Virginia Department of Agriculture Consumer Services Food Safety

Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Food Safety & Security Program Erik Bungo – Field Supervisor Sabrina Liles – Manufactured Foods Specialist

Agency Mission Statement We promote the economic growth and development of Virginia agriculture, encourage environmental stewardship, and provide consumer protection.

VDACS Strategic Goals § Goal #1: Enhance opportunities for the growth, profitability and continued viability of the Virginia agriculture industry. § Goal #2: Ensure a safe and wholesome food supply. § Goal #3: Provide agricultural and consumer protection services that support economic growth, meet consumer needs and encourage environmental stewardship. § Goal #4: Enhance Agency services and productivity through new technology, e-government applications, work processes and procedures, and training. § Goal #5: Provide services which prevent or minimize the impact of emergency agricultural infestations, animal disease outbreaks, foodborne illness outbreaks, and natural and manmade disasters.

VDACS AFIS Programs • Office of Meat and Poultry Services – Meat products and animals intended for slaughter – Cattle, swine, poultry, sheep, goats, ratites • Animal Feed Program – Animal/pet foods and products intended for use in manufacturing these types of commodities • Office of Dairy and Foods – Food products and raw ingredients used in the manufacture of food products

Food Safety & Security Program Regional Offices Main Location Oliver Hill Building Tidewater Regional Office Southwest Regional Office • One Program Supervisor • Three Regions/Regional Managers • Three Field Supervisors • 22 Food Safety Specialists

VDACS Authority • Food Manufacturing Firms – – – GMP based inspection (2818) Seafood HACCP (70) Acidified Foods (75) Juice HACCP (10) Low acid canned foods (6) • Retail Food Stores (10, 000+) – Grocery, Convenience, Supermarkets, Other • Food Service Facilities – Less than 15 seats, part of a bakery or other manufacturing operation • Warehouses (725) • Farmer’s Markets (241) • Home Operations (774)

VDACS Emergency Response • The Food Safety & Security Program participates in a number of different emergency response efforts with the goal in each being to protect and maintain the safety of the food supply within the Commonwealth

Emergency Response

Emergency Response Situations • • • Food borne Illness outbreaks Hurricanes Floods Fires Vehicle Wrecks (Trucks) Train Wrecks Droughts Power Outages Chemical Spills Explosions Radiological Disasters (Power Plant Breach) Terrorism

Emergency Response • Food Safety & Security – Inspection and verification of food products in affected areas – Food-borne disease surveillance – Coordinate recall and tracing of adulterated products – Coordinate disposal of contaminated food products – Provide inspectors and laboratory services to affected areas

Floods

Fires

Vehicular Accidents

Power Outages

Emergency Policies & Procedures • VDACS currently has 7 emergency policies & procedures • Emergency Management – – – – 7. 1 State Emergency Operations Center Responsibilities 7. 2 Radiological Emergency Response 7. 3 Response To Foodborne Illness Outbreaks 7. 4 Highly Contagious Livestock or Poultry Disease 7. 5 Plant Pest Emergency 7. 6 Terrorism Consequence Management 7. 7 Food Safety and Security Program Incident Response Plan

Contacting VDACS • Call the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) 804 -674 -2400 • The EOC will notify the Emergency Services Coordinator within the Division of Animal and Food Industry Services • The Coordinator will contact the appropriate program to respond to the incident • Food Safety & Security Program contacts – Matt Ettinger: Rapid Response Team Coordinator – Chris Thackston: Field Incident Coordinator

Information for the EOC • Location of the accident • Name and phone number of the appropriate contact either on scene or in a command center • Brief description of the incident – Truck wreck involving frozen foods – Truck wreck and fire involving dry food products • Food Safety & Security Program representative will contact the individual noted by the EOC.

Food Safety & Security Program Information • Current status of the food products – – Still in trailer ? Trailer compromised food spilled onto ground ? Food damaged by fire and water used to extinguish ? Food exposed to fuel or other contaminants ? • Shipped under refrigeration – Is the refrigeration unit still functional ? – Is the unit capable of maintaining product temperatures ? • Refrigerated foods: 41 o F

Food Safety & Security Program Information • Best route to access the accident scene – VDACS vehicles currently not equipped with emergency lighting (amber or white strobe lights) – We have to secure permission from VSP to utilize shoulders or emergency breaks in the median • Name and agency of Incident Commander or other on-scene contact • Special information or requests – Food is all destroyed or contaminated and is being collected for disposal – Firm responsible for the load is attempting to salvage product

Food Safety & Security Program Response • The program representative will discuss the event with the contact provided by the EOC and determine if an inspector will be dispatched to the scene • Examples of times when VDACS involvement is not required at the scene – Product is naturally denatured: Melted ice cream – Food is clearly contaminated/adulterated and will be destroyed – Company responsible for the load has already made the decision to discard the product • If product is to be discarded VDACS will need a location to meet the load so that we can observe the process to insure the food is appropriately denatured

Food Safety & Security Program Response • If an inspector is dispatched to the scene they will integrate into the response efforts as the requested/required by Incident Command • Inspector will work with other response personnel to address the safety/security of the food products and to aid in the swift and safe mitigation of the incident • VDACS personnel can seize the food products • VDACS staff have been provided with ANSI Class III safety vests and Type II Class E hard hats with reflective stripes.

Matthew R. Ettinger Rapid Response Team/Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards Coordinator Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services 102 Governor Street Richmond, VA 23219 Office: (804) 786 -1006 Mobile: (804) 912 -7348 Fax: (804) 371 -7792 matthew. ettinger@vdacs. virginia. gov