IMPORTANCE OF FOOD SAFETY What is Food Safety

IMPORTANCE OF FOOD SAFETY

What is Food Safety? • -the safe guarding or protection of food from anything harmful affecting consumer health. • Three main recalls: § E. coli 0157: H 7 § Listeria monocytogenes § Undeclared Allergens Nuts Shell Fish Eggs Tree nuts Dairy Soy Milk Peanuts

Food-Borne Illnesses Economic Research Service (ERS) Estimates – $6. 9 Billion/Year Cost of Food-Borne Illnesses Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Estimates – 76 Million Cases of FBI Annually – 325, 000 Hospitalizations – 5, 000 Deaths

Total Recalls

Microbial vs Other Recalls

Microbial Recalls • Salmonella § Ready – to – Eat Products • Listeria monocytogenes § Ready – to – Eat Products • E. coli O 157: H 7 § Ground, Raw Products

E. coli O 157: H 7 Related Recalls Hudson Foods

August 1997 – Hudson Foods • Recalled 25 million pounds of ground beef • Recovered 10, 104, 439 pounds • Case Opened – August 12, 1997 • Case Closed – February 2, 1999 • 6 Lots Recalled § Distributed to all 48 states • Re-worked from one day to next • HUDSON FOODS CLOSED!

Results of Recall of 1997 • More Aggressive Testing Program for E. coli by USDA • Processors Changed the Way they Handled Rework • More Processors Implemented better Lotting and Coding Programs for their Products

What Happened in 2006? ? • 18 Recalls in 2006 - WHY? • E. coli prevalence? • Aggressive testing? • Complacency? • No clear answer. . . • Recalls continue to be a problem in the beef industry through 2007 and 2008

Topps Foods-2006 • TOPPS Food – New Jersey, NJ § Frozen Ground Beef Patties § 21 Million lbs Recalled • 60 people sickened § E. coli O 157: H 7 Contamination § September 25, 2007 – RECALL INITIATED § October 5, 2007 – BANKRUPTCY

2008 – Nebraska Beef • Recall Initiated with Beef Trim § 531, 000 lbs originally § Expanded to 5. 1 million lbs • Recall Expanded to Subprimals § Not currently considered “adulterated” § No positive test on product (linked epidemiologically) § Customers ground subprimals intended for intact sale • Company is recovering

SPINACH OUTBREAK • Sept. 2006 in 4 fields in San Benito County, CA • Fields were transferring from conventional to organic fields • Linked to Dole baby spinach • 205 confirmed illnesses, 31 cases of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), 102 hospitalized, & 3 deaths • Affected 26 states • FDA introduces “Leafy Greens” campaign & new leafy green procedures

What Products are Recalled due to E. coli O 157: H 7 Contamination? ? • Ground Beef and Beef Trim § Considered adulterated if contains E. coli O 157: H 7 § Must be recalled if already in commerce § Can be sent to cooker • Other products recalled if linked to outbreak § Non-intact subprimals § Subprimals § Other foods (spinach)

Listeria Recalls Bil Mar Foods

Multi-State Outbreak 1998 -1999 December 22, 1998 - Bil Mar Foods Michigan Case Closed – May 12, 2000 Voluntary Recall – Hot Dogs and Deli Meats – Ball Park, Bil Mar, Bryan Bun Size, Bryan 3 -lb Club Pack, Grillmaster, Hygrade, Mr. Turkey, Sara Lee Deli Meat, Sara Lee Home Roast Brands

Details of Outbreak Illnesses Occurred August 2 - Dec. 13 – Initiated Recall Long Incubation - up to 2 months Organism Found in in Opened and Previously Unopened Package of Hot Dogs All Products Produced in The Time Frame that Hot Dogs were Produced were Recalled

CONSEQUENCES OF THE OUTBREAK – 100 illnesses – 22 States – 21 Deaths • 15 adults • 6 miscarriages/stillbirths

Results of this Outbreak • USDA Required all Ready to Eat Processors to Re-evaluate HACCP Plans to Ensure that Listeria Was Addressed • More Aggressive Testing by USDA for Listeria • New Directive for Listeria control

What Types of Products are Recalled for Listeria? ? • Ready to Eat Products ONLY § Hot Dogs, Sliced Luncheon Meats, Chicken Salad, Polish Sausage, Salami, Roast Beef, Beef Jerkey, Ham, etc. • USDA Zero Tolerance Policy

Salmonella Recalls

Peanut Butter Recall of 2007 (February) • Con. Agra Sylvester, GA plant • Salmonella was found in Great Value and Peter Pan Peanut butter • Contamination linked to a leaky roof and flooding in the plant the week prior • 290 illnesses; 0 death • Affected 39 states

Peanut Butter Recall of 2008 • Peanut Corporation of America- Blakely, GA § Peanut Butter and Peanut Butter Paste • ALL PRODUCTS SINCE JANUARY 1, 2007 HAVE BEEN RECALLED • CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION was conducted § Products shipped after testing positive for Salmonella • Test (+) and then (-) so they shipped • Shipped before test results received

GENERAL INFORMATION • NOT ONLY THE BEEF INDUSTRY FACES FOOD SAFETY CHALLENGES! • During a Recall - Amount of Product Recalled Varies § Millions of Pounds § Less than 100 Pounds • Amount Recovered - Varies § 100% § None

Impact on Processors • Monetary Losses § Recalls § Law suits • Loss of Reputation/Customers • Public Health Responsibility • MANY COMPANIES GO OUT OF BUSINESS OR LOSE SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS AS A RESULT OF RECALLS!

International Center for Food Industry Excellence www. icfie. com