Taylor Speech Rocks AMI
Despite industry's insistence for rule-making, FSIS' pathogen policy on raw ground beef has already begun
by Bryan Salvage, editor
Michael R. Taylor's first public appearance as FSIS administrator has sent shock waves throughout the meat industry. And the aftershocks have already begun.
During his presentation at the 1994 AMI Convention in San Francisco, Taylor jolted the audience toward the end of his speech by announcing FSIS' new five-point regulatory policy on E. coli 0157:H7 in raw ground beef:
-- Raw ground beef contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7 poses a serious risk to public health. Contaminated lots should be excluded from commerce.
-- FSIS will detain contaminated lots and require their destruction or reprocessing in a manner that kills the pathogen.
-- Companies that encounter contaminated lots of raw ground beef at any stage of the process-from production and processing to the retail store-are expected to take similar action and notify FSIS.
-- FSIS considers raw ground beef contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7 to be adulterated within the purview of the Federal Meat Inspection Act. "We are prepared to use the act's enforcement tools, as necessary, to exclude adulterated product from commerce," Taylor stressed.
-- FSIS will conduct targeted sampling and testing of raw ground beef at plants and in the marketplace for possible E. coli 0157:H7 contamination. In fact, less than three weeks after Taylor's Sept. 29 speech, FSIS began testing raw ground beef in plants and retail outlets.
Taylor's policy announcement-particularly the adulteration and sampling points-took many by surprise, particularly the AMI executive committee.
George Bryan, newly elected AMI chairman and senior vice president of Sara Lee Corp., told Meat Marketing & Technology that the committee experienced a good meeting with Taylor prior to his speech, and that Taylor gave no indication he would come off so tough on industry.
"We certainly don't agree with the approach [Taylor is taking]," Bryan cautioned. "The government comes up with these regulations and it doesn't follow the process [of implementation]. It just wants to put something into affect."
All AMI convention attendees contacted for their opinion on Taylor's speech afterward by MM&T declined to comment except AMI President J. Patrick Boyle.
"The first three-quarters of his speech read like an AMI policy position on inspection reform and HACCP [Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point program] as a food safety process technique," Boyle says. "He spoke of the need to move from traditional inspection to science-based, risk-based inspection.
"He acknowledged explicitly that you cannot test your way to safer food," he added. "Then at the last moment, he says he's going to test ground beef for E. coli."
AMI has written to FSIS, demanding it follow normal rule-making procedures if it wants to reclassify all E. coli 0157:H7-contaminated ground beef as adulterated.
"If they're [FSIS] going to embark upon such an unprecedented reinterpretation of the statute, and such a comprehensive and far-reaching testing program, they need to go through the notice and comment process required for rule-making," Boyle stressed.
FSIS moves ahead
An FSIS spokeswoman told MM&T that although she did not have an answer as to whether FSIS would react to AMI's request on following rule-making procedures, the agency had already moved ahead on its new policy.
On Oct. 17, USDA began testing raw ground beef prepared in federal plants and retail stores for E. coli 0157:H7, according to the spokeswoman. The department will collect 5,000 samples each year-2,500 from federal plants and 2,500 from retail operations.
"In the plants, half of the 2,500 samples will be randomly selected, and the other half will be targeted to plants that have a history of non-compliance," she noted. "At the retail level, half of the samples will be from randomly selected stores, and the other half will be targeted to [stores in] states where E. coli outbreaks have occurred. We will also sample a limited number of imported ground beef products and ground beef products from state-inspected plants.
"[Administrator Taylor] said if laboratory testing confirms the presence of E. coli, manufacturers or distributors are expected to voluntarily recall [such products]," she added. "If they do not recall the product, then USDA has legal authority to seize contaminated products."
The spokeswoman said there are three reasons behind the sampling:
-- To encourage the industry to institute and maintain effective process controls to routinely sample and test its raw ground beef.
-- To allow USDA to expand its information base on the standing and the controlling of E. coli 0157:H7.
-- For industry to find and remove products that are adulterated with E. coli 0157:H7.
Clinton in no hurry to
name new USDA secretary
USDA Secretary Mike Espy leaves office on Dec. 31, and there is no timetable for President Clinton to name a successor, according to a White House spokeswoman. Here are the early candidates to replace Espy:
-- Rep. Dan Glickman (D-Kan.), a congressman from a farm state.
-- Ruth Harkin, president of the Overseas Private Investment Corp., a federal agency providing project funding, investment insurance and investment services to 140 developing nations. Harkin was USDA deputy general counsel from 1973 to 1981, and was a finalist for secretary before the position went to Espy.
-- Rep. Jill Long (D-Ind.), a member of the House Agriculture Committee. She grew up on a dairy and grain farm, and was mentioned as a possible candidate for USDA secretary in December 1992.
-- Robert Nash, USDA undersecretary for small community and rural development, and a friend of Clinton.
-- USDA Deputy Secretary Richard E. Rominger, former head of the California Department of Agriculture. Espy praised Rominger for his work on USDA's reorganization plan and budget. Rominger has assumed many of Espy's duties.
-- Rep. Michael Synar, an eight-term congressman from Oklahoma who was recently defeated in a Democratic primary. One potential drawback: Synar criticized Clinton when the president withdrew his support for raising grazing fees on public lands. Synar had voted to increase the fees.
(Espy leaves with inspection reform unfulfilled-see page 8.)
Industry criticizes EPA for draft report on dioxin risk
The Environmental Protection Agency says meat is a major source of dioxin-chemical compounds formed through both natural and man-made occurrences. Prolonged exposure to dioxin could lead to cancer in humans, EPA contended.
Dioxin can be consumed by food animals through the grass they eat, according to the report. In turn, the dioxin is stored in the animals' fatty tissues.
Several industry groups, however, are challenging EPA's draft report.
The National Cattlemen's Association commissioned Texas A&M University scientists to study the link between beef consumption and human exposure to dioxin in relation to the EPA study.
The scientists found that EPA's conclusions were based on frequently incomplete or outdated data that compromises the study's integrity.
Both NCA and the Industry Dioxin Working Group, an organization that includes AMI, pointed to outdated consumption figures which overstate the fat content of meat.
For example, EPA uses a consumption figure of 22 grams of beef fat intake a day, instead of the current calculation of 9.7 grams a day, according to AMI.
"Most important, the EPA report never states that current levels of dioxin in the diet are causing any adverse health conditions, while it does clearly communicate that dioxin levels have actually been decreasing in recent years," says Stephen H. Safe, a Texas A&M professor of toxicology and one of the authors of the NCA analysis.
EPA will issue a final report early next year. Meanwhile, USDA is conducting a separate study to assess dioxin levels in meat.
Rust to retire after 40 years
Robert Rust, professor of meat science at Iowa State University, will retire effective Dec. 2.
Rust has spent more than 40 years of service to the meat industry, both at Iowa State and Michigan State University.
He plans to serve as a consultant for the meat industry, as well as allied fields.
A testimonial in his honor is being planned for Dec. 17, and letters of recognition are being solicited.
For more information, contact Joe Sebranek at Iowa State University, 515/294-1091.
FSIS adds, shifts personnel
FSIS Administrator Michael R. Taylor announced the following personnel changes:
-- Thomas J. Billy is the new associate administrator. He comes to FSIS from FDA's Office of Seafood, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
-- J. Glenn Morris, who has investigated food-borne illnesses for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will head FSIS' new Health Affairs Staff.
-- USDA microbiologist Robert L. Buchanan is the new deputy administrator of the science and technology program.
-- Margaret Glavin moves from deputy administrator to associate administrator.
-- Jill Hollingsworth moves from assistant to the administrator to deputy director of health affairs.
-- Marv Norcross is the acting Codex Coordinator and will continue to oversee management of FSIS' outside advisory committee.
-- Judy Riggins, who served as Taylor's executive assistant while she was in FDA, will serve in the same position in FSIS.
Thorn Apple Valley adds on
Southfield, Mich.-based Thorn Apple Valley Inc. is building a new 170,000-square-foot production plant in Ponca City, Okla.
The facility, which is expected to be completed by August, will employ about 350 people.
The plant will produce sliced luncheon meats, ham and other items.
Thorn Apple Valley meats are sold in the United States and four other nations under several brand names, including Thorn Apple Valley, Colonial and Triple M.
USDA OKs pork for Russia
USDA has approved a 10,000-metric-ton sale of pork to Russia under the Export Enhancement Program. The sale represents about 120,000 hogs.
The move is expected to relieve some of the price pressure experienced by pork in recent months, said Al Tank, vice president of public policy and trade for the National Pork Producers Council.
It is the fifth EEP sale to Russia since July. The four previous sales totaled 134,000 metric tons.
Tank said he expects more significant sales of pork to Russia in the future.
Golden Arches over Olympics
The Golden Arches of McDonald's is lifted above the future site of the Olympic Village in Atlanta.
The world's No. 1 fast-food restaurant will be the exclusive fast-food eatery for the 15,000 athletes, coaches, officials and fans of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
The menu will include hamburgers and french fries, as well as fresh fruit, yogurt and low-fat milk.