Food Protection Trends - October 2009 - 725

be made. Questions were made during this discussion related to seed certification, how this might be part of the regulation. Another topic within produce regulation was the White House Food Safety Workgroup, there’s much focus on preventive food safety and possible new regulations. There will be opportunity for comments. Also, FDA is working with the industry with regards to food safety of nuts, particularly regarding sanitation. Next item was related to how the PDG could remain active and in contact during the year. IAFP can provide support for conference calls and webinars. The importance of having a sort of communication during the year that was of real benefit for participants was brought up. Not just meet to feel like we are meeting but to have a real benefit. Developing standard methodology for horticultural products (protocols, more standard access) was suggested as a topic for a conference call, webinar or e-mail exchange and was welcome by the committee. Also, discussions about FDA guidance was suggested as another topic. Next item was about developing symposia for IAFP 2010. The topics that were more strongly supported were food safety of nuts, industry’s success stories resulting from an outbreak, water quality issues, particularly irrigation/production side. Also, a symposium beyond commodities was suggested, such as food safety initiatives and conflict with water conservation issues, and defining food safety standards, metrics, differences with industry versus government guidance, and science gaps. Another non-commodity oriented symposium proposed was Product Tracing. In the end, the discussion was narrowed down to food safety standards including water, nuts, which was recommended to be organized jointly with other PDGs. Also, a round table was suggested on water. Sue (last name not recorded ) was in charge of contacting the chemical PDG and co-organize the symposium on nuts, and Trevor Suslow and Betsy Bihn were in charge of organizing the symposium and round table on standards and water. Recommendations to the Executive Board: 1. Given these economic times, the recommendation was to try to find ways of reducing the cost of attendance to the meeting, since this year was especially difficult to bring students who greatly benefit from this meeting. Next Meeting Date: IAFP 2010. Meeting Adjourned: 10:50 a.m. Recommendations to Executive Board: 1. Leon Gorris was elected Vice Chair. 2. Support for conference calls, webinars or other forms of communication with global members. 3. Support for a white paper or a framework document on “Components of an Effective Food Safety System” – for FPT and other outlets. (There may be different versions for different audiences.) Next Meeting Date: Conference call in September 2009. Meeting Adjourned: 5:00 p.m. Chairperson: Jeff Farber. Meat and Poultry Safety and Quality PDG Members Present: Timothy Freier (Chair), Todd Bacon, David Baker, Safa Birbari, Peter Bodnaruk, Dennis Burson, John Butts, Roger Cook, Paula Fedorka-Cray, Laura Fenton, Kathleen Glass, Joshua Gurtler, Margaret Hardin, Craig Henry, Randy Huffman, Ian Jenson,Vijay Juneja,Yale Lary, Linda Leake,Yanbin Lee, John Marcy, Lynn McMullen, Marin Pavlic, Mark Pratt, Justin Ransom, Biran Sheldon, John Sofos, Harshavardhan Thippareddi and Patricia Wester. New Members Present: Yuhuan Chen, Jim Dickson, Sun Kim, Elena Enache, Tami Wood, John Duke, Randy Huffman, Takateru Ishimori, Naoki Shinoda, Zhinong Yan, Kerri Harris, Robert Salter, Hong Wang, Jena Roberts, Rajesh Nayak, Maria Teresa Destro, Rudy Mendoza and Randall Phebus. Visitors/Guests Present: John Bassett and Steve Tracy. Meeting Called to Order: 2:00 p.m., Saturday, July 12, 2009. Recording Secretary of Minutes: Craig Henry. Old Business: Discussed symposia that were proposed and accepted at the last meeting. New Business: The Chair asked for volunteers for the Vice Chairperson position. Craig Henry from GMA volunteered and the committee accepted. The committee agreed that webinars should be utilized and supported by IAFP. Recommended Topics for 2010 Symposia and/or Webinars: 1. Sodium reduction – Kathy Glass. a. Consider the new dietary guidelines and any reduction strategies proposed made by local, state or federal authorities as well as industry or consumer advocates. b. The symposia/webinar should focus on the risk and benefits associated with a reduction strategy relevant to food safety. c. Could also include new developments with sulfites and nitrites. It was noted that nitrites were addressed in a 2008 IAFP symposia. 2. New Listeria monocytogenes research – John Sofos and Harshavardhan Thippareddi. a. Focused on risk assessments and interventions applicable at processing, retail and at point of consumption. b. Discuss with the Retail PDG for collaborative effort and support. c. This would be an overview of the outcomes of a multi-university CSREES grant. 3. New pathogen subtypes emerging in the supply chain and their relationship to ecological changes/interventions – Paula Fedorka-Cray. International Food Protection Issues PDG Members Present: Jeff Farber (Chair), Isabel Walls (Board Liaison), Andy Benson, Bob Buchanan, Leon Gorris, Jack Guzewich, Craig Harris, Ian Jensen, Kathy Lawlor, Linda Leake, Jenny Scott, Cindy Stewart and Ewen Todd. New Members: Cristina Tirado, Judy Greig and Amanda Tian. Visitors/Guests Present: Mike Cassidy, David Rasmussen, Craig Henry, John Allan, Lee-Ann Jaykus and Marilyn Lee. Meeting Called to Order: 2:10 p.m., Saturday, July 11, 2009. Recording Secretary of Minutes: Isabel Walls. Old Business: None. New Business: PDG agreed to write framework document based on 3 presentations. Symposia will be developed based on framework document. Future symposia could include role of food safety in food security (G8 recommendations), role of private standards vs Codex standards, risk communication, monitoring and review of compliance with food safety control systems, and impact of cultural and socio-economic issues on food safety. OCTOBER 2009 | FOOD PROTECTION TRENDS

Food Protection Trends - October 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Food Protection Trends - October 2009