AMIF FSIS preharvest research meeting sept 9

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Food Safety Challenges and Benefits of New
Technology Randall Huffman, Ph.D. Vice
President, Scientific Affairs American Meat
Institute Foundation USDA- FSIS Public Meeting
on Food Safety Technologies January 13, 2004,
Omaha, Nebraska
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Challenges
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Potential Hazards

• Microbiological
• Physical
• Chemical

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FSIS Routine Monitoring of Ground Beef for E.
coli O157H71
1 Results of raw ground beef products analyzed
for E. coli O157H7 in federal plants In 1998
FSIS increased sample size from 25 g to 375g.
In July 1999 FSIS changed to a more sensitive
analytical method. Industry began 100
pre-grind sampling programs for E. coli O157 in
Fall 2002
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Incidence of Foodborne Illness 1996-2002 E.
coli O157H7
National Health Objective 1.0
Preliminary FoodNet Data on the Incidence of
Foodborne Illnesses --- Selected Sites, United
States, 2002
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Prevalence of Salmonellain Ground Beef
FSIS results of ground beef analyzed for
Salmonella
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Incidence of Foodborne Illness 1996-2002
Salmonella
National Health Objective 6.8
Preliminary FoodNet Data on the Incidence of
Foodborne Illnesses --- Selected Sites, United
States, 2002
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Prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in RTE Meat
and Poultry Products
FSIS results of ready-to-eat products analyzed
for Listeria monocytogenes
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Incidence of Foodborne Illness 1996-2002
Listeria
National Health Objective .25
Preliminary FoodNet Data on the Incidence of
Foodborne Illnesses --- Selected Sites, United
States, 2002
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Benefits

• Reducing the risk of foodborne illness is the
  primary benefit of implementing food safety
  technologies
• However, there are other benefits to industry.

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• Cold Cut Category

Recalls (12/98 - 1/99)
Source AC Nielsen Category Data, 1/14/99
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• Hot Dog Category

Q1 recalls (3)
3/2000 Recall
Source AC Nielsen Hot Dog Category Data, 1/14/99
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9 CFR Part 430 Control of Listeria In Ready to
Eat Meat And Poultry Products
This interim final rule took effect on October 6,
2003
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Examples of Successful Technology

• Use of organic acids on carcasses
• Steam pasteurization
• Irradiation
• Fecal detection devices
• Use of inhibitors on RTE meat products
• Use of post lethality interventions

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Pending technologies that need immediate attention

• Irradiation in RTE products
• Carcass surface irradiation
• Chlorate as a pre-harvest intervention
• Organic acids on pork carcasses
• Chlorine dioxide in brine solutions

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Recommendations to improve process

• FSIS should maintain a web portal to house all
  technology approval information.
• FSIS should establish a written SOP for the
  process of new technology approval that is
  transparent and understood by both agency and
  stakeholders
• FSIS should provide a web-based list of approved
  technologies that is updated on a regular basis.

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Recommendations to improve process

• FSIS should work to further streamline the
  coordination between FDA and other regulatory
  agencies as appropriate
• FSIS should prioritize approval activities based
  on the greatest food safety needs and should
  avoid delays on urgent food safety technologies.
• FSIS Office of New Technology should work to
  communicate with stakeholders on a regular basis
  to enhance efficiency and transparency

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Recommendations to improve process

• Office of new technology should be a critical
  component of assisting FSIS and ARS when research
  priorities are established.
• FSIS should provide incentives for companies to
  adopt new technologies through implementation of
  policies that reward companies for
  implementation.

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Recommendations to improve process

• Consideration should be given to immediate
  approval of substances already listed as GRAS by
  FDA as long as a bactericidal effect can be
  demonstrated.

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Future

• New technologies are crucial to meat industry
  success
• Multiple validated interventions, or hurdles,
  for pathogens are key
• Slaughter interventions
• Antimicrobial Ingredients
• Antimicrobial processes
• Post lethality treatments
• Sanitation technologies

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Summary

• Challenges are to minimize the occurrence of
  microbiological, physical and chemical hazards
• Benefits are enhanced consumer safety and
  satisfaction
• Important to remember that technology alone will
  not be
• .a Silver Bullet!

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Thank you