RAC Meeting Minutes (December 18, 2002)
USDA/ERRC
600 East Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, PA
9:00 -9:45 a.m: Introductions
9:45 - 10:30 a.m: 3 minute updates
Janell Kause – (FSIS)
- Have almost completed the dynamic in-plant model of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat hot dogs/deli meats. This model will be combined with the FDA’s portion of the LM RA.
- RA on Clostridium perfringens in ready-to-eat products. Concerned about regulations on stabilization and cooling.
Peg Coleman - (FSIS)
- Preparing for Codex meeting - Risk Assessment Division scientists participated in development of US position, preparation of position papers (lead on EHEC, participant on Salmonella, Campylobacter); participated in peer review for draft position paper on dioxin and dioxin -like PCB s ).
- Contracted with Greg Paoli for Salmonella RA in beef.
- Contracted with Charlie Yoe in preparing the Salmonella Enteritidis report of revised model.
- Members of Risk Assessment Division represented FSIS at Society for Risk Analysis in New Orleans, presenting at symposia and in a workshop
Sharon Edelson-Mammel – (CFSAN)
- Discussed the Charlie Yoe’s project, which involved MRAF interviews. She should be getting the data soon.
Marianna Miliotis – (CFSAN)
- Vibrio RA model was revised after discussion with OS.
Richard Whiting - (CFSAN)
- Final stages of recalculating Vibrio and Listeria RAs. Has updated the Listeria data.
Sherri Dennis – (CFSAN)
- Corn growers are challenging EPA on atrazine RA. Corn growers are asking EPA to change the risk assessment for atrazine (pesticide use). It was requested that EPA to remove its conclusion that atrazine causes endocrine effects. This request is based on the lack of validated test methods for assessing endocrine effects. (In Chemical and Engineering News Dec 9, 2002)
Mark Tamplin - (ARS)
- Expects 2 publications (The growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in raw ground beef stored at 10?C and the influence of competitive bacterial flora, strain variation and fat; and Distribution on E. coli O157:H7 in grinding) to be released in October.
- ComBase (Common Database) will be launched in June, 2003.
- Meeting in Quimper, France on June 14 where ComBase, a cooperative project with UK Institute of Food Research, will be demonstrated.
John Cicmanec - (EPA)
- Studying human and animal biosolids and tests for decontamination.
- Research center for homeland security (building decontamination “Brentwood” and monitoring water treatment plant.
Angelo Turturro NCTR
- 3 home land security issues: identify paralysis of bugs using PCR; do battlefield measurements; and develop a Center.
- Start research on animal model for Cryptosporidium
Tanya Roberts - (ERS)
- Moving on foodborne cost calculator, an online modeler.
- Performance standards conference (see minutes on FY 2003 public meeting)
Michael McElvaine – (ORACBA/USDA)
- Researching plant pest and animal health issues.
- On January 14, 2003 there will be an ORACBA risk forum entitled: “Improving the Performance of Microbial Models for Foods” at USDA South Building, Washington, D.C.
Mary Bartholomew - (CVM)
- The new Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Dr. Mark B. McClellan, is interested in risk assessment.
- Received 10,000 comments (22 issues) from the October public meeting on the draft guidance document (#152) “Evaluating the Safety of Antimicrobial New Animal Drugs with Regard to Their Microbiological Effects on Bacteria of Human Health Concern”. The biggest issue is the importance ranking of human anti-microbial drugs.
- Will follow up the public meeting with an advisory committee convened by CDER to discuss and possibly revise the process by which the human anti-microbial drugs are ranked.
- Dr. Claycamp has been evaluating the Harvard BSE risk assessment and is looking into construction of an add-on component that would be suitable for risk management purposes at CVM.
- Upcoming FDA Science Forum (April 24-25) will have several sessions on RA. There will be both public and FDA participation.
Angela Ruple- (NOAA fisheries)
- Looking at total mercury levels in Gulf of Mexico, fish associated with oilrigs and highly migratory fish. This is being done in conjunction with EPA.
- Conducting validation/verification studies of Vibrio in molluscan shellfish.
- Together with ISSC, developed a new chapter of post harvest treatments for shellfish.
Jackie McQueen - (ORD)
- Discussed the need for a scientific and legally defensible model.
- The EPA cancer guidelines are near completion.
- Looking at the toxicological methods used for animals.
- EPA’s science forum is May 5-7, 2003.
- Copies of the Council for Regulatory Environmental Modeling (CREM) report were e-mailed to RAC members after the meeting. This report contains the plan for promoting consistency and consensus among environmental model developers and users.
10:30 – 11:00 a.m: 5 minute work group updates
Dose-Response Work Group - Peg Coleman FSIS
- Current project focuses on compiling and interpreting mechanistic data for modeling variability (host, pathogen, environment, and interactions) for dose - response
- Angelo Turturro (NCTR) presented the first of four topics, Target Dose Concept Applied to Microbial Risk Assessment at the September quarterly meeting
- At the March quarterly meeting, the remaining topics will be presented: Marianne Miliotis (CFSAN) on tissue culture data; Peg Coleman (FSIS) on animal models; and Leigh Sawyer and Dennis Lang (NIH), on viral dose-response.
Performance Standards Work Group - Janell Kause FSIS
- Move to RAC Steering Committee
Biological Terrorism Treat Assessment Tools/Methodology Work Group - Angelo Turturro NCTR
- No report
Data Gaps Work Group - Mark Tamplin ARS
- Gathering documents
- Rough draft of data gaps to be presented at next meeting.
Non-Microbial Work Group - John Cicmanec EPA
- Concern about EPA chemical assessment
11:45 – 11:50 a.m.: FY 2003 schedule (Marianne Miliotis)
NEXT RAC QUARTERLY MEETING: March 26-27 with RAC Policy Council meeting 1:00 p.m.- 4:15 p.m. on the 27th.
11:50 - 12:00 a.m: FY 2003 public meeting (Peg Coleman, Janell Kause, Tanya Roberts)
- Potential public meeting to be discussed in March (see draft plan 12/15/02).
- 1-2 day format technical thinking meeting for September/October 2003. First day will be on RA performance standards & second day on economics. FSIS level of involvement will be decided in March. If FSIS conducts this meeting the panel questions for the first day will be published in the Federal Register. Janell & Peg may be facilitators for the meeting. Possible funding from NRI. Looking for input from RAC members.
12:00 - 2:00 p.m: working lunch and presentations
The afternoon session featured the following five presentations:
- Data Sources and Needs for Listeria monocytogenes Risk Assessment – R. Whiting
- Recovery and Characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes in Ready-To-Eat Meat – J. Luchansky
- Validating Microbial Models for Escherichia coli O157:H7 Behavior in Ground Beef – M. Tamplin
- Developing Processing Risk Models for Beef Grinding and Fabrication – R. Flores
- ComBase: A Database of Predictive Microbiology Information – M. Tamplin
3:30 p.m: meeting ended
In attendance:
Mary Bartholomew CVM/FDA (video conference)
Peg Coleman FSIS/USDA
Janell Kause FSIS/USDA
Michael McElvaine ORACBA/USDA (video conference)
Sherri Dennis CFSAN/FDA (‘phone)
Rolando Flores ARS/USDA
Jacqueline McQueen ORD/EPA
Tanya Roberts ERS (‘phone)
Angela Ruple NOAA (‘phone)
Mark Tamplin ARS/USDA
Erik Torring DoD/VSA (‘phone)
Angelo Turturro NCTR/FDA
John Cicmanec ORD/EPA
Richard Whiting CFSAN/FDA
Marianne Miliotis CFSAN/FDA
Sharon Edelson-Mammel CFSAN/FDA
Carole Shore CFSAN/FDA
Agencies represented:
Veterinary Service Activity (DOD/VSA)
Office of Research and Development (EPA/ORD)
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (DHHS/FDA/CFSAN)
Center for Veterinary Medicine (DHHS/FDA/CVM)
National Center for Toxicological Research (DHHS/FDA/NCTR)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries (NOAA Fisheries)
formerly NMFS
Agricultural Research Service (USDA/ARS)
Economic Research Service (USDA/ERS)
Food Safety Inspection Service (USDA/FSIS)
Office of Risk Assessment and Cost Benefit Analysis (USDA/ORACBA)
