MCLEAN, Va., May 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Reps. C.L. "Butch" Otter (R-ID) and
Collin Peterson (D-MN) are pursuing opportunities within the U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to realize
the promise of freezing for food safety. The co-chairmen of the U.S. House of
Representatives Frozen Food Caucus are advancing ideas raised by Douglas L.
Archer, Ph.D. in a report published January 15, 2004, in the International
Journal of Food Microbiology.
In letters to Dr. Lester Crawford, FDA's acting commissioner, and Dr. Elsa
Murano, USDA's under secretary for food safety, Otter and Peterson wrote, "As
Members of Congress interested in promoting food safety research, we would
like to know what opportunities exist within (USDA and FDA) to facilitate
research in specific areas identified by Dr. Archer regarding the utilization
of freezing as a food safety technology."
"The article concluded more research could help create a 'freezing battle
plan' to aid public health. According to Dr. Archer, it is clear that under
certain conditions, freezing can be lethal for certain food-borne pathogens.
We are interested in pursuing those researchable areas identified by Dr.
Archer that might lead to increased use of freezing as a barrier to food-borne
pathogens, as the public health benefits appear very promising."
Archer's article notes the positive food safety track record of frozen
food products, and synthesizes existing research on the effects of freezing on
microorganisms. The significance of the paper is the identification of
variables that could be researched to maximize freezing as a food safety
technology. These variables include the temperatures and rates at which foods
are frozen, storage times and temperatures, and the chemical makeup of the
foods. Archer also notes the characteristics of specific microorganisms, and
their unique interactions with various foods. Archer's paper addressed
research on microorganisms including Cryptosporidium, Listeria monocytogenes,
Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli O157:H7, among others.
Archer is a past deputy director of the Center for Food Safety and Applied
Nutrition of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Currently, he is a
professor in the Food Science and Human Nutrition Department of the University
of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
"The research opportunities presented in Dr. Archer's review article merit
aggressive attention because of the hope they present for food safety. The
work of Reps. Otter and Peterson will help deliver the momentum these
opportunities deserve," said Leslie G. Sarasin, president and chief executive
officer of the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI).
The American Frozen Food Institute is the national trade association that
promotes and represents the interests of all segments of the frozen food
industry. The Institute fosters industry development and growth, advocates on
behalf of the industry before legislative and regulatory entities, and
provides additional value-added services for its members and for the benefit
of consumers. For more information, visit http://www.affi.com.
SOURCE American Frozen Food Institute
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Related links:
http://www.affi.com
CONTACT:
Chris Krese of the American Frozen Food
Institute, +1-703-821-0770
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