#### U. S. Department of Health and Human ServicesU. S. Food and Drug AdministrationCenter for Food Safety and Applied NutritionSeptember 17-26, 2002

# Food Safety: Current and Emerging IssuesInfluencing Public Health and Trade

## U.S. Food Safety Outreach Meeting Highlights

### European Union - Brussels, BelgiumWarsaw, PolandPrague, Czech RepublicBudapest, Hungary

The U.S. Government in conjunction with the European Union (EU) and the governments of Poland,the Czech Republic, and Hungary hosted a series of conferences titled "Food Safety: Currentand Emerging Issues Influencing Public Health and Trade" from September 17 to 26, 2002.Conferences were held in Brussels, Warsaw, Prague, and Budapest. The U.S. Food and DrugAdministration (FDA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sponsored the meetings.

Nearly 400 participants, including representatives of industry, academia, and government andconsumer organizations, and representatives of 10 nations, attended the meetings.

The objectives of the meetings were to:

- Provide information on key U.S. food safety programs and activities
- Provide information on the U.S. "Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparednessand Response Act" of 2002 (the Bioterrorism Act)
- Discuss the inter-relationship of food safety and trade initiatives
- Discuss the inter-relationship of food safety and food security (i.e.,counterterrorism).

### Program

The program had two key elements: (1) Examination of U.S. food safety requirements for foodsimported into the United States, and (2) review of those provisions of the recently enactedU.S. bioterrorism legislation pertaining to food and to food exporters. The theme for theprogram was that U.S. food security efforts are being built on a solid food safetyinfrastructure. This theme was amplified in four panels: The U.S. Food Safety System,Exporting Foods to United States, Assuring Food Safety from Farm to Table, and Food Safetyand Counterterrorism.

The U.S. team delivered a series of presentations and relied on representatives from each ofthe host countries to provide their unique, country-specific perspectives on the topicscovered by each panel. Each presentation provided background information on U.S. activities,emerging food safety issues, information gaps, research needs, and industry and consumereducation strategies. In addition, panelists identified mechanisms by which information canbe obtained from U.S. Federal agencies and described the best routes for communicatingquestions and concerns to these agencies.

Following welcoming remarks from senior officials from the United States and the host country,presentations were delivered on the following topics: Overview of the U.S. food safetyprograms, general import requirements, BSE, dairy and egg safety, contaminants/pesticides,produce safety, food labeling for conventional foods and dietary supplements, low acid cannedfoods, allergens, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) issues (for seafood andjuices), foodborne disease surveillance, food safety education/research/risk analysis,perspectives on counterterrorism, food security guidance, and new bioterrorismlegislation/implications for exporters. The presentations generated questions during theplenary sessions, and served as a springboard for discussion during informal conversations.

Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary are directing their efforts in three directions:(1) Achieving accession into the European Union; (2) protecting the food supply of domesticconsumers; and (3) and meeting requirements for trading with other countries. Discussion ineach city was lively, informed, and productive.

Meeting Highlights
***European Union, Brussels, Belgium September 17, 2002***
Melinda Plaisier and Mark Walderhaug
Representatives from the European Union expressed a strong interest in the new bioterrorismact, particularly the registration requirements.  In his opening remarks, Karl Falkenberg,Director, Directorate General (DG)-Trade of the European Commission, stressed that there is aneed for better surveillance to combat terrorism. He noted that increased inspectors andregistration, might not be very effective because the terrorists will not register. Heemphasized the need to trust inspectors from participating countries.

Similarly, Lorenzo Tersi, U.S. Desk Officer, DG-SANCO of the European Commission, noted thatthe European Union is concerned about the registration requirements of the new bioterrorismlegislation. He was interested in how new legislation will be made seamless with currentEU-U.S. agreements. He was also interested in how the new requirements affect productsregulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Patrick Deboyser, Head of Food Law and Biotechnology Unit, DG-SANCO, and Eric Poudelet, Headof Biological Risks Unit, DG-SANCO, provided updates on the organization of food safetyactivities within the European Union. He noted that EU food safety issues are now streamlinedinto one main agency, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and that similar food safetyprocedures are in place for animal and plant products, whether imported or domestic.Science-based risk assessment will be performed by EFSA, but the European Commission willcover risk management.

*Salmonella enteriditis* (SE) is a concern in the European Union. Mr. Deboyser notedthat to reduce SE, it is important to keep all generations of hens SE free, not justdecontaminate chicken meat. He stated that considerable food safety efforts have been targetedto SE in Europe, while less has been done on *Campylobacter*. EFSA is taking steps toreduce *Campylobacter* in living flocks. He stated that most Europeans believe that rawmilk cheese is safe. However, he pointed out that food safety information campaigns thattarget farmers, feed processors, distributors, and the public are needed to ensure the safetyof all food products. He noted that there is a continued need to develop methods to isolateNorwalk-like viruses.

Discussions with participants focused on the following topics:
- HACCP requirements for fisheries
- General re-importation requirements - whether foods found to be unsanitary would bere-exported and whether FDA is concerned that these products could be consumed when sentback
- HACCP applications
- FDA labeling policy on genetically modified/bioengineered food
- Cost of food safety education activities
- Labeling (e.g., how serving sizes are established, special requirements for childrenand adults, disclaimer for health claims for foods, and food supplements labeling)
- Monitoring programs for pesticide residues, length of time to get results
- Bioterrorism Act, Registration - implementation of registration requirements, potentialburden on some companies and on poorer countries, fees, applicability for companies that makeonly food for animals (e.g., cattle and sheep).

***Warsaw, Poland, September 19, 2002***
Don Sharp, M.D.
U.S. Ambassador Christopher Hill opened the meeting and discussed the importance of foodsafety and the importance of protecting the food supplies of both the United States andPoland. Deputy Minister of Agriculture Jaroslaw Kalinowski welcomed the participants andencouraged an open dialogue. Representative of the Minister of Health speaking on behalf ofMinister of Health Marius Lapinski extended greetings from his home agency.

The Polish discussants provided a wealth of information on the Polish food safety system,stimulated numerous questions from other participants, and provided a focal point for alively exchange of information. Dr. Jan Szymborski from the Polish Ministry of Agriculturenoted that following September 11, 2001, Poland has included food security in discussions offood safety. He stated that the Polish food safety system uses commonly accepted proceduresand protocols (e.g., HACCP) and relies on results of chemical and pesticide monitoringprograms. For meat products, Poland sends samples to USDA annually. He pointed out that thereremains a high risk of *Escherichia coli* contamination in slaughterhouses.

Dr. Lucjan Szponar of the National Food and Nutrition Institute discussed foodborne illnesssurveillance data in the United Stated and Poland. He commented that Polish data indicate amuch lower rate of foodborne illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths in Poland in comparisonto the United States.  In the ensuing discussion, several points came to light. Whereas Dr.Szponar was citing data based on reported cases of foodborne illness in Poland, the U.S. datahe mentioned were estimates of the total number of cases of foodborne illness in thepopulation, not just the much lower number of cases of foodborne illness that are reported toCDC.  The team clarified that the U.S. estimates were calculated based on disease surveillanceand other recordkeeping systems in place in the U.S., as well as on a number of estimatingassumptions that may be specific to the United States. The team cautioned against drawingcomparisons between the U.S. estimates and the data of Poland or other countries.

The Ministry of Health is the overall coordinator for food safety in Poland, based on a 2002law. Dr. Szponar noted that there are 12,000 people at all levels in food and animalinspections in Poland and wondered how this compares to the number of people performing thesame functions in the United States. He suggested that Poland create a food and plant safetydatabase with information for risk managers. Dr. Szponar also noted that Poland needsbetter-equipped laboratories and additional guidelines for safety of specific food productssuch as retail foods.
Camille Brewer and Mark Walderhaug
Discussions with participants focused on the following topics:
- Requirements for exporting fruit and vegetable juices into the United States
- Cost of pesticide monitoring program
- Accreditation system for laboratories
- New registration requirements under the Bioterrorism
- Shelf life of food products/Expiration date labeling
- Foodborne disease surveillance data
- Hormones in food
- BSE: Criteria for banning ruminant protein in animal feed and BSE monitoring in theU.S.
- U.S. programs for controlling scrapie
- Registration requirements for low-acid canned foods

Mr. Cameron Munter, Deputy Chief of Mission, hosted a reception at his residence forparticipants. In informal discussion at the reception, representatives of the Polish foodindustry and government indicated that the meeting was very useful. One participant at thereception stated:
"I came for basic information on how to export my product into the United States, but I cameaway inspired. I (will) look at food safety in a different way from now on. This meeting wasmuch more valuable than I could have ever imagined."
***Prague, Czech Republic, September 24***
Audience, Prague, Czech Republic
Prague was well on its way to recovering from the worst floods in 150 years by the time theU.S. team arrived in the city. Fortunately, the floods did not prevent attendance at the foodsafety meeting. During a courtesy visit at the U.S. embassy before the meeting, Mr. KennethHillas, Deputy Chief of Mission, predicted that there would be a great deal of interest infood safety - and the attendance at the meeting proved him right.

Ms. Eva Cerna, Food Safety Specialist, Ministry of Agriculture, opened the meeting. TheResearch and Risk Analysis presentation included mention of modeling food commodity productionwith respect to the risks of microbial contamination. One participant asked for elaboration onmicrobial modeling of pathogen growth in foods. This provided the opportunity to clarify thepoint that microbial modeling of growth is an important part of both the FDA*Vibrio parahaemolyticus* and *Listeria monocytogenes* risk assessments. Thequestion also provided an opportunity to solicit information on microbial pathogen growthmodeling in the Czech Republic and to invite collaborative work on the problem.

Discussion topics included:
- Growth-promoting hormones in feeds
- Controlling the private sales of drugs to farmers
- U.S. definition of "wholesome"
- The U.S. pesticide monitoring program, pesticide limits for baby foods
- Functional foods
- Single food safety agency
- How food risks are assessed and ranked
- Anti-tampering food packaging
- Regulation of dietary supplements
- Health claims on foods
- Traceback to the source of a foodborne disease outbreak
- Milk safety
Peter Biacs, Andras Povizi, Mark Walderhaug, and Mary Ayling
***Budapest, Hungary, September 26***

Hungary enjoys a long tradition of food safety activities, and several eminent food safetyofficials participated in the meeting.

Dr. Peter Biacs, Vice Secretary of State, Ministry of Agriculture, opened the meeting andnoted that Hungary is establishing a food safety authority based on risk, traceability, andrapid alert systems. He reported on Hungary's active involvement in Codex.

Dr. Andras Sebok, Director, Campden & Chorleywood Hungary, reviewed the history of HACCPin Poland. He emphasized the steps being taken to comply with EU standards. He noted that theuse of Good Agricultural Practices is a priority and that Hungarian authorities are discussinghow HACCP-like approaches can be used in an agricultural setting. He stated that HungarianGAPS guidelines would be amended on accession to the European Union. There are new Hungarianretail establishment guidelines, which include recommendations for "use by" dates, andguidelines for mixed fruit and salads production and storage. Dr. Sebok pointed out that thereis no substantial difference between imported and domestic foods.

Dr. Tibor Balin, Senior Veterinary Officer, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development,reviewed veterinary practices related to animal disease. Hungarian officials work closely withAPHIS in establishing these practices. Dr. Balin's group is currently analyzing the costs ofan effective food safety system.

Dr. Barnabas Sas, Director, Institute for Food Analysis, stated that consumer protection is ofgreat importance in Hungary. He reported on Hungary's new foodborne disease monitoring systemand encouraged professional collaboration.

Dr. Judith Soar, Division Chief, Institute of Nutrition, expressed an interest in both foodsafety education and risk management.

Areas of discussion included:
- Trends in mycotoxin research
- *Listeria* outbreaks related to sausages
- Food labeling
Site VisitsWayne Molstad, John Sheehan, and Plant Manager in Poland
Cheese Plants and Dairy Farms -- The U.S. team visited a cheese manufacturing facility inPoland. The factory, called Polser, is part of the French-owned Lactalis group andmanufactures a variety of cheeses, including Brie, Camembert, and a Swiss-like variety calledMadrigal. The team was taken on a tour of the manufacturing facility and was able to observethe manufacture of one type of cheese during the visit and taste the many cheeses manufacturedat this facility.

Subsequently, the team was taken to visit one of the dairy farms supplying milk to thisfactory. The family-owned farm milked a herd of 18 cows, mainly Holstein-Friesians with a fewmixed breeds, and the owners informed the team members that they were expanding their herdsize to 31 milking cows. The family was asked about animal identification numbers and whetherthe animal maintained the same number throughout the life of the animal. The answer wasaffirmative, but this was a recent change in anticipation of joining the EU.
John Sheehan and Marjorie Davidson in Hungary
In Hungary, the team visited another dairy farm. This farm was milking 800 dairy cows(approximately 80% percent of which were Holstein-Friesian) with many of the cattle havingbeen imported from either the United States or Canada or descended from North American stock.The team was taken on a tour of the farm facilities, including the milking parlor, bulk tankstorage room, and calf-rearing facility. The latter employed some very interesting electronictechnology allowing for the constant monitoring and provision of each calf's daily nutrition.

Afterwards the team was provided an opportunity to taste the many cheeses manufactured at anearby cheese-manufacturing facility, Cosinus Gamma Co. Ltd., which used milk mainly from thefarm visited. Many of the cheeses sampled were filled with meats, including ham and salmon.Others were smoked and/or rolled. The varieties included Parenyica and one called Shepherdcheese.

Edible oils plant and soap factory - The U.S. delegation visited Unilever PovltavskéTukové Závody, a facility producing margarine, and other edible oil-basedproducts outside of Prague, Czech Republic. The facility also produces cosmetics and soaps.The factory was built about 25 years ago, and was purchased and modernized by the UnileverCorporation around 10 years ago. Jaroslav Hrubeš, the works manager, who has been withthe company for about 8 years, provided the delegation with a description of both the historyof the plant, and the products manufactured. He furnished the delegation with smocks, safetyshoes, hairnets, and specific safety instructions to be observed when in the plant and thenled the delegation on a tour of the plant. The delegation saw four production lines, three ofwhich were operating. Two lines were producing margarine blocks, one line was idle, and thefourth line was producing bread and cracker spread product called Crème Bonjour. Mr.Hrubeš answered questions on the production of margarine and then led the delegation tothe formulation area, to storage areas, and then back down along the Crème Bonjourproduction line. The delegation saw the hot filling and package sealing process for theCrème Bonjour. The next stop in the tour was the edible oil processing plant. Incomingedible oil in this facility was cleaned, decolorized, and deodorized - all these steps usedonly physical, not chemical, processes. The delegation then toured the soap-production linesfrom the saponification of fats to the forming and wrapping of soap bars. This part of thetour was lead by the soap-manufacturing manager, Mr. Jiri Chotéborská. Last, thedelegation toured the water treatment facility for plant effluent. The water treatment plantis designed to accelerate microbiological processes that breakdown pollutants in planteffluent prior to returning the water to the Vltava River.

Ambassador Nancy Goodman Brinker hosted representatives of the team at the embassy before theteam concluded their visit to Hungary. Ms. Brinker, who has a strong interest in publichealth, was pleased to learn of the success of the food safety meeting in Budapest.
Jaroslav Hrubeš (Unilever), Camille Brewer, Karen Deasy,Marjorie Davidson, Mary Ayling, Petra Choteborska (U.S. Embassy),Melinda Plaisier, and Mark WalderhaugU.S. Team MembersU.S. Department of Health and Human Services- **U.S. Food and Drug Administration**    - **Office of the Commissioner**
- Melinda K. Plaisier, B.A., B.A., M.S.W.Head of DelegationAssistant Commissioner for International Programs    - **Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), FDA, DHHS**
- Camille E. Brewer, M.S., R.D.Lead DelegateInternational Activities Coordinator for Food Safety, Food Safety Staff
- Mary J. Ayling, B.S.Produce and Inspection Team, Food Safety Staff
- John F. Sheehan, Esq., B.Sc., J.D.Director, Division of Dairy and Egg Safety, Office of Plant and Dairy Foods andBeverages
- Mark Walderhaug, Ph.D.Microbiologist, Methods Application Branch of the Division of Microbiological StudiesOffice of Plant and Dairy Foods and Beverages
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention- Karen M. Deasy, B.S., M.P.A.Associate Director for Policy, Food Safety Office
- Donald Sharp, B.S., M.D.Associate Director for Public Health, Food Safety Office
U.S. Embassy/Office of Agricultural Affairs/United States Department of AgricultureRepresentatives- Norville Francis, Minister Counselor and Melinda Sallyards, Senior Attaché,USEU Brussels
- Wayne Molstad Counselor, Poland
- Robert Curtis, Counselor, and Paul Spencer, Attaché, Czech Republic andHungary
- Petra Choteborska, Agricultural Specialist, Czech Republic
- Fernec Nemes, Agricultural Specialist, Hungary
National Food Safety ProgramsFoods Home  |  FDA Home  |  HHS Home  |  Search/Subject Index  |  Disclaimers & Privacy Policy  |  Accessibility/HelpHypertext updated by cjm/dav 2003-APR-03