Progress 09/01/05 to 08/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: A key objective was to develop a SRM (specified risk materials) training packet to educate plant workers in the identification and removal of SRMs. Training materials included: Multi-lingual (English & Spanish) SRM identification and removal training videos (DVD); PowerPoint presentations (English & Spanish) containing the training materials covered in the video, and an instructor's script. DVD and PowerPoint presentations include sections to evaluate workers' understanding of presented materials; reference guide containing detailed visuals and anatomical definitions for all SRMs; helmet stickers used to identify SRM trained workers. More than 250 DVDs have been distributed nationally and internationally. In addition, an interview was granted for a Japanese MEF representative and a press reporter and additional training materials were made available. More than 100 sets of training materials have been distributed to agriculture extension agents, universities, organizations, and other pertinent members of the industry. For the baseline audit, observations of removal of 18,345 SRMs were recorded at 18 U.S. beef packing plants. After adjusting for age, regulation compliance with SRM removal regulations was 98.08%. Of the 600 recorded observations for brain removal, 100% compliance was observed. All DI were completely removed from the 2,400 recorded observations. For dorsal root ganglia (DRG), observations from 16 of the 18 plants were collected and overall compliance was 99.6% (4783/4800). Data from 18 plants were recorded for tonsil removal 92.8% (4777/5145) compliance was observed for tonsil removal from tongues & heads. Overall compliance from 18 plants for spinal cord removal was 99.43%. After SRM training materials were developed and distributed to participants, a second data collection phase was initiated. Data were collected from 14 of the 18 participating plants. 900 observations were recorded for brain removal at 3 packing plants and 100% compliance was observed. 1500 observations were recorded for DI removal from 5 plants and 80% (1200/1500) DI was removed completely. Four of the five plants were 100% compliant for removal of DI. Overall compliance for DRG removal was 99.9% from the observations collected from 12 of the 14 plants and (3595/3600). Only 1 of the 13 plants was not observed to be 100% compliant for removal of DRG. Data from 13 plants were collected for tonsil removal and were correctly removed from 95.7% (3732/3900). Only 3 of the 13 plants were not 100% compliant for tonsil removal. Spinal cord removal was observed at 13 plants and 99.1% (3864/3900) overall compliance with FSIS regulations was accomplished. 4 of the 13 plants were not 100% compliant for spinal cord removal during the observation period. However, since the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) requires that spinal cord be removed from cattle 30 months of age or older, only 2 of these 4 plants were actually required to removed the spinal cord (because they processed cattle 30 months of age or older). When adjusted for age of cattle, compliance for removal of spinal cords at plants where it was required was 99.1% (3271/3300). PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience includes packing plant personnel, extension agents, and other pertinent members of industry. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Extensive outreach efforts were successfully accomplished in this project and will positively impact worker training programs at packing plants. All participating plants received an "SRM training package" containing the (optional) plastinated materials and the other described multimedia educational tools. Of the 14 plants that were re-visited following distribution of training materials, all reported that the training materials were useful. The DVD has been widely distributed both nationally and internationally and has received positive reviews from the industry and has also proven to be a valuable asset to the US beef industry because it demonstrates to the international community that the US is proactively involved in preventing contamination of meat products with SRMs. In the last HRA, an assumption was that spinal cord wouldn't be correctly removed from 20% of cattle. In addition, it was assumed that 30% of this spinal cord would be consumed by humans. From this study's results, this estimate greatly overestimates the amount of human exposure to SRMs such as spinal cord tissue. Results of this study provide additional justification for consumer and trade partner confidence in the food safety efforts by US beef packers. Study results will also be useful for modeling of risk analysis such as that performed in the Harvard Risk Assessment (HRA).
Publications
- Dewell R.D., Roman-Muniz I.N., Scanga J.A., Fails A.D., Whalen L.R., McCarthy B.J., Hoffman T.W., Woerner D.R, Belk K.E., Smith G.C., and Salman M.D. 2008. Development of Interactive Multimedia Training Materials to Train Beef Packing Plant Workers in the Identification and Removal of Specified Risk Materials Journal of Extension [On-line], In Press.
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Progress 09/01/05 to 08/31/06
Outputs
A key objective of this study was to develop specified risk materials (SRM) identification and removal training materials for plant employees. An "SRM training packet" was developed to educate plant workers in the identification and removal of SRMs. The following educational and training resources were created and included in the SRM training packets: 1) Multi-lingual (English and Spanish) SRM identification and removal training videos (on DVD) designed to instruct slaughter plant workers in the identification and removal of Specified Risk Materials 2) PowerPoint presentations (English and Spanish) containing the training materials covered in the training video, and an instructor's script (on DVD). The presentation can be delivered to workers using an included script or the presenter may deliver the PowerPoint using his/her own words 3) DVD and PowerPoint presentations include sections to evaluate workers' understanding of presented materials 4) All presentations can
be viewed or presented in Spanish and English 5) Reference guide containing detailed visuals and anatomical definitions for all specified risk materials 6) Helmet stickers that can be used to identify SRM trained workers. The DVD program features include: professional images of SRMs, brief background on BSE suitable for plant workers, choreographed DVD and PowerPoint presentations, labeled and detailed explanations of SRMs. Each plant that has participates in the project has received an "SRM training package" containing the (optional) plastinated materials and the other multimedia educational tools that were created. A training session utilizing the created SRM training materials was presented to workers and management at a participating plant in Spring 2007. This training session was used as a beta test of the training materials to obtain input and suggestions. Dr. John Scanga discussed and presented the study's findings and distributed more than 100 DVDs at the 5th Pan Common Wealth
Veterinary Association Annual Meeting in Barbados. Dr. Salman has also sent copies to several commercial firms and public services in Europe. In addition, an interview was granted for the Japanese Meat Export Federation representative and a Japanese press reporter. More than 100 sets of training materials have been distributed to agriculture extension agents, universities, slaughter plants and other pertinent members of the industry such as beef councils and the International HACCP Alliance.
Impacts
The removal of 18,345 specified risk materials (SRMs) was observed during audits of 18 U.S. beef processing facilities that, in total, account for over 90% of total U.S. beef slaughtered. Audited plants varied in capacity (280 - 6,000 head/day) and processed both "fed (youngcattle)" and "non-fed (mature cows/bulls)" cattle. When all observations for removal of SRMs were combined from plants and adjusted for type of cattle processed, overall compliance with SRM removal regulations was 98.08%. A 100% compliance rate for removal of brains and distal ileums was recorded based on a total of 600 observations for removal of brains and a total of 2,400 observations for removal of distal ileums (DI). Observations for removal of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were collected from 16 of the 18 plants and overall compliance for DRG removal was 99.6% (4783/4800). Fifteen of the 16 plants were 100% compliant. For tonsils, data from 18 plants were collected and tonsils were correctly
removed from 92.8% (4777/5145) of tongues and heads. Data for spinal cord removal were collected from 18 plants and the spinal cord was removed completely in line with with FSIS regulations for 99.43% of the observations. Based on the results of this study, packing plants have demonstrated that they are complying with regulations for removal of SRMs from beef meat products intended for human consumption greater than 98% of the time. To continue to assure food safety and consumer confidence, continued vigilance and provision of training programs for plant workers are essential. In addition, the DVD has been widely distributed both nationally and internationally. It has received positive reviews from the industry and has also proven to be a valuable asset to the US beef industry because it helps to demonstrate to the international community that the USA is proactively involved in preventing contamination of meat products with SRMs.
Publications
- Dewell R.D., T.W. Hoffman, D.R. Woerner, L.R. Whalen, A.D. Fails, J.A. Scanga, G.C. Smith, M.D. Salman. 2008. Estimated Compliance for Removal of Specified Risk Materials. Journal of Food Protection, In Press.
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