Contact: Polly Ruhland 303/850-3394 pruhland@beef.org
Scientists, Leaders Continue Commitment To Beef Safety At Summit
JACKSONVILLE (April 26, 2006) – Continuing its commitment to ensure a safe beef supply, the U.S. beef industry conducted a Beef Industry Safety Summit here this week. The Summit, an annual event partially funded by the Beef Checkoff Program, brings together leaders, scientists and producers to discuss research, best practices and other key food safety initiatives from the Beef Industry Food Safety Council (BIFSCo). Nearly 100 industry leaders attended. Among the topics of discussion were effective food safety interventions, upcoming regulatory initiatives and recently released human foodborne illness data.
Mike Engler, a Texas producer and chair of the Joint Industry Beef Safety Committee, said, “This meeting gives folks in the industry an opportunity to come together to proactively share safety research and solutions. We can all be proud that the BIFSCo’s work has had a substantial effect on the reduction of E. coli O157:H7 and decline of foodborne illnesses.”
As an example, Engler cited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) latest FoodNet data, released last week, showing that the United States remains on track to reach the government’s Healthy People 2010 goal for E. coli O157:H7.
Dr. Richard Raymond, USDA Undersecretary for Food Safety, a keynote speaker at the Summit, praised the industry’s activism. “The USDA really appreciates industry efforts. We have the safest food supply in the world, due in large part to your work. I challenge you to continue this effort.”
While pathogen reduction strategies took center stage at the conference, the Summit also featured other prominent food safety issues. The Issues Update Forum covered bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), foot and mouth disease (FMD), avian influenza, multi-drug resistant Salmonella and consumer food safety perceptions and practices. Summit participants heard from presenters representing USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and several land-grant universities.
Additional information on BIFSCo can be found at www.bifsco.org.
The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA approval.
Funded by the Beef Checkoff.