004 to-Eat Foods subcommittee will meet August 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

For further information contact Karen Thomas, FSIS Office of Public Health South County Hot Air 

Balloon Festival Science, Microbiology Division, Aerospace Center, Room 333, 1400

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington DC 20250-3700, phone (202) 690- (Kingston, RI)

6620, fax (202) 690-6334, email karen.thomas@fsis.usda.gov.

July 27, 2004 

Stop & Shop Supermarket 

(Middletown, CT)

To Contact the Constituent Update Editor 

Crystal Straughn crystal.straughn@fsis.usda.gov (202) 720-9113 

FSIS Constituent Update -July 23, 2004 4 Congressional & Public Affairs Office