FSnet Jan. 9/07
Farmers must
regain consumers' trust
Running to
the Border of Good Judgement
Largest
independent food service distributor in Florida offers instant E.coli and
Salmonella test kits
Combating
food borne illness
The Claim:
Hot leftovers should cool at room temperature
Health
agency sets second clinic for Hepatitis A exposure
Man suing
eatery chain over rocky meal
Students hit
by E. coli outbreak
S. Korean
homemakers turn up noses to U.S. beef
Bovine
spongiform encephalopathy; minimal-risk regions; importation of live bovines and
products derived from bovines
how to subscribe
Farmers
must regain consumers' trust
09.jan.07
Hollister Free Lance (CA)
http://www.freelancenews.com/opinion/contentview.asp?c=201874
A voluntary recall following last September's deadly outbreak of E. coli, which
was linked to contaminated spinach from a San Benito County food processor, cost
growers, according to this editorial, an estimated $100 million before food
safety officials said spinach was safe to eat again.
Rebuilding sales - and consumers' confidence in this important local crop -
remains an ongoing effort.
Later this week, a proposal for a farm industry-backed "seal of
approval" on leafy vegetables will be unveiled to the public at a state
hearing in Monterey.
The seal of approval, which farmers and packagers could earn through compliance
with a new set of rules governing how vegetable crops are grown, harvested and
processed, is intended to assure consumers that the produce they are buying is
safe from contaminants.
The farm industry's proposal calls for the state Department of Agriculture to
set up food safety boards for growers and processors.
The state agency would oversee the boards and use inspectors to monitor
compliance with the new rules.
The editorial says it's a step in the right direction, certainly, but it might
not be enough to either fully protect consumers or regain their confidence.
Critics have already begun weighing in on the farm industry's proposal and they
have found it lacking.
The editorial concludes that for now, the good news is that both the farm
industry and consumers seem to agree that more safeguards will be good for
everyone's health.
Running
to the Border of Good Judgement
08.jan.07
Evening Bulletin - Philadelphia, PA
Chris Friend
http://www.thebulletin.us/site/news.cfm?newsid=17683667&BRD=2737&PAG=461&dept_id=576361&rfi=6
Dear Gov. Rendell:
Columnist Chris Friend writes, I must apologize for my ignorance.
I was unaware that you possessed the requisite scientific and medical knowledge
necessary to determine the root cause of the recent E. coli outbreak that
sickened people in numerous Taco Bell restaurants, including several in
Pennsylvania. (The fact that the FDA and the USDA have not yet determined the
actual cause is purely incidental and highly overrated).
Accordingly, given your proclamation over a week ago that Taco Bell restaurants
are safe places to eat, I am to assume that you will take full responsibility
for any follow up illnesses that may occur as they relate to this outbreak.
On a separate note, I was wondering if you could assist me with determining the
core mechanisms of the citric acid cycle (or, in layman terms, the tricarboxylic
acid cycle). I am aware that the sum of all reactions in this cycle is:
Acetyl-CoA + 3 NAD+ + FAD + GDP + Pi + 2 H2O + 1 CoA-SH F 2 CoA-SH + 3NADH + 3
H+ + FADH2 + GTP + 2 CO2 + 1 H2O.
But I am less certain how the two carbons are oxidized to CO2, and the resultant
energy from these reactions is stored in GTP, NADH and FADH2. (Hint: NADH and
FADH2 are coenzymes that store energy and are utilized in oxidative
phosphorylation).
Regards,
Your favorite columnist
Thank God for smart governors. And to think all he was good for was gambling,
tax increases and universal health care.
Dear Mr. Creed:
Living in Pennsylvania, I have watched the firestorm surrounding Taco Bell
firsthand. As such, I wanted to discuss Taco Bell's handling of the E. coli
crisis with you in more detail.
As one who likes to think he has a finger on the pulse of the people, I offer
you several points of unsolicited advice, gleaned from conversations I have had
with fast food lovers around the region.
1) It is wise to let the situation dissolve after the current Taco Bell ad
campaign ceases. If truth and accuracy are not going to be employed to the
fullest extent possible, it is better to cut and run.
2) It would be beneficial to have a response prepared for the inevitable
question regarding the company's credibility and veracity on the food safety
issue:
"How can Taco Bell claim the crisis is over, and that its restaurants are
safe places to eat, when the origin of the E. coli outbreak is still
unknown?"
This point is even more poignant should another outbreak occur, regardless of
whether it was related to the current crisis. In such a situation. Taco Bell
will be engulfed in a crisis of unprecedented proportion. If the Hepatitis A
outbreak (from green onions, no less) that ultimately bankrupted Chi Chi's is
any indication, that would probably not be an ideal situation for the
restaurant. Or you.
3) It is interesting to note the poll in the Dec. 20 edition of USA Today. Three
quarters of the respondents rated Taco Bell's actions after the outbreak as
"Good to Excellent," yet a full 36 percent of the restaurant's best
customers stated that they will eat there less often or not at all. Clearly,
something doesn't connect here.
4) Your statement that "It's not like we did anything wrong" is
completely accurate, yet widely misunderstood or worse, not believed. Your own
polling states that nearly 1 in 5 believe that Taco Bell food "is not
safe."
It is unfortunate that Taco Bell currently finds itself in such a negative
situation. However, at the risk of sounding arrogant, it has done virtually
nothing to effectively mitigate this mounting crisis, and the new "ad
blitz" doesn't come close to assuaging the public's fears or addressing the
root causes of the crisis. Typical corporate statements and press release
doublespeak simply don't cut it in this case. The company's reputation is in
dire need of repair, sales are declining in a precipitous manner, and the
customer base now questions the integrity and health practices of the
restaurant. And to top it off, the actual cause of the outbreak is still not
definitively known. First it was "green onions." Now it is the
lettuce. What will it be tomorrow?
One last piece of counsel: Research how Johnson and Johnson handled the Tylenol
crisis in 1982. They were aggressive, upfront, honest and forthright in how they
dealt with the situation, and their efforts paid mammoth dividends as they
saved, and indeed improved, the Tylenol brand. A true masterpiece of crisis
management.
P.S. Love the Chalupa.
P.S.S.: Where's the Chihuahua?
Respectfully,
A former patron
The Taco Bell crisis is a prime example of how not to handle a crisis. In
addition to the aforementioned issues, Taco Bell trumpeted out the two worst
type of people to make people feel safe. How much credibility does the CEO of
the afflicted corporation think he has with the public? People rightly perceive
that he has an ulterior motive - get the restaurants open for business ASAP so
that sales and corporate metrics can get back on track. It is believed by many
that, in order of importance, people rank after financial numbers.
And a politician attempting to assuage fears about Taco Bell's food safety is
akin to having the mayor of Amityville telling beachgoers that it is safe to go
back in the water, knowing that Jaws is possibly still out there.
Unfortunately, politicians are inextricably linked to the other members of the
evil triumvirate: lawyers and used car salesmen. They are simply not believable,
especially in technical matters relating to science and medicine. If the
government's own agencies can't definitively link the illnesses to a particular
food source, how can the governor?
Startling and amazing as it may be, and as easy and intuitive as it sounds, so
few of our leaders employ straightforward tactics in dealing with such crises.
They never seem to learn from history that utilizing honesty, intestinal
fortitude and intelligence constitute the best manner in which to deal with
uncomfortable situations. Instead, they do the corporate or political two-step,
and end up just digging themselves deeper and deeper in a hole.
Just ask Kramer. Or (former) Senator George Allen. Or Enron. Or Chi-Chi's. Or…
Largest
independent food service distributor in Florida offers instant E.coli and
Salmonella test kits
08.jan.07
from a press release
Orlando, FL - Cheney Bros. became the largest independent food service
distributor in Florida to offer Instant E.coli Strips and Instant Salmonella
test strips in the Southeastern USA. The product will be featured on January 10,
2007 at the Cheney Brothers Ocala Region Food Buyers Show 2007 in Orlando
Florida.
Now restaurants, hospitals and caterers will have the added safety of testing
their food, water and hard surfaces to insure public safety
"Now restaurants, hospitals and caterers will have the added safety of
testing their food, water and hard surfaces to insure public safety," says
Robert Greene, General Manager for Nevada based Magna Medical Products and
Services, Inc
Magna Medical has recently seen a sudden surge in orders due to the recent
E.coli outbreaks that have affected the Northeastern United States.
Recent outbreaks of Salmonella and E. Coli, caused by industry contamination and
improper cooking procedures, have contributed to severe illness among consumers
worldwide The products have universal applications because they test on
surfaces, in food product (both raw and cooked), and in water.
The MMS Salmonella instant strip can detect 50 of the most common and deadliest
strains. The strips are submerged in food samples and, if the organism is
present, the strip will change color. The MMS E.Coli instant strip can detect
the most common and deadliest strains including E.coli 103 and 0157:H7.
Detection time is less than 20 minutes which is the fastest test currently on
the market. Lowenkamp Laboratory of Missouri was the independent lab that was
contracted to verify the confirmation levels for each product. The product is
available for commercial use only.
For more information, visit http://www.magnamedicalservices.com
Combating
food borne illness
08.jan.07
Town & Country
Working together, government agencies are, according to this story, streamlining
responses to outbreaks of food borne illnesses.
Recognizing that food safety falls under the jurisdiction of many levels of
government, the Alberta Foodborne Illness and Risk Investigation Protocol
provides a formal tool for those agencies involved to respond in the most
effective, efficient and coordinated manner to instances of food borne illness.
Dr. Sandra Honour, head of the agri-food systems branch of Alberta Agriculture
and Food, Edmonton, was quoted as saying, "This way of working together
maximizes the strengths of each organization. It prevents duplication of efforts
and ensures that response is solution-based instead of blame-based"
The protocol was developed and is used when notifying agencies and coordinating
response efforts.
"Sometimes food-borne illnesses occur as a result of production, sometimes
they occur as a result of processing errors, and sometimes they occur because of
the way food is handled," says Honour. "This way of coordinating among
public health, regional, provincial and national authorities - across
jurisdictions - results in a targeted response that benefits the consumer,
industry and everyone concerned.
"For example, when someone reported an illness after eating bean sprouts in
a restaurant, the regional health authority became involved," says Honour.
"The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) investigated to identify the
cause, then scientists at the food and safety division, Alberta Agriculture and
Food, worked with the producer to solve the problem. By coordinating efforts, we
were able to identify the problem, address it to the benefit of both the
producer and consumers, and prevent it from happening again."
The protocol was first drafted in 1999. It is now being adopted as a formal
mechanism of response to food borne illness.
The
Claim: Hot leftovers should cool at room temperature
09.jan.07
New York Times
Anahad O'Connor
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/09/health/09real.html?ref=health
Should leftovers stored in the refrigerator be allowed to cool first at room
temperature.
The story says that the reasoning behind the claim varies. One theory is that
allowing food to cool at a slower rate reduces the likelihood that it will
spoil. Another suggests that hot food can somehow interfere with the circulation
of cold air in the refrigerator. The notion may have originated back when food
was stored in iceboxes, and thus could not be too hot when put away.
The story says that whatever the rationale, the claim is wrong. According to the
Food and Drug Administration, leftover food (particularly meat) should be
refrigerated immediately after serving, and certainly within two hours of
cooking.
Food bacteria can double every 30 or 40 minutes, and several outbreaks of food
poisoning have been linked to meat cooked and left to cool at room temperature
for too long.
Generally, the bacteria that contaminate food thrive at temperatures between 40
and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, so leftovers should always be stored in a
refrigerator set at 40 degrees or below.
When the quantity of food is large, it should be separated into small containers
for quicker cooling, and reheated no more than once.
The Bottom Line: It’s a bad idea to let food sit at room temperature before
refrigerating.
Health
agency sets second clinic for Hepatitis A exposure
08.jan.07
KVOA-TV NBC 4 Tucson (AZ)
Associated Press
http://www.kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=5909464
PHOENIX - Maricopa County health officials are, according to this story, holding
a second clinic tomorrow for people who may have been exposed to Hepatitis A at
two Guadalupe restaurants over the holidays.
Officials were cited as saying a worker at the San Diego Bay and El Yaqui (YAH'-kee)
restaurants in Guadalupe's Mercado had the viral disease, which attacks the
liver.
Anyone who ate at either restaurant between December 24th and December 30th
needs to be treated with Immunoglobulin soon to help minimize a possible
Hepatitis A infection.
They're urged to see their doctor or go to the clinic.
The free clinic is being held at the Guadalupe Family Health Center on Calle
Guadalupe from 10 a-m to 4 p-m tomorrow.
Man
suing eatery chain over rocky meal
08.jan.07
United Press International
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20070108-040214-5730r
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A man in West Virginia is, according to this story, suing
Bob Evans Restaurants after allegedly biting into a rock hidden in his meal at
one of the chain's locales in Ripley, W.Va.
In a suit filed Dec. 21, Peter Chambers of Kanawha County, W.Va., alleges that
two years prior he found a quarter-inch rock while eating at a Bob Evans
Restaurant and has experienced tooth pain ever since he bit it, the West
Virginia Record said.
The lawsuit calls for $5,000 Chambers claims to need for related medical
expenses and for the restaurant chain to increase its food inspection efforts.
Prior to filing the suit, Chambers had attempted to get compensation directly
from the company but never received a reply, the newspaper said.
Students
hit by E. coli outbreak
09.jan.07
UNC Daily Tarheel (NC)
Andrew Dunn
http://www.dailytarheel.com/media/storage/paper885/news/2007/01/09/University/Students.Hit.By.E.Coli.Outbreak-2605897.shtml
Eight students and a Chapel Hill resident were, according to this story,
sickened by an E. coli outbreak in late October -- an outbreak later traced to a
popular Franklin Street restaurant.
The story says that investigations by the Orange County Health Department and
The Daily Tar Heel revealed that the majority of the infected people had eaten
at McAlister's Deli between Oct. 23 and Oct. 25, days before developing
symptoms.
Health department officials were not able to prove that McAlister's was the
cause of the outbreak - they only determined it as a link between those sickened
- but a statistical analysis showed the restaurant was more than likely the
source.
A final report also showed a strong statistical likelihood that the restaurant's
lettuce was the source of the infections.
Though Orange County interim environmental health director Tom Konsler was cited
as saying in a November interview that food-borne illnesses can strike even the
cleanest restaurant, a health inspection conducted on Oct. 24 gave McAlister's a
raw score of 89.
That score included deductions for improperly storing meat, improper handwashing
and hygiene and improper handling of utensils.
The deli previously received raw scores of 94.5 on Aug. 1 and 94 on May 2.
David Weber, UNC medical director of hospital epidemiology, was cited as saying
that infections occurred during a brief window of time, indicating a
single-event exposure.
Campus health services sent a University-wide e-mail Nov. 6 warning that three
students had confirmed cases of gastroenteritis, or inflammation of the stomach
and intestines.
Those three students were treated at UNC Hospitals, staying three days on
average, Weber said.
Health department officials immediately stressed that there was no further
danger in eating at McAlister's.
But Stephen Brown, senior director of support services at McAlister's Corp., was
cited as saying shortly after the infections were revealed there was a slight
decline in business at the Franklin Street location.
He also said the restaurant was working with the health department and would
redo the standard sanitation course given to workers.
S.
Korean homemakers turn up noses to U.S. beef
09.jan.07
Meatingplace.com
Tom Johnston
A survey indicated that 70 percent of South Korean housewives ages 30 to 40 said
they would not buy or were disinclined to buy U.S. beef, especially due to fears
that it may be contaminated by bovine spongiform encephalapothy.
Korea Gallup conducted the survey, commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture
and Forestry, on 1,213 housewives throughout the country.
Lynn Heinze, spokesman for the United States Meat Export Federation, declined to
comment in any detail on the survey, but told Meatingplace.com the agency is
trying to gather more information about it.
However, indications from USMEF's office in Seoul are that the survey was
originally intended to better understand public sentiment for domestic product
and included some questions pertaining to U.S. beef, he said.
USMEF doesn't appear to be too concerned.
"We have seen similar polls, and once product is available the actual
response is different," Heinze said.
Bovine
spongiform encephalopathy; minimal-risk regions; importation of live bovines and
products derived from bovines
09.jan.07
[Federal Register: (Volume 72, Number 5)]
[Page 1101-1129]
[DOCID:fr09ja07-21]
9 CFR Parts 93, 94, 95, and 96
[Docket No. APHIS-2006-0041]
RIN 0579-AC01
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
SUMMARY: We are proposing to amend the regulations regarding the
importation of animals and animal products to establish conditions for
the importation of the following commodities from regions that present
a minimal risk of introducing bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)
into the United States: Live bovines for any use born on or after a
date determined by APHIS to be the date of effective enforcement of a
ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban in the region of export; blood and blood
products derived from bovines; and casings and part of the small
intestine derived from bovines. We are proposing these amendments after
conducting a risk assessment and comprehensive evaluation of the issues
that concluded that such bovines and bovine products can be safely imported
under the conditions described in this proposed rule.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before March
12, 2007.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov
, select ``Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service'' from the agency drop-down menu, then click ``Submit.'' In the
Docket ID column, select APHIS-2006-0041 to submit or view public
comments and to view supporting and related materials available
electronically. Information on using Regulations.gov, including
instructions for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing
the docket after the close of the comment period, is available through
the site's ``User Tips'' link.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies
of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. APHIS
2006-0041, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-
03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state
that your comment refers to Docket No. APHIS 2006-0041.
Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this
docket in our reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 of
the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to
help you, please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.
Other Information: Additional information about APHIS and its programs is
available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding ruminant
products, contact Dr. Karen James-Preston, Director, Technical Trade
Services, Animal Products, National Center for Import and Export, VS,
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-
4356.
For information concerning live ruminants, contact Dr. Lee Ann
Thomas, Director, Technical Trade Services, Animals, Organisms and
Vectors, and Select Agents, National Center for Import and Export, VS,
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-
4356.
For other information concerning this proposed rule, contact Dr. Lisa Ferguson,
Senior Staff Veterinarian, National Center for Animal Health Programs, VS,
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-6954.
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