Food Protection Trends - November/December 2017 - 518

Juming Tang, Anna Theil-Gangl, Jane Van Doren, Tushar
Verma, Abigail Villalba, Lisa Weddig, Xinyao Wei, Jian Wu,
Shuang Wu, Hongshun Yang, Robert Yarsulik, and Cynthia
Zook. Number of Attendees: 69.

how increasing layers of audits and regulatory agency
approaches affect the industry. Instead of being exclusive, plans become cumulative and add confusion
to the industry. Potential program: How to balance
regulatory compliance and customer and 3rd party
requirements in the food safety environment. Note:
Discussion led to the question

Are people adding CCPs because of the catfish
issue?

Meeting Called to Order: 1:00 p.m., July 9, 2017.
Minutes Recording Secretary: Foivos Genigiorgis.
Old Business: Approval of 2016 Minutes and recap of 2016
program proposals.
New Business:
Outgoing Chairperson Michelle Lovett opened the meeting
by thanking everyone and acknowledging the work that Forest
and Foivos have done in the past year to move the group forward during her busy work schedule.
Welcoming message was given from Forest Reichel who
introduced IAFP Board Liaison Kali Kneil.
Kali thanked the group members for the efforts to promote
the Association. The Association is in great shape with 262
exhibitors (new exhibitors were 22). Also, there is an increasing number of students that have joined. On a side note the
board would like to:
* Encourage use of webinars.
* Find more ways to recognize students: Certificates
and non-monetary awards to encourage participation.
Forest offered a thank you to members Tori Stivers,
Jessica Jones, Lori Pivarnik and Lisa Weddig for their efforts
to have two symposia approved:
* After 20 Years of Seafood HACCP, is Our Food Safer
* Seafood-associated Vibriosis: Turning the Trend
Around
Reviewed proposed agenda:
* Association Meeting Guidelines
* Approval of 2016 Meeting Minutes
* Member Profiles - PDG
* IAFP Board Liaison - Kali E. Kniel
* 2016 in Review
* General Discussion - PDG Goals
* Topic Development
* IAFP Board Recommendations
Emphasis on PDG collaboration: Would like to increase
member participation. Plan to develop tools for PDG collaboration (e.g., spreadsheets for program submissions). Also,
encourage webinars as a means to reach a broader seafood
audience. Possible industry or association distribution and/or
sponsorship.

David Kingsley, USDA - Viral and Parasitic Foodborne
Disease PDG: Seafood is regulated by the FDA - except
catfish. This is presenting a challenge to industry and
retailers in managing different regulatory structures.
Differences between FDA and USDA in the matter of catfish? Different approach and implementation by FDA and
USDA create disparity with regard to maintaining compliance with both agencies. Potential program: Due to time
constraints, a webinar may be the only option to address
the issue.

Parasites and other food safety risks associated with the
consumption of raw seafood (e.g., sushi). There is a large
collaborative opportunity for this topic. Input from individuals from Virus and Parasitic Foodborne PDG as well as
the Pre Harvest and Safety PDG. It was also noted that
allergens should be included due to allergic reactions from
dead parasites. Another aspect for this topic is to add viral
safety concerns in scallops. Hepatitis is a consideration
from process water contamination. Potential program:
Emerging hazards with the increased consumption of raw
seafood.

Safe seafood handling beyond the producer. Safe seafood
handling practices at the retail level. Recently the need
became evident based upon a workshop held with retail
outlets. Potential program: Safe seafood handling with
broader reach to retailers and restaurants.

International regulations that impact the seafood industry.
Global supply chain impacts the industry in many different
ways. Regulatory requirements may differ based upon
countries involved. Complexity of the regulatory environment can create roadblocks to effective compliance.
Is there a means to navigate these regulations? What
tools are available to track regulations that may vary by
country - Potential collaboration with Food Law PDG and
International Food Protection Issues PDG. Radiological
hazards were also referenced. Potential Program:
Managing seafood compliance and food safety in an international supply chain and market.

Discussion on PDG goals: what would the members like
to see? How could the PDG improve? This was an open
question posed to members. Some responses were:
* Is there any way to provide information of research
by universities - resources for members?
* How can we build a better communication system
and method of involving members in the program
development discussions of the PDG: What is needed to do to submit?
* Try to improve contact with the group members. Call
for members to contact with Chairs and Vice Chairs.

Fraud topic - mislabeling of fish that are related to toxins
(e.g., ciguatera toxin) as non-related species substitution
causing a food safety risk with unidentified hazards inherent to the species used for substitution. Requires more
research to develop.

Current questions:
*
*
*

What are the goals of the seafood PDG?
What type of information isn't available yet?
How can the PDG better serve the committee
members?

Program Proposals:
1.

Matthew Coleman Florida Dept. of Agriculture: Looking at
HACCP plans and CCPs outside of the regulatory requirements based upon customer and 3rd party requirements.
How the inclusion of the non-essential CCPs are
impacting effective monitoring of food safety CCPs? Also,
industry experiences dealing with multiple regulatory
agencies

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