This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
This Website Uses Cookies
By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn More
This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
Food Engineering logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Engineering logo
  • Home
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Digital Edition
    • Archives
  • Exclusives
    • Fabulous Food Plants
    • Plant Construction Survey
    • Plant of the Year
    • Sustainable Plant of the Year
    • State of Food Manufacturing
    • Top 100 Food & Beverage Companies
    • Web Exclusives
  • Topics
    • Latest Headlines
    • Automation
    • Cannabis
    • Case Studies/Field Reports
    • Columns
    • Dry Processing
    • Food Safety
    • Innovation
    • Packaging
    • Processing
    • Sustainability
    • Tech Update
  • News
    • Manufacturing News
    • New Products
    • People & Industry News
    • Plant Openings
    • Recalls
    • Regulatory Watch
  • Food Master
  • Resources
    • Classified Ads
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • FE Store
    • Government Links
    • Industry Associations
    • Market Research
    • White Papers
    • Tech Flash E-newsletter
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Food Automation & Manufacturing Conference & Expo
  • Multimedia
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • eBooks
    • Food Plant of the Future
    • Webinars
    • Food Engineering's Youtube
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
  • Subscribe
Home » RegulatoryWatch: Bioterrorism unofficial theme of Food Safety Summit
Columns

RegulatoryWatch: Bioterrorism unofficial theme of Food Safety Summit

April 16, 2003
KEYWORDS food defense / food safety management / Food Safety Summit / food security
Reprints
No Comments
Silver lining to terrorist attacks is greater cooperation among those who keep the nation’s food supply secure.



The shock waves from September 11 continue to be felt in the food industry. The federal government has signaled its intent to increase its regulatory role in the nation’s food supply, a trend food processors are accepting-as long manufacturers have a strong voice in drawing up those regulations. Bioterrorism was an unofficial theme as food industry representatives gathered in Washington for the fourth annual Food Safety Summit, co-sponsored by the National Food Processors Association. Homeland Security czar Tom Ridge delivered a keynote address, calling on manufacturers to aid the government in keeping the food supply out of terrorists’ reach. PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Steven Reinemund said the ongoing threat from terrorists demands a new level of cooperation between the industry that produces the food supply and the government agencies that regulate and protect it. “If there is a silver lining to the terrible attacks on our country, it is a heightened spirit of cooperation and partnership among those who work to keep our nation’s food safe and secure,” Reinemund said. “We need to continue this strong, collaborative process in order to ensure the very safest food supply possible.” He also praised the rapid response of industry trade groups to form alliances with government agencies to ensure the best flow of information possible on the issue of food security.

Mega-million dollar price tag for food safety

A careful reading of the USDA budget reveals an increased food industry regulation component. USDA’s FY2003 budget request for food safety provides $905 million to fund 7,600 inspectors, veterinarians and other food safety officials who regulate and inspect the nation’s meat and poultry supply. It also calls for new spending to step up research activities, refine the quality of scientific data on animal disease-based threats to public health, expand risk prevention and management education for small and very small meat, poultry and egg producers; as well as upgrade the agency’s information and communication systems. Undersecretary for Food Safety Elsa Murano told a House committee that the budget request represents a record amount, allowing USDA to enhance its food safety system. Murano also announced a series of nine public forums between now and the end of the year on pathogen reduction and microbial testing.

Processors urged to develop clear recall plans

Government food safety regulators are placing more responsibilities on processors for keeping consumers informed when problems occur, a move likely to result in more public recall announcements. FDA has announced it will begin automatically classifying most allergen-related food recalls in the Class I category, requiring companies to notify the public. A Class I recall is one in which “reasonable probability exists that the use of or exposure to a product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.” FDA’s Class I recall rule is implemented when foods are not properly labeled that they contain one of the following allergens: peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, soy, crustaceans, fish and wheat. The International Ice Cream Association recently tackled the issue head on, presenting a roundtable for processors led by Dr. Sue Hefle, University of Nebraska Food Allergy Research and Resource Program, and Dr. Kenneth Falci, of FDA. Processors were urged to develop a recall preparedness plan, mapping out clear communication channels with both the public and government officials.

subscribe to Food Engineering

Related Articles

Regulatory Watch: Vigilance raised on bioterrorism, food safety

Food Safety Summit exhibition hall sells out

This week's Food Safety Summit to feature educational sessions, networking

Mock norovirus outbreak at Food Safety Summit infects 374 people

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • Print & Digital Edition Subscriptions
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Popular Stories

North Carolina Food Innovation Lab

North Carolina Food Innovation Lab takes aim at food production of the future

sustainable packaging

Packaging industry pumps up R&D to keep pace with green goals

BKON's RAIN technology

RAIN uses vacuum cycles for extraction to occur at the deepest layers of coffee

Plant Opening

Plant Openings & Expansions: November 2019

date labels

Much food waste comes from misinterpretation on product date labels

Food Master 2020

Events

December 11, 2019

7 Things You’re Likely Missing to Win with Water Tracking

Water is one of the most critical resources in your manufacturing process—as an ingredient, for cleaning and as waste. Did you know you may be missing areas to monitor that could help your bottom line? Find out how some simple additions to what you’re monitoring can cut downtime, boost efficiency and reduce waste. Some extra analysis makes a huge difference in your water savings!
April 26, 2020

Food Automation & Manufacturing Conference and Expo

FA&M logoFood Engineering's Food Automation & Manufacturing Conference and Expo (FA&M) is a 2 ½ day event that brings food and beverage processors and suppliers together to gain valuable information on the latest trends and technologies in manufacturing, automation, sustainability and food safety.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Severe Weather and the Supply Chain

How will this year’s severe spring weather affect your supply chain?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

Packaging Research in Food Product Design and Development

Packaging Research in Food Product Design and Development

Packaging Research in Food Product Design and Development is the first book to comprehensively address the issues of graphics design and visual concepts, from a systematic, scientific viewpoint, yet with business applications in mind.

See More Products

2019 Top 100 Food & Beverage Companies

Food Engineering

FE November 2019 cover

2019 November

In the November 2019 issue of Food Engineering, learn about the new ways food and beverage processors are reducing their energy footprints.
View More Create Account
  • Resources
    • Food & Beverage Brands
    • List Rental
    • Survey And Sample
  • Want More
    • Connect
  • Subscribe
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright ©2019. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing