January 9, 2012 - The North American Meat Processors Association (NAMP) today announced it will hold a mini-conference on "Control of Non-O157 STECs in Beef Processing" prior to the start of its Meat Industry Management Conference in March.
The event will take place from noon to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 15, at The Drake Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. The Meat Industry Management Conference starts the next day and runs until March 18.
NAMP is presenting the conference along with seven other meat industry associations. The organizers said the event will be "especially timely" as FSIS released it final determination on declaring six additional strains of E. coli as adulterants just last September, and the implementation date for the policy is currently scheduled for March 5.
The conference will help beef processors learn the latest information about the new policy, as well as the latest science and the changes being made in the industry to address non-O157 STECs.
Featured speakers include:
· Dr. Barb Masters, senior policy advisor, Olsson Frank Weeda (OFW) Law;
· Brenden McCullough, VP of technical services, National Beef Packing Co.;
· Tim Biela, corporate food safety officer, AFA Foods;
· Dr. Dan Engeljohn, assistant administrator, Office of Policy and Program Development, USDA-FSIS (pending final travel approval);
· Dr. Wendy Warren, vice-president of government and regulatory affairs, AEGIS Food Testing Laboratories;
· Dr. Jim Marsden, NAMP senior science advisor and Regent's Distinguished Professor at Kansas State University.
Program highlights:
· STEC Policy Overview. The latest information on the FSIS policy, its implementation, and how the meat industry is adapting to the changes.
· The Packer Perspective. How the U.S. packing industry is reacting to the change, and how further processors can work with their suppliers for the benefit of their companies and the entire industry.
· The Processor Perspective. How further processors should adjust their programs to account for the changes in FSIS policy.
· Update on Prevalence and Testing Methods. The latest information on test methods for the "Big 6" and how rapidly improving technologies will help you meet the new rule's requirements.
· FSIS Policy and Expectations. The important perspective of the regulators, information and insight as to what processors can expect.
· HACCP Reassessments for Further Processors. Help ensure your HACCP reassessment is completed correctly and that all relevant factors are considered.
· Special 'new technologies' presentations by representatives of major industry suppliers.
For more information and to register, go to www.namp.com.
Campylobacter 101 Workshop March 6 - 8
NAMP also today announced the first of two campylobacter workshops in 2012. The workshop will take place March 6 to 8, at Auburn University, just 75 minutes southwest of Atlanta, Georgia.
Each full day of the workshop will include hands-on laboratory activities to acquaint attendees with current techniques for campylobacter identification as well as data analysis and interpretation of results.
The half-day will focus on rapid methods used to identify campylobacter, specifically PCR methods for detection.
The goal of the workshop is for attendees to gain a working knowledge of current techniques used to identify the pathogen, as well as measure that can be implemented to control it.
Register for the conference at www.namp.com.
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