FSnet April 6/04 -- II

Announcing launch of first and only Canadian trade publication dedicated to food safety in Canada - Food safety in Canada magazine

Canada optimistic U.S. to open border to cattle

U.S. beef supply is still very safe; Minot (North Dakota)

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Announcing launch of first and only Canadian trade publication dedicated to food safety in Canada - Food safety in Canada magazine
April 6, 2004
Food Safety in Canada Press Release
Surrey, B.C. -- Food Safety In Canada, the first and only Canadian trade publication dedicated exclusively to the Canadian food industry, is pleased to announce the launch of its premier issue. KlasAct Communications Ltd., located in Surrey, B.C., publishes the magazine as well as the foodservice magazine Simply Gourmet - California Style. Food Safety In Canada is a quarterly publication that will be distributed in Canada’s key markets, as well as at national industry trade shows, conferences and seminars. Food Safety In Canada will address the top-of-mind food safety, quality assurance and food security issues of concern to stakeholders in all food industry sectors including foodservice, hospitality, food processing, warehousing and distribution, retail, packaging and equipment manufacturers, healthcare, government regulators and inspectors, microbiology laboratories, training groups and on-farm. “With the media relentlessly inundating the public with alarming new food advisories and warnings, fostering and sustaining consumer confidence has become increasingly challenging and vital,” says Shirley McClune, president of KlasAct Communications Ltd. and publisher of Food Safety In Canada. “The mission of Food Safety In Canada is to heighten industry awareness and impart knowledge in order to encourage compliance with the various aspects of food safety, and thereby enhance the safety and quality of the nation’s food supply, from farm to fork.” Dr. Doug Powell, founder and scientific director of the Food Safety Network (www.foodsafetynetwork.com) and associate professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph, in Ontario, commented, “Consumers and retailers, and for that matter everyone in the food industry from farm-to-fork, are recipients and purveyors of food safety information, and are seeking food safety wisdom. Given ever-changing consumer demands, new technologies such as ready-to-eat foods, and better surveillance tools to detect the microorganisms responsible for outbreaks of foodborne illness - farmers, distributors, retailers, foodservice businesses and, yes, consumers all require relevant, timely information. Hence the publication Food Safety In Canada.”
Food Safety In Canada will provide valuable scientific and technical insights, as well as actionable strategies and solutions to help those in the Canadian food industry protect their businesses, brands and customers. As the voice of the industry, Food Safety In Canada will regularly feature insightful editorial contributions from leading authorities who will share their expert views and opinions on a broad range of timely and pertinent Canadian food safety topics, as well international issues that affect Canada. The magazine’s premier issue profiles Conrad Leung who directs the Asian Culinary Arts Department at Vancouver Community College, where he teaches North America’s only full-time professional Chinese cooking program in English and Cantonese, which includes the Foodsafe Level 1 course that he translated for his curriculum and for British Columbia’s Ministry of Health. Dr. Doug Powell talks about the need for food safety wisdom, while John Nolan, a certified food safety specialist and NFPA auditor, explains the benefits of animal welfare. A case study features the elite Four Seasons hotel and its first class food safety program in partnership with The Steritech Group. Readers will also learn valuable tactics to help prevent cross contamination, in addition to the benefits of implementing a HACCP system. As a marketing vehicle, Food Safety In Canada is a unique medium that enables advertisers to promote food safety products, services and solutions to a targeted audience of decision-makers and buyers in the Canadian food industry. Food Safety In Canada is planning the launch of www.foodsafetyincanada.com, which will provide additional exposure for advertisers. The vision of Food Safety In Canada is to be the foremost provider of food safety information and education for the Canadian food industry - the cornerstone of the nation’s economy. Readers are invited to forward comments, questions and suggestions to the editor. Those interested in becoming a member of the Food Safety In Canada advisory board may contact the publisher.



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Canada optimistic U.S. to open border to cattle
April 6, 2004
Reuters
OTTAWA - Canadian Agriculture Minister Bob Speller was cited as saying on Tuesday that Canada is optimistic it won't take long for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to lift a ban on Canadian cattle imposed after last year's case of mad cow disease.
Spokeswoman Carla Ventin was quoted as saying, "Tomorrow the comment period closes, then the U.S. government has to go through the submissions and the legal process so we can't speculate on when the border will open. But Minister Speller has made it clear it is urgent that the border (fully) open. We have been given positive signals from the United States and based on the science we're pretty optimistic the border will open."
In related news, Veneman was cited as saying in speech at the National Press Club Tuesday that the U.S. government cannot predict when Japan will begin accepting U.S. beef shipments it banned following the discovery of a case of mad cow disease in Washington state late last year, adding, "It's difficult at this point to predict when we will see a Japan market opened again."
As a condition for taking U.S. beef, Japan wants the United States to test all slaughter cattle for mad cow.
"We have resisted each Japanese requirement ... because there is no scientifically valid basis for that," Veneman said.




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U.S. beef supply is still very safe; Minot (North Dakota)
April 4, 2004
Daily Herald
Michelle Torno, Director of Nutrition and Consumer Information at the Minnesota Beef Council
www.mnbeef.org, writes to correct inaccurate statements made by Donald Nelson of Keene, which question the safety of our beef supply. Nelson's lack of understanding of food safety issues and resulting mis-statements may mislead readers about the wholesomeness of our beef supply.
Nelson begins his letter by blaming the big packers for food safety problems when in fact the recent BSE or "mad cow" incident in Washington State has nothing to do with large packers. The BSE positive cow was not destined for processing at a "multi-national" plant but was sent to a small, locally owned plant at Moses Lake, Wash.
Contrary to Nelson's assertion, the FDA ban on feeding of prohibited material (ruminant by-products) is well enforced by state and federal agencies. The fact that there has been only one positive case of BSE in the US tells us that compliance with the ban, which became mandatory in 1997, is excellent.
Nelson is wrong when he claims that the U.S. and Canada have different rules to prevent BSE. In fact, the rules are almost identical. Cooperation between government regulators in Mexico, Canada and the US in preventing BSE, began when the disease first surfaced in England during the early 1990s and is even stronger today.
Nelson seems to be confused about BSE, which is caused by a misfolded protein called a prion which has no DNA and bacteria which are living organisms. BSE can only be spread to cattle by consumption of contaminated feed. Bacteria such as E. coli O157:H7, salmonella and listeria occur naturally and can be eliminated by processes such as steam pasteurization, cooking to 160 degrees and irradiation.
Our meat supply is the safest that it has ever been. In 2003, USDA test results showed a dramatic reduction in the incidence of E. coli O157:H7 in ground beef. We are currently at the lowest incidence rate since 1999, when the testing method was changed to a more sensitive and accurate analytical process. In October of 2003, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service released data showing a one-year, 25 percent drop in the percentage of positive Listeria monocytogenes samples and a 70 percent decline compared with years prior to the implementation of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system.
Food irradiation, a process that will reduce harmful bacteria by at least 99.9 percent, is an additional tool that will make our safe food supply even safer. Food irradiation, which is endorsed, approved or supported by all leading health organizations provides an additional layer of protection for the consumer and is not a replacement for technologies already in place.
Let's not blame meat packers or anyone else for BSE, bacteria or beef prices. Food safety is every one's responsibility. Farmers and ranchers, processors, packers, retailers, restaurateurs and consumers all benefit from safe food. We share a common goal to produce abundant, affordable and safe food.
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FSnet is produced by the Food Safety Network at the University of Guelph, and is supported by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Health Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, AGCare, the Agricultural Adaptation Council (CanAdapt Program), Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors, ConAgra Foods Inc, Meat & Livestock Australia, Ontario Cattlemen’s Association, National Pork Board, JIFSAN, Alberta Agriculture, Food & Rural Development Food Safety Division, Canadian Animal Health Institute, Kraft Foods North America, Inc., Burger King Corporation, Keystone Foods LLC, Pfizer Animal Health, American Air Liquide, McDonald’s USA, Ag-West Biotech Inc., Nestle Canada, DuPont Canada Inc., Ontario Agri-Food Technologies, New Zealand Food Safety Authority, Caravelle Foods, Feedlot Health Management Services, Canadian Institute Of Public Health Inspectors, Ontario Branch, Institute of Environmental Science & Research Limited, International Association for Food Protection, ABC Research, National Food Processors Association, Chemical Metrology Group, National Research Council, New Science Management Inc., Tactix Government Consulting, Inc., Sensient Flavors, Inc., Safe Foods Corporation, GamRay Consulting Inc.,and Global Public Affairs.

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