Food SafetyLearning Support :

Background
Minnesota Department of Education Food and Nutrition Service (MN-FNS) is the responsible authority for facilitating any Food Safety Recalls for USDA Commodities received into the state for the National School Nutrition Program. MN-FNS also monitors and communicates any Food Safety Recalls for commercial or reprocessed food distributed in Minnesota that utilize commodities as an ingredient. MN-FNS has designated two Food Safety Coordinators to respond and manage any Food Safety Recalls.

UPDATE! Westland Hallmark Beef Recall
On Sunday, February 17, 2008, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recalled approximately 143 million pounds of beef that originated at the Westland/Hallmark Meat Company plant in California. A portion of this meat was sold under USDA contracts to Federal nutrition programs. The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has been communicating with schools since January 31, 2008, with instructions for placing this product on administrative “Hold”. The initial “Hold” was expanded by the USDA to a Class II “Recall”. A Class II Recall is a health hazard situation where there is remote probability of adverse health consequences from the use of this product. Please visit the new Westland Beef Recall webpage, recently added to this site with complete and up-to-date informantion concerning the recall.

Notification of a Food Safety Recall
Upon receipt of a Food Safety Recall notification from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) and/or USDA Food and Nutrition Service (USDA-FNS), MN-FNS will determine if this Food Safety Recall is in fact a USDA commodity that has been received in our state and quickly determine the scope of the distribution of the commodity.

If it is determined that the Food Safety Recall is valid for Minnesota, MN-FNS will contact the Minnesota commodity warehouse, distributors and schools as soon as possible, but no later than 24 hours after receiving the Food Safety Recall notification. FNS will disseminate the Food Safety Recall notification, press information, instructions necessary to recall the product, and how to document reimbursable costs.

24-Hour Notification Process
Sponsors will receive the Food Safety Recall notification via the Minnesota FDP Commodity-Customer Listserv. All sponsors participating in the Food Distribution Program are required to be represented on the FDP Commodity-Customer Listserv. A Food Safety Recall notification will also be broadcasted via facsimile to all Minnesota school superintendents as necessary.

MN-FNS will alert the commodity warehouse and all commercial foodservice distributors that deliver commodities. Each location will be directed to place the specified recalled commodity on hold until further notice. MN-FNS will continue to work with the warehouse and distributors to determine: a) the amount of recalled product still in storage, b) the specific location and c) the amount of product delivered to Minnesota schools.

The Minnesota Food Safety Coordinator will determine the appropriate next steps to be taken and assure that any communication is done effectively. The Food Safety Coordinator will follow the USDA process for handling commodity holds and recalls (The USDA Commodity Hold and Recall Procedures July 12, 2001). Additional instructions on how to handle the Food Safety Recall will be disseminated to sponsors, distributors and the warehouse in a professional and timely fashion. The Minnesota Food Distribution staff will manage documentation and follow-up.

As a reminder, if you suspect a food safety issue immediately contact your local health department or the Minnesota Department of Health, as well as the Minnesota Department of Education - Food and Nutrition Service which has designated Food Safety Coordinators (listed below) to respond and manage any Food Safety Recalls.

For additional Food Safety information:
visit the Minnesota Department of Agriculture at: http://www.mda.state.mn.us/foodsafe.htm
visit the Minnesota Department of Health at: http://www.health.state.mn.us

Minnesota Food Safety Coordinators
Primary: Emily Malone 651-582-8271 (Fax: 651-582-8501)
emily.malone@state.mn.us

Backup: Joan Anderl 651-582-8547
joan.anderl@state.mn.us

Send a copy to: FNS@state.mn.us