Food Safety Partnership (FSP)
October 21, 2009
Meeting Summary
(All materials labeled “attached” below can be found with this meeting summary on the MDH FSP website
at: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/food/pwdu/fsp/. A full list is at the end of this summary.)
Welcome
April Bogard (MDH) greeted Partnership attendees at the Freeman Office Building (OLF), at
video-conference sites throughout the state, and those streaming the event via computer.
From the FSP Steering Committee (FSP-SC)
Deborah Durkin (MDH) provided a PowerPoint (attached) report from the FSP-SC. Key points
from the presentation include the following:
Streaming: The meeting can be viewed online after October 21 using Windows Media Player at:
mms://stream2.video.state.mn.us/MDH/foodsafety102109.wmv
Continuing Education Credits (CEUs): Two CEUs were available for this meeting. CEU requests
were received from 39 attendees.
Illness Awareness Materials Project: Employee Illness materials will be discussed during
breakout sessions today and during a phone call on October 28. The workgroup hopes to have
them ready for distribution in early November.
Hand Hygiene Project: FSP-SC will collect current hand hygiene research and materials;
perhaps revise or create others; and present their work at the April FSP meeting. Please
volunteer to work on this project or send hand hygiene materials/data by contacting Cathy
Odinot ([email protected]).
Committee and Project Reports
Update: Code Consensus Committee (CCC2) and Rulemaking, Linda Prail, MDH
Linda introduced herself as the consultant and former MDH employee who has been hired to
coordinate revision of the Minnesota Food Code. She will be the MEDH contact person for this
project ([email protected]). Lorna Girard is the Minnesota Department of Agriculture
(MDA) contact ([email protected]).
Linda thanked the members of CCC2 for their work comparing the Minnesota Code with the
2005 FDA Model Food Code and 2007 Supplement. She said their effort had laid the
groundwork for official revision of the Minnesota Code.
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MDH is currently in the process of obtaining the Commissioner’s approval to start the official
rulemaking process. MDA has received approval. The next step will be a “request for
Comments” published in the State Register. Also, an Advisory Committee will be formed to
provide input and advice throughout rulemaking. Most of the Committee’s work will focus on the
ways that the Minnesota Code will vary from the 2009 FDA Model Code.
Update: Inter-Agency Review Council (IARC), Dave Kaufman, MDH
Dave Kaufman provided an update from the September 17, 2009 IARC meeting, including the
following information and brief subcommittee reports:
Food Safety Subcommittee: Final revisions of the Catering Boat Guidance Document will be
sent out to members for a vote at the next meeting. The purpose of the document is to provide
consistency statewide on how to license these vessels making sure they meet the food, ISTS,
plumbing and other applicable codes.
Ventilation Subcommittee: The Ventilation Guidance Document is still in draft form, with some
remaining issues being resolved. The document should be finalized by the next meeting. Steven
Diaz has been added to this subcommittee.
Construction Subcommittee: Graphics are being added to the Construction Guide.
Membership: IARC is looking for a Food Equipment Manufacture Representative and a
Consumer Representative. Please contact Dave Kaufman to self-nominate, or with the names
of other qualified candidates.
The next IARC meeting is scheduled for November 19, 2009. The meeting will be at the MDH
Snelling Office Park Facility (BigFork Room) from 9:30 to 12:00 Noon. Meeting times and
minutes, the submittal form for IARC issues and guidance documents can be found on the IARC
website at: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/iarc/index.html.
Dave also reminded FSP attendees to contact him with any issues related to FBL, MHP or
swimming pools that they would like addressed at IARC. Dave can be reached at: 218-3082113 or [email protected].
Announcements from the Membership
Regarding Dispensation of Jell-O Shots, Cathy Odinot, MDH
Cathy said that MDH had received questions about the practice of jello shots/shooters being
served in some bars using (and reusing) plastic syringes to dispense the jello directly into the
mouths of patrons. [Jello shots/shooters are portions of alcoholic gelatin made with flavored
gelatin mix and some type of hard liquor, and meant to be ingested in one go.]
Cathy’s research into veterinary syringes being used to dispense jello shots revealed that they
are not for food use, not washable or reusable, and advertised as for animal use only.
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Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) Food Safety Toolkit, Suzanne Dreissen,
University of Minnesota Extension
Suzanne spoke about her presentation (attached) for a SOPHE National Health Education
Week webinar on food safety, Let’s Dish, Food Safety at the Table. Suzanne’s presentation
focused on the food safety recommendations which create the most response and comment
from her students (e.g., But I’ve always washed chicken before cooking….) and what she does
to counter resistance to change and new information.
She also told FSP that SOPHE had compiled an excellent Food Safety Toolkit located at:
http://www.sophe.org/upload/NHEW%202009%20Toolkit%20FINAL_772974320_10220091107
22.pdf and also attached.
Spanish Language Food Safety Classes, Lars Johnson
Lars informed FSP that he was offering courses in Spanish and said that anyone who was
interested could visit foodsafetyguy.com for more information.
Outbreaks, Epidemiology and Related Topics
Update: Report from FDA, Greg Abel, FDA
Greg provided a brief but comprehensive update on EPA news, plans and projects:
Overview: FDA has a new Commissioner, Margaret Hamburg. Dr. Hamburg and President
Obama have made a mutual commitment to improving food safety in the US. On July 7, 2009,
the multiagency Food Safety Working Group issued its key findings on how to upgrade the food
safety system. FDA will work with all its partners by building an Integrated Food Safety System
(IFSS). The draft proposal for this initiative is attached.
Dr. Hamburg’s October 22 testimony regarding IFSS and pending food-related legislation in the
House and Senate is attached. Key elements of the IFSS will be:
▪
National standards for inspection, training and certification, program audits, sample
collection and analysis;
▪
A national work plan to improve and expand inspection and sample collection;
▪
Training and certification programs for regulatory and public health partners;
▪
A coordinated emergency response; and
▪
Program oversight with defined performance outcomes and measures.
Coming from FDA in 2010:
▪
220 additional inspection staff nationwide
▪
Increased domestic and foreign epidemiological investigation
▪
More rapid response to foodborne outbreaks
▪
3 new labs in the emergency response network
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▪
Increased fees for re-inspection
▪
An emphasis on prevention
FDA and Tobacco Control: FDA has new authority over tobacco via the Family Smoking
Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, 2009.Among other things; FDA will be able to regulate
marketing and promotion of tobacco products. The goal is to decrease illness and death caused
by tobacco use. The following regulatory changes are anticipated:
▪
In October 2009, sweet and flavored cigarettes will be banned.
▪
In April 2010, FDA will reissue a resolution aimed at reducing youth access to tobacco.
▪
In July, light, low and mild designations for tobacco products will no longer be allowed.
FDA and Beer: In August 2009, FDA issues guidance on labeling of beer products made without
malted barley and hops. Such beer products fall under FDA rather than the Alcohol and
Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) regulatory authority. FDA's new draft guidance specifies
the mandatory information required on the labels of these non-malt beers. These mandatory
labeling components include, among other information, a listing of ingredients in the product, a
nutrition facts panel, and the name of any major food allergen present in the product.
FDA also regulates the labeling of wine beverages containing less than 7 percent alcohol such
as wine coolers, cooking wine, and ciders. Manufacturers of non-malt beers are expected to
comply with the FDA's labeling requirements by Jan. 1, 2012.
FDA Program Standards: A revised version of the program standards was published in April
2009. Last year FDA gave $78,000 in grants to jurisdictions to allow them to enroll in, or to
enhance program standards. There will be more grant funding available in 2010.
2009 Food Code: The Food Code is finished and will be sent to the printer soon. It will be ready
to go to users in five weeks.
New Allergen Guide: The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004
(FALCPA) required that the label of a food containing a major allergen or protein from a major
allergen be labeled in the manner described by the law. FDA is in the process of preparing a
Food Allergen Guidance Manual related to the preparation and labeling of foods that contain
allergens. Additionally, FDA January 2009 allergen advice for consumers can be found at:
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm089307.htm.
Other FDA News:
Greg said that the FDA/North Central Association of Food and Drug Officials Food Protection
Seminar would be held in Fargo, October 26-29, 2009. The pre-workshop focused on
establishing a model field training program for regulatory food safety professionals.
In January 2010, FDA will hold a three-day HACCP course for Minnesota and Wisconsin
personnel.
Greg announced the coming retirement of Shirley Bohm, a Consumer Safety Officer in the
Retail Food Program at FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Shirley has more
than 30 years experience in environmental health and food safety with FDA, the Minnesota
Department of Agriculture, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the Winnebago County
Health Department.
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Presentation: H1N1 Epidemiology, Catherine Lexau, MDH
Catherine’s presentation (attached) began with her description of the typical morbidity and
mortality of seasonal influenza, and a definition of pandemic influenza. She went on to provide
recent world-wide and US data on H1N1 novel influenza, including the ages and groups most
susceptible to severe cases and serious outcomes. She described H1N1 prevention, response
and surveillance strategies, and discussed potential impacts of the pandemic.
Update: Foodborne Outbreak News, Kirk Smith, MDH
Kirk Smith provided a brief update on foodborne Epidemiology. He said Epi. staff had been
working on very few outbreaks lately. National outbreaks with E coli and salmonella have
involved only a few Minnesota cases.
Recently, it seemed that the Norovirus season had arrived but initial reports were not followed
by additional outbreaks. However, Epi. Staff are prepared for Noro to begin picking up again.
Kirk said he was not sure how confusion between Norovirus and influenza illness might
influence accurate reporting.
Presentation: On Networking and a Local Response to an Outbreak of Hepatitis A,
Darlene Mechtenberg, Murray County Medical Center
Darlene introduced herself as an RN, and head of infection control and employee health at
Murray County Medical Center and Murray County Clinic in Slayton. Darlene had been asked to
speak about her successful efforts to provide emergency information via a hastily arranged
hotline, and to provide more than 2500 Immune globulin (Ig) injections to community members
who were potentially exposed, when Hepatitis A was linked to a local restaurant and popular
community gathering place.
Darlene did describe these efforts. FSP attendees got a bonus in her description of other
successful public health collaborations in her community which took advantage of active
networking and carefully built relationships. A transcript of Darlene’s talk is attached.
Illness Awareness Materials
Presentation of Materials, Cathy Odinot, MDH
With assistance from Employee Illness Workgroup members, Cathy described the goals of the
workgroup and presented its products, saying that the workgroup had created materials for use
by several target audiences. She encouraged attendees to participate in the breakout sessions
immediately following her talk, and said that a second opportunity to comment would occur
during a conference call on October 28. Cathy’s presentation is attached.
Cathy also thanked breakout facilitators who were present at each videoconference site to
distribute illness materials, take notes, and to pass comments and revisions on to the Illness
Workgroup after the meeting.
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Operational and Managerial Control Initiatives
Presentation: Research on New Pest Management Practices, Stephen Kells, University of
Minnesota
Stephen Kells presented findings (attached) from his research on integrated pest management.
Though the research involved analyzing, revising and evaluation pest control strategies in large
warehousing facilities, the implications for food establishments were clear. Dr. Kells offered to
provide updates in the future, and asked that his contact information be forwarded to the FSP.
Dr. Stephen A. Kells, Assistant Professor
Food Processing and Structural Entomology
Department of Entomology
University of Minnesota
Office: 612-625-4798
[email protected]
www.ipmctoc.umn.edu
Presentation: Results of the Self-Audit/Food Worker Training Pilot, JoEllen Feirtag,
University of Minnesota
JoEllen began her presentation (attached) by describing the community engagement model
initiated as part of a collaborative effort between the City of Minneapolis and University of
Minnesota Extension to address the barriers to compliance; issues and costs related to
regulating more than 3,000 food establishments in Minneapolis. She went on to describe the
Self-Audit program introduced in 2007 and its success in reducing violations that could lead to
foodborne outbreaks.
JoEllen was joined by Al Potyondy-Smith, chef and food manager at the Bryant-Lake Bowl, and
Kathy Louden, a Minneapolis food safety inspector. Al and Kathy spoke of their experience with
the self-audit from the perspectives of regulated establishment and regulator. Each described a
positive experience and beneficial outcomes from participation in the self-audit pilot.
Future Meetings
▪
FSP meetings will be held on April 6, June 8, and October 5, 2010.
▪
Meetings to discuss rulemaking and the Minnesota Food Code will be held on January
20 and on the afternoon of April 6, following FSP.
▪
The 2nd Annual Field Trip will be held in June 2010.
▪
All future meetings will be hosted from the Freeman Building in St. Paul but a room will
also be available to attendees at Snelling Office Park.
▪
Streaming will be available at future meetings.
▪
MDH will continue to provide live video-conference sites, as requested.
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Materials for 10/21/2009 FSP meeting found on the MDH website at:
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/food/pwdu/fsp/
▪
October 21, 2009 FSP Meeting Agenda
▪
October 21, 2009 Meeting Summary
▪
Presentation: Report from the FSP Steering Committee
▪
Presentation: Suzanne Dreissen’s talk for a Society for Public Health Education
(SOPHE) webinar, Let’s Dish, Food Safety at the Table. (This pdf will be added later to
the website.)
▪
Food Safety Toolkit from SOPHE
▪
FDA Integrated Food Safety System (IFSS) draft proposal.
▪
Dr. Hamburg’s October 22 testimony regarding IFSS and pending food-related
legislation in the House and Senate.
▪
Presentation: H1N1 Epidemiology, Catherine Lexau, MDH
▪
Transcript: On Networking and a Local Response to an Outbreak of Hepatitis A, Darlene
Mechtenberg, Murray County Medical Center
▪
Presentation: Employee Illness Materials Workgroup, Cathy Odinot, MDH
▪
Presentation: Pest Management Practices, Stephen Kells, University of Minnesota
▪
Presentation: Results of the Self-Audit Pilot, JoEllen Feirtag, University of Minnesota
Special Note
The Minnesota Foodborne Illness Hotline number is: 1-877-FOOD ILL (or 1-877-366-3455).
The hotline number is not: 1-800-FOOD-ILL which refers callers to a social networking
opportunity.
This is a draft summary. Meeting notes were not reviewed by the Food Safety Partnership Steering
Committee. Errors and omissions are mine. DD.
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