Food Safety Under Scrutiny

By Judie Bizzozero, Senior Editor

After the recent Listeriosis outbreak linked to fresh cantaloupes that has killed 21 people and sickened more than 100 in 20 states, the subject of food safety once again is coming under scrutiny at both the consumer and federal level.

Whether an outbreak is a fresh, unprocessed foods event like Listeria-laden cantaloupes or a processed foods event like the 2008-2009 Salmonella outbreak linked to peanut butter that sickened more than 700 people in 49 states, pathogenic contamination of foods is a serious concern for the industry as a whole.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions most recent Surveillance for Foodborne Disease OutbreaksUnited States, 2008," among the 22 reported deaths that year, 20 were attributed to bacterial etiologies (13 Salmonella, three Listeria monocytogenes, three E. coli STEC [two O157, one O111], one Staphylococcus), one to norovirus, and one to a mycotoxin.

The report revealed that in the 218 outbreaks where one food commodity was identified, the largest number of illnesses listed poultry (15%), beef (14%) and fish (14%) as the cause. Among the 7,177 illnesses in the 218 outbreaks, the food groups associated with the most illnesses were fruits and nuts (24%), vine vegetables (23%) and beef (13%).

Speaking at the 34th Annual National Food Policy Conference on Oct. 4, FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg discussed FDAs promise that the food supply will be safe for every American, and the need for strong partnership among various groups to help fulfill that promise. She specifically addressed three issues: what FDA is doing to strengthen food safety; the challenges FDA still faces in fulfilling its food-safety promise; and the need for a partnership among government officials, public health experts, industry and consumer groups.

We know we have promises to keep, and if we want to fulfill them, then each of you must continue to partner with us," Hamburg said. That does not mean we give up our regulatory responsibilities. Partnership means respecting the important role each of usevery stakeholderhas in ensuring a safe food supply and a food supply that nourishes the welfare and well-being of our children and ourselves."

Hamburgs promise came just days after FDA announced a Retail Food Safety Action Plan that includes several measures to help ensure the safety of food sold in grocery stores, restaurants, schools and other foodservice operations in the United States.

The action plan focuses on improving the way managers of these establishments conduct food- safety operations in their facilities, as well as improving the oversight of these establishments by public health agencies at the federal, state and local levels. The plan specifically calls for strengthening state and local food-safety requirements that apply to these establishments and for improving training for personnel on measures to keep food safe.

To support the action plan, FDA also established a cooperative agreement with the National Association of County and City Health Officials to promote the use of best practices by local authorities, develop tools to strengthen retail food safety oversight, and implement FDAs Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards.

Be sure to check out Food Product Designs special Focus on Food Safety digital issue which looks at some of the most-important food-safety issues facing the industry.