Alaska Food Protection Task Force Meeting Minutes

In Attendance

Bob Gerlach (DEC/OSV), Robbi Mixon (AFPC/AFMA), Bobbie McDonald (DEC/FSS), Darcy Harris (MOA), Dena Cologgi (DEC/FSS), Sarah Lewis (CES), Jeremy Ayers (DEC/FSS), Shannon Miller (DEC/EH), Lorinda Lhotka (DEC/FSS), Julie Cascio (CES), Ytamar Rodriguez (DEC/FSS), Virginia Ng (SPA), Melissa Chlupach (UAA), Nathan Bruns (DEC/FSS)

Program Updates - Lorinda Lhotka

Speaker Canceled – Alexis – Alaska Small Business Development Center, Fairbanks
FSS Program Updates - Lorinda Lhotka, Section Manager
Staffing changes
Anchorage office – New EHO ANC Ilona Singh, New EHO Dutch Harbor Erica Aus, New EHO Madi McDonnell - Ketchikan.
18 AAC 31 Alaska Food Code- Public comment period closed (was open 11/119 to 1/10/20). No public comments received.
- Moving into the adoption phase, possibly in place by the end of spring.
- Deals with preventative controls and best practices for manufactured food. Also, it encompasses, more info for recall plans, reduced oxygen packaging, and bottled water.
- The update will bring closer to FDA rules.
- Next update to Code to focus on retail (currently based on FDA 2005).

Member Updates

Darcy Harris, Program Manager, MOA/EH

Business as usual.
Starting a handwashing campaign.
Updating language access for information and postings into 8 most common languages in Municipality.
Work completed by a 3^rd party for in house printing and website posting.

State Section of Epidemiology- Anne Frick

1 case occurred at a “potluck” involving BBQ and side dishes that were brought. Seems like most people who got sick ate the BBQ. Stool samples have been sent to FDA lab, awaiting results.
1 case Botulism in AK from canned salmon that wasn’t prepared correctly. Pressure cooking was not used. Hot water is not effective for eliminating the spores. Need high pressure as well.
Sustainable Agriculture (SARE) conference 2/21 and 2/22 in Anchorage at the BP Energy Center.

Dena Cologgi and Dr. Bob Gerlach- Office of the State Veterinarian/Produce Safety Program

Produce – Attending NASDA consortium meeting
Grower training
Southeast AK Gardeners Conference
Farmers Market Conference
Continuing inspections on small farms
Inspections are mandatory and acting on behalf of the FDA
Last year inspected large farms making over $500,000
This year working on farms $250,000 to $500,000
Next year inspecting farms less than $250,000

Julie Cascio and Sarah Lewis - Alaska Cooperative Extension

Food Protection Manager classes coming up in February. The next class will be offered at the beginning of April.
They let DEC in SE AK know when and where they are administering tests.
Librarians and school secretaries can administer the test if they sign up.

Farmers Market – Robbi Mixon

April 2-4 Farmers Market Conference
Planning 11/6-7/20 conference at UAA for FPC

Brian Himelbloom (UAF Kodiak Seafood Marine Science Center (retired))

School for Better Practices
Seafood HACCP class
Preventative control class (possibility at the conference)

Conference Update- Lorinda Lhotka

1^st day – Small Food Manufacture – Food Safety
Food labeling – Maggie Fu - FDA
Agenda topics – cleaning and sanitizing, recalls, possibly a mock recall
2^nd day – Food Business Entrepreneurs
Hoping for 75 attendees. Considering BP Energy and AK Housing Authority as venues.
Other possible venues: APU or UAA (professor sponsored)
Focus this year is manufactured food. Next year focus on retail.
Ideas for the conference: breakout sessions (chemicals, lab testing, lab equipment), Preventive Controls, process, sanitation, and allergens.
Potential Speakers – Chris & Brian (Kodiak), Claudia, Co-op extension, Dena (Produce Safety)

Next Meeting

Next meeting would be in April. If we have the conference in April, this meeting would be canceled.