NEBRASKA DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE
- FOOD LAB ISO CHALLENGES
Governmental Food and Feed Laboratories Accreditation Meeting
“ The Search for Sustainability”
Louisville, Kentucky
February 4, 2016
NEBRASKA GRANT DETAILS AND SUCCESSES
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Added 2 FTE (1 QA Manager, 1 Chemist)
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Remodeled BSL II Lab
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Purchased VIDAS, Vitek 2, incubators, stomachers, laminar flow hood, etc.
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Began ISO accreditation process in March 2013 and were accredited in
November 2015
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All involved attended at least 4 A2LA training classes and Ken Stoub, ISO
consultant was utilized
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Initiated two animal feed recalls and one food (Jeni’s ice cream)
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Ice cream recall created national publicity due to timing – immediately followed
the Blue Bell ice cream outbreak across parts of the south
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Jeni’s recall met a chief FSMA goal- preventing a foodborne outbreak before it
occurs- No resulting human cases from Jeni’s ice cream
FUTURE SUSTAINABILITY?
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NDA- Likely 100% dependent on FDA funding after September 2017
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If not FDA-funded, the Nebraska Legislature would be approached with an
“opportunity” to fund the program
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Grant viewed as an “unfunded federal mandate” by state officials
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Chances of state funding – very unlikely
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Loss of grant funds would forfeit 2 FTE’s – Food analysis would transition from
4.5 Chemists/Microbiologists to 2.5 Chemist/Microbiologists
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With one QA Manager – 1.5 analysts would actually perform lab analysis
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Maintain Food Program and ISO accreditation????