FDA Program Prepares Industry For Food Safety Crises The Food and Drug Administration is trying to encourage all sectors involved in food and regulations to work together to prepare for food safety emergencies. On July 20, the FDA and its federal agency partners released its Food Related Emergency Exercise Boxed set, an internet-based collection of scenarios that could help regulators, public health organizations and the food industry test readiness for food-related emergencies, according to a news release. (The Packer, 7/20) Beyond Guac With Fresh Florida Avocados Lean and green. Florida avocados are harvested from late May through March. Larger than California avocados, the Florida fruit is distinguished by its smooth, shiny exterior. Allow fruit to ripen at room temperature until soft. Flesh is yellow-green to yellow, creamy with slightly nutty flavor. Avocados are best eaten as soon as they fully ripen. (The orbs will give to gentle pressure when ready to use.) Naturally low in fat, the fruit is a good source of protein, potassium, iron and vitamins C and B, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Use fresh and in salads, guacamole and dips. (Orlando Sentinel, 7/20) In a July 14 letter sent to the Florida congressional delegation, a large group of industry and agricultural representatives say that a set of water pollution standards are not the solution for algal blooms and fish kills plaguing many parts of Florida. The letter is a response to one penned by the Florida Water Coalition, who implored lawmakers to adopt a set of numeric nutrient criteria in an effort to fight Florida’s water pollution, which many say costs Floridians in the long run. In an email dated July 7, the Coalition (which includes Earthjustice attorney David Guest) said that the failure to implement the criteria would be “a clear dereliction of duty,” as excess nutrients impose a threat to public health. (Florida Independent, 7/18) New Federal Policy Aims To Expand Fish Farming The federal government is moving to open up large swaths of coastal waters to fish farming for the first time in an effort to decrease Americans' dependence on imports and satisfy their growing appetite for seafood. While federal officials and fish farmers say the new push will create jobs and help allay concerns about importing seafood from countries with weak environmental regulations, conservationists worry that expanding fish farms far offshore will threaten the oceans' health. More than four-fifths of the fish, clams, oysters and other seafood Americans ate in 2009 was imported, according to the latest figures from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Associated Press, 7/17) California Pest Trapper Helps Thwart Citrus Disease California's approach [to slowing the spread of citrus greening] is novel, because it's preemptive: it aims to eliminate the bacteria carrier before it can spread the disease. That's because, unlike in Florida and elsewhere, relatively few invasive psyllids have made it to California thus far. "We have a unique opportunity to be proactive in managing this insect to either prevent the introduction of the disease or to slow its movement," said Citrus Research Board data director Richard Dunn. Florida's woes led California growers to consider the new approach. The invasive psyllid first arrived to Florida in 1998, but officials didn't recognize its threat. When they first detected the disease six years later, the Asian citrus psyllid population had exploded and the disease spread like wildfire — a fate California hopes to avoid, said the board's president Ted Batkin. Florida is now losing trees to the infection at a rate of 15 percent a year, Batkin said, which means removing and replacing thousands of trees, an expensive process. (Associated Press, 7/16) Chains And Michelle Obama Team On "Food Desert" Stores Some of the largest U.S. grocers said on Wednesday that they would join forces with First Lady Michelle Obama to bring healthy food to parts of the country, urban and rural, where access to fresh groceries is poor. Walmart, the largest food retailer in the United States, will take part in an announcement with the first lady at the White House on Wednesday afternoon. Supervalu Inc and Walgreen Co are also participating. All three chains announced plans to open stores in so-called "food desert" parts of the country, where people lack access to grocery stores and their fresh produce and meats. According to data provided by Supervalu, there are more than 23 million people, including more than 6 million children, live in U.S. food deserts. (Reuters, 7/20) Commissioner Spotlight On Monday, Commissioner Putnam visited the Herbert Hoover Dike at Lake Okeechobee. There, he met with Colonel Alfred Pantano of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Tuesday through Thursday, Commissioner Putnam traveled to Washington, D.C., where he met with leadership at U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In addition, he visited with members of the Florida delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives. At the Department The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Division of Animal Industry was recognized recently for its capabilities and expertise in the testing of brucellosis. The U.S. Department of Agriculture designated the Division’s Live Oak Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory as a regional bovine brucellosis testing laboratory, making it the only state laboratory carrying out brucellosis testing in the eastern United States as part of the national surveillance program. The Live Oak laboratory is accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians and carries out testing for a number of animal diseases. Brucellosis is a highly contagious bacterial disease of animals that may be passed to people through direct contact with infected animals or through the ingestion of unsterilized milk or uncooked meat from affected animals. Human cases in the United States have been greatly reduced through the control of this disease in animals, and national surveillance for this disease in cattle and swine continues to be important in detecting disease and preventing further spread. As a result of the success of the state and federal brucellosis eradication programs, federal funding and the number of testing laboratories receiving federal support is being reduced. Therefore, as one of the few remaining national brucellosis testing laboratories, the Live Oak laboratory is expected to increase its workload and test approximately 400,000 samples for brucellosis over the next year. While Florida has not detected the bovine form of this disease for more than 10 years, cattle do become infected with the swine form of this disease from feral swine that have contact with cattle. A Look Ahead Commissioner Putnam’s next scheduled state event is the bi-monthly meeting of the Governor and the Cabinet on August 2 in Tallahassee, FL. |
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