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News for the restaurant/foodservice industry | September 15, 2009   Food Safety (Part 1) Food safety remains a critical issue for everyone involved in the restaurant industry. This summer the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009, which will allow the Food and Drug Administration to exert more control over food companies in an effort to reduce the likelihood of food contamination. The Senate is expected to follow suit this fall. While the legislation will deal with the supply chain and production side of foodservice, restaurants also are dealing with food safety issues on the operator level. Restaurateurs and chefs must ensure best practices in the kitchen and also educate themselves about food allergies and intolerances, which have become an increasingly visible issue. The first part of this two-part Special Report on food safety focuses on risk management, the government's role in food safety, and imports and exports. Part 2 will appear Thursday, Sept. 17, and will focus on food allergies, produce safety and the supply chain.   Risk Management  Keep H1N1 from spreading Flu season is approaching, and the H1N1 virus -- which prompted Mexico to close restaurants earlier this summer -- is still around. The vaccine for the strain isn't quite ready yet, so safety is especially important right now. Make sure to sneeze into your elbow and stay home when you're sick to keep it from spreading. Yahoo!/The Associated Press (8/30) How to avoid food contamination Keep your food safe by avoiding contamination in the kitchen. Have separate cutting boards that are used only for raw meat, seafood and poultry, and make sure food is cooked to the correct temperature. The Wall Street Journal (8/11)   Save on high quality food safety training for everyone. September is National Food Safety Education Month. But food safety has to work every single day of the year. That's why the National Restaurant Association's ServSafe® Program offers online training solutions that can be completed any day, anytime. It's always open. Experience e-Learning for yourself with a free demo and start training today!   ADVERTISEMENT   Government  St. Paul allergen proposal withdrawn for more work A St. Paul, Minn., proposal to require restaurants and caterers to supply information about allergens has been withdrawn so businesses can have some input in the legislation. The law would force restaurants to post that allergen information is available and to provide a handbook upon request. Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.) (8/27) USDA to hold hearings on safety proposal for leafy greens The U.S. Department of Agriculture will hold public hearings on a plan to improve the safety of leafy greens such as spinach. The proposal would enforce standards for producing, handling and inspecting the greens, but some say it could put small growers out of business. Los Angeles Times/The Associated Press (9/3) ServSafe® food safety program offers solutions to fit managers' busy schedules. Online training can be completed anywhere there's an Internet connection allowing for more training and less disruption to busy days or shifts. Click here to learn how the National Restaurant Association's ServSafe Manager Online Course can save time and money.   Imports and Exports  China aims to improve food safety system China is working on a new food safety system to bring itself in line with international standards. A database is being developed to make it easier for different agencies to coordinate. ChinaView.cn/Xinhua News Agency (China) (9/1) Cargill exec: Curbing exports won't help food safety Cargill executive Paul Conway's greatest concern is food safety, but he doesn't think reducing exports is the solution. Instead, Conway says, governments should focus on ensuring that their countries' food practices are safe and sustainable. The Times (London) (8/31)   NRA Resources  Food Safety Thrives When You Focus On Five! September is National Food Safety Education Month, and the National Restaurant Association encourages restaurant operators to participate. This annual campaign focuses on the importance of food safety education, while raising the awareness of the industry's commitment to food safety. This year's theme is "Food Safety Thrives When You Focus on Five." For more information, including free training materials, visit www.servsafe.com/nfsem. Minimize the risk of spreading the flu virus The National Restaurant Association has teamed up with Ecolab to create the NRA/Ecolab H1N1 Toolkit, available at www.restaurant.org/fluinfo. This free resource helps restaurant operators prepare for the flu season and educate their employees on how to prevent spreading the flu virus. As with overall food safety practices, hand-washing and sanitation are key.     Product announcements appearing in SmartBrief are paid advertisements and do not reflect actual National Restaurant Association endorsements. The news reported in SmartBrief does not necessarily reflect the official position of National Restaurant Association.   Subscriber Tools       Print friendly format | Web version | Search past news | Archive | Privacy policy Advertise Sales Account Director:  Linda Blau 212-677-5795 Download Media Kit   Read more at SmartBrief.com A powerful Web site for SmartBrief readers including: Breaking News Industry Home Competitor News Readers' Choice Press Releases Search Archive Grab our News Widget Get this RSS Feed Publish your Press Release       Recent National Restaurant Association SmartBrief Issues: Monday, September 14, 2009 Friday, September 11, 2009 Thursday, September 10, 2009 Wednesday, September 09, 2009 Tuesday, September 08, 2009     Contributing Editor:  Megan Conniff       Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005     © 1999-2009 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information Product announcements appearing in SmartBrief are paid advertisements and do not reflect actual National Restaurant Association endorsements. The news reported in SmartBrief does not necessarily reflect the official position of National Restaurant Association.