Food Safety and Inspection Service The Beacon

PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH THROUGH FOOD SAFETY

United States Department of Agriculture

Volume

20Number

10

October 2016

Tell us your FSIS stories!

Send articles to beacon@fsis.usda.gov. Photos must be submitted as a separate attachment in .jpg format. Provide a media release form for photos of individuals under 21 years of age.

InsideThis Issue

2 Deputy Under

Secretary’s Column

3 Faces of Food Safety

4 Photo of the Month

5 District Spotlight

6 Snapshots

8 i-Impact in Action

9 ASKFISH

9 New i-Impact Video

10 Diversity Conference

10 Recent FSIS Retirees

11 Policy Updates

12 Recalls

The New Strategic PlanBy Leo O’Drudy, OPACEPhone: (202) 720-8693

As Deputy Under Secretary Al Almanza mentions in his column, and as we have all learned from the i-Impact training, each of us has a "line of sight” to the new FSIS 2017-2021 Strategic Plan. We are all measured on key activities and tasks in our performance plans, and these "roll up” into Actions and Results in the 2017 Annual Plan that represent our work. While the FSIS Strategic Plan is a broad summary of what we want to achieve, the Annual Plan Actions and Results are reflected in the Strategic Plan Objectives, Outcomes and Goals to clearly align and reflect what we do every day.

Beacon readers may recall from prior issues that this Strategic Plan has been in the works for a long time. It is now complete! The new Strategic Plan builds on the successes of and lessons learned from the previous Strategic Plan

in setting a path forward for the next 5 years. It has three clear and memorable goals:• Reduce Foodborne Illness and Protect Public

Health• Modernize Systems, Policies and the Use of

Scientific Approaches• Achieve Operational ExcellenceEvery thing you are asked to do at work

directly supports one or more of those Goals. Each of these broad Goals is made up of two clearly defined Outcomes, each of which has specific and measurable Objectives. The Plan also explains why each Objective is necessary, what we will be doing to achieve it, and how we can know whether we are in fact achieving that Objective.

No matter your position or location in FSIS, you are an important part of a Strategic Plan that reflects the Agency’s overall vision to keep

Continued on Page 4 …

Photo contributed by Autumn Canaday, OPACE.

2016 DIVERSITY CONFERENCEFSIS District Managers pose with Deputy Under Secretary Al Almanza and USDA Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack at the Diversity Conference on August 24 in Washington, D.C. Pictured, from left: Keith Gilmore (Executive Associate for Regulatory Operations, OFO); Perry Davis (Jackson); Dawn Sprouls (Des Moines); Jennifer McKean (Dallas); Yudhbir Sharma (Alameda); Al Almanza; Susan Scarcia (Philadelphia); Phyllis Adams (Atlanta); Secretary Vilsack; Robert Bane (Springdale); Steven Lalicker (Raleigh); Paul Wolseley (Chicago); Anna Gallegos (Denver). See page 7 for the story.

The Beacon . October 2016 . Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education

Deputy Under Secretary’s Column

Alfred V. Almanza

The Beacon Mission Statement

The Beacon newsletter is prepared by the Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education to provide relevant mission critical information to all FSIS employees. The Beacon provides employees information about the Agency’s proposed regulations, policies, and programs; training opportunities; and important employee welfare initiatives to connect employees to the mission and build a cohesive community.

The Beacon enables employees to stay up to date with the latest events and see the Agency’s mission executed in action.

Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education

Carol Blake, Assistant Administrator

Aaron Lavallee, Deputy Assistant Administrator

Eshael M. Johnson, Director

Greg DiNapoli, Editor-in-Chief

Sarah Lichtman, Deputy Editor

Rowena M. Becknel, Designer

Editorial Board:

Nina AnandGabrielle Johnston

Emeka NdoloLeo O’Drudy

Peggy Riek Felicia ThompsonBrittany Woodland

Deadline for submissions is the first day of the previous month.

November issue – due Oct. 1

December issue – due Nov. 1

January issue – due Dec. 1

Submit contributions to beacon@fsis.usda.gov.

Phone: (202) 690-3881Fax: (202) 815-2707

We reserve the right to edit all submissions for content, clarity and length.

Alfred V. AlmanzaCarmen Rottenberg

Cara LeConte Jane Doherty

Janet B. StevensJennifer V. Sisto

Steve FisherMichael Erickson Terri Nintemann

Soumaya TohamyWilliam C. “Bill” Smith

Michael WattsStephanie WilkinsCarol BlakeAaron LavalleeCarl MayesPete BridgemanDavid GoldmanVivian T. ChenDan EngeljohnRachel EdelsteinRoberta Wagner

The FSIS Management Council

This month, we begin the start of a new fiscal year (FY). Along with the start of this new year, we also will launch our new

FY 2017-2021 Strategic Plan, as well as our new FY 2017 Annual Plan. At the beginning of each fiscal year, your supervisor should provide you with an updated performance plan. The standards that your individual plan contains keep your work aligned with FSIS priorities that are linked to the FSIS mission, our Strategic Plan and our Annual Plan.

When your activities are directly linked to these plans, a clear line of sight is established between each person’s work and the direction that our Agency aims to go in. This connection enables all employees to be engaged in day-to-day activities with a clear sense of direction, purpose and knowledge of how what you want to accomplish at work fits in to the larger picture.

The Agency goals and the results that we can focus on are outlined in the upcoming Strategic Plan and Annual Plan. i-Impact, the FSIS Strategic Plan, the FSIS Annual Plan and your performance plans tie into your duties as an FSIS employee and what you do every day. Every task that is a part of your work, no matter how small, is important to our Agency and what we aim to accomplish. Thank you again for the work you do to keep our food safe every day.

STRATEGIC PLAN Drafting 2017-2021 Strategic Plan

has been a collaborative effort across the Agency. The Plan contains three

primary goals focused on protecting public health and preventing foodborne illness, modernizing our food safety approaches

and achieving operational excellence. Stay tuned for the new Strategic Plan.

2 Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education . October 2016 . The Beacon

FACES OF FOOD SAFETY

Passion for Consumer SafetyBy Emeka Ndolo, OPACE Phone: (202) 260-9491

Thomas Collaro is a Senior Compliance Investigator based in Philadelphia, Pa., serving the Office of Investigation, Enforcement and Audit’s (OIEA) Northeast region.

OIEA contributes to the FSIS public health mission through the surveillance and investigation of meat, poultry and processed egg product facilities; investigation of foodborne illness outbreaks; response to natural disaster and intentional contamination events; execution and application of enforcement of FSIS criminal, civil and administrative sanctions and authorities; and equivalency verification. “Simply put, once meat, poultry or processed egg products leave the control of the federal establishment, our job is to ensure it reaches the ultimate consumer wholesome, unadulterated, properly packaged and labeled,” Collaro said. “Any program is only as good as its enforcement.”

As a Senior Investigator, Collaro is involved in the more sensitive reviews and investigations, and serves as a team leader, coordinating the collection of evidence and data by other Investigators. “I detect, plan and develop criminal, bio-security and illness outbreak investigations,” Collaro said. “In addition, I coordinate other enforcement activities conducted by Investigators involving surveillance activities, collection and analysis of complex records, and control of adulterated or misbranded product.”

Collaro comes from a long line of butchers and has an uncle who was a Consumer Safety Inspector. His uncle’s influence along with his family’s background in the meat industry provided the foundation that started his federal career. When Collaro initially applied for a job at FSIS, however, he didn’t fully understand the Agency’s role. “I

just assumed that if meat or poultry made its way to the retail sector, it was safe to eat; I was in for a big surprise!” Collaro said. Initially hired as an Inspector working on a chicken slaughter line, Collaro was driven to explore other opportunities within the Agency. “I applied for promotions and took on any available training as my career progressed,” he said. “I believe I have worked at every conceivable establishment there is.” Collaro eventually applied for a position as a Compliance Investigator and was selected. Having been a mentee himself, Collaro says that he likes the mentoring and training aspect of his job. “I’ve never forgotten what it’s like to be the ‘newbie,’ going from a job you know, to a job where everything is alien,” Collaro

said. “I have been fortunate enough to have had mentors throughout my career, and I like being in a position that I can share some of the knowledge obtained from almost two decades of working in FSIS.”

Collaro’s passion is investigating illness outbreaks. “Nothing else gets me going more than knowing that someone became ill simply from eating a meal either at home or at a restaurant, and knowing that if I do my job I can prevent additional people from getting sick,” Collaro said. Collaro believes that it requires a dedicated team of people to produce the results that FSIS has achieved. “Over the years, we have been very successful in quickly identifying the source of various outbreaks, and I am incredibly proud of our work and the FSIS team,” he said.

Collaro is an avid sports fan and since football season is back, he will be rooting for his favorite hometown team, the New York Jets. Collaro enjoys traveling and being outside. He likes to hike in the warmer months and snowshoe in the winter months. “I am proud to say that I hiked up Mt. Teide last year, which is the highest peak in Spain,” he said.

Thomas Collaro

Photo contributed by Thomas Collaro, OIEA.

The Beacon . October 2016 . Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education 3

STRATEGIC PLAN … Continued from page 1

PHOTOMONTHOF

THE

Photo contributed by Pamela Alexander, OFO.

On Wednesday, September 7, the inspection team at DeQueen, Ark., met with Deputy Under Secretary Al Almanza. Pictured, from left: Melinda Rainey, Al Almanza, Willie Finley and Gerald Nehka.

food safe and protect public health by preventing foodborne illness.

The FSIS 2017-2021 Strategic Plan will be available in paper form, and released online this month at www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/informational/aboutfsis/strategic-planning.

4 Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education . October 2016 . The Beacon

By Peggy Riek, OPACEPhone: (202) 720-7608

The Philadelphia district, located in the northeastern United States, covers 21 circuits throughout eight states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. The state of Vermont also participates in the State Cooperative Inspection program (Talmadge/Aiken).

The district staff comes from many different ethnic and religious backgrounds. "Our diversity makes our 600-strong workforce unique. Without our employees’ dedication, diversity and unique expertise, we would not be able to accomplish our FSIS mission—protecting public health and preventing foodborne illnesses,” said Philadelphia District Manager Susan Scarcia.

Fast-paced and challenging, the Philadelphia district manages 1,000 federally inspected establishments, the largest number of establishments within FSIS, of which 97 percent are small- or very small-sized plants. There are 60 poultry slaughter establishments, including one New Poultry Inspection System establishment, 145 red meat slaughter and four egg processing establishments within the district. Additionally, there are two catfish import houses in Londonderry, New Hampshire and Boston, Massachusetts, 9 import houses located in Maine, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New York, and a combination of processing facilities.

"As a district, we are proud to contribute toward FSIS’s mission and have an important part in helping with the rest of the Agency in having the safest food supply in the world. As a food safety team, we strive to work together collaboratively, face to face, and continually look for ways to weave the Agency’s Strategic Plan into our work every day,” said Scarcia.

The Philadelphia district handles a wide variety of species, both small and large, including goats, lamb, sheep,

cattle, hogs, bison, ducks, geese, squab (pigeon), turkeys, chickens, New York dressed chickens and blackbirds. Establishments in the district conduct kosher, Confucian, halal and ritual slaughter.

"The people are what make me excited about coming to work each day,” said Enforcement, Investigations and Analysis Officer (EIAO) George Slobodjian. "They provide support in helping to achieve the Agency’s mission and are never too busy to answer questions. Management stresses good communication. It is vital when evaluating food safety systems and protecting the public from new and emerging threats.”

Deputy District Manager Joseph Schein said, "The Philadelphia district provides new and current employees

with many opportunities to expand their knowledge base and abilities. I try to engage employees and encourage them to come up with innovative ideas about how to better do their jobs,” he added.

Being so close to headquarters in Washington, D.C., the district finds itself at the forefront of a lot of new Agency initiatives such as involvement with the Nationwide Beef and Veal Carcass Microbiological Baseline Data Collection Program and conducting Food Safety Assessment learning sessions for

headquarters employees. Additionally, the district provides beef slaughter and hog Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points-Based Inspection Models Project (HIMP) establishment tours for congressional members and stakeholders.

Scarcia said, “Our inspection personnel in the Philadelphia district are doing an excellent job in prioritizing inspection tasks and taking actions. They have also been very successful in verifying compliance with labeling and ensuring products with ingredients of public health concern, such as allergens, have been identified in numerous recalls.”

In past years, the district realized that its recruitment strategy was not working when trying to fill positions in remote locations in New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont. As a result, it is now utilizing more innovative strategies with

DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT

Introducing the Philadelphia District Office

Photo contributed by Susan Scarcia, OFO.

Sal Ibrahim delivered i-Impact training to the administrative staff for the Philadelphia district office. Pictured, front row, from left: Luz Cantres, Robin Way, Christine DeJesus, Gina LaSpata. Pictured, middle row, from left: Juliet Persaud, Gladys Danridge, Yvonne Maldonado, Susan Scarcia, Lynda Lilyestrom, Sheila Miller, Sal Ibrahim. Pictured, back row, from left: Scott Benek, Charles Reeves, George Slobodjian, Paul Zinskie.

Continued on Page 11 …

The Beacon . October 2016 . Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education 5

SNAPSHOTS FROM THE FIELD

Dallas, Texas

On August 1-12, OIEA held a basic Surveillance,

Investigations and Enforcement Methods (SIEM)

training class. Pictured, from left: Mentus

Ugwu, Manny Goulart, Francisco Flores, Shaun

Smith, Richard Fife, Vicky Case, Michelle Cox,

Eric Rhodes, Jeff Wieners, Susan Isberg, Sandra

Fabregas-Ruiz, Mickey Mancini, Chad Harkness,

Lolita Brumfield, Jose Pereira. Photo contributed

by Paulette Platko, OOEET.

Columbus, Ohio

On August 13, FSIS personnel from est. P15724

performed food safety outreach activities with the

Food Safety Discovery Zone at the Festival Latino.

FSIS personnel answered food safety questions and

provided information to consumers at the event.

Pictured, from left: Mary Ann Sutton, Jennifer

Alcalde, Martin Overholt, Debra Swinehart. Photo

contributed by Jennifer Alcalde, OFO.

Brookings, S.D.

On September 8, the Des Moines district held a

Food Safety Summit in conjunction with South

Dakota State University (SDSU). The goal of the

Summit was to provide information relevant to

small and very small establishments. The summit

also provided an opportunity to educate, exchange

information and open lines of communication

between industry, public health officials and FSIS.

Pictured, from left: Keith Underwood (SDSU),

Brian Hansen, Bill Langer, Mike Sheldon, Randy

Kumpost, Dawn Sprouls, Arcenia Oliver. Photo

contributed by Patrick Stillwell, OFO.

6 Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education . October 2016 . The Beacon

SNAPSHOTS FROM THE FIELD

Detroit, Mich.

On August 13, Sheila McMillan and Claudia Edwards (pictured)

staffed an FSIS outreach table at a local church community day.

The theme of the event was “back to school.” McMillan and

Edwards handed out food safety materials and answered food

safety questions. FSIS personnel from the Dearborn circuit also

donated school supplies for the event. Photo contributed by

Sheila McMillan, OFO.

Forest, Miss.

In August, Jim Sanders (pictured) gave a

presentation about food safety at Forest

High School. Photo contributed by Dawn

Sanders (Forest High School).

Yale, Mich.

In July, Jenifer Tolan (pictured) and Myra Kramp (dressed

as Thermy) assisted OPACE staff with food safety education

and outreach at the Yale Bologna Festival. FSIS’ Food Safety

Discovery Zone made several stops in the Chicago district this

summer and more than 20 people from the Chicago district

volunteered to help distribute food safety information and

educate consumers. Photo contributed by Myra Kramp, OFO.

The Beacon . October 2016 . Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education 7

On August 23, 18 i-Impact trainers came to FSIS headquarters for two days to provide their input for i-Impact in fiscal year 2017. I-Impact “2.0” is currently being developed with the help of feedback and input from employees throughout the Agency.

Pictured, front row, from left: Sofiane Ghris, Georgiana Powers, Sabrina King, Gerry Tidwell, Trinis D. Williams-Ruiz, Sue Newman, Robert Baeza and Kristen Booze.

Pictured, back row, from left: Rodney Prince, Ryan Bradburn, Susan Johnson, David Custozzo, Keith Rahn, Cheryl Henry, Bill Langer, Salah Ibrahim, Carla Miller, Tiffiny Pierce, Michael Cano and Jeremy Emmert.

Photo contributed by Kristen Booze, OPACE.

Recently, Consumer Safety Inspectors attended an i-Impact

workshop in the Jackson district.

Pictured, from left: Thomas Benson, Tamika McKinnes, John

Poore, Angelia Moore, David Mosley. Photo contributed by

Gerry Tidwell, OFO.

8 Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education . October 2016 . The Beacon

I am requesting all information on Siluriformes fish inspection. I have just been assigned a new plant.

Information regarding the Rules and Regulations can be found in the Siluriformes Final Rule at: www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/878aa316-a70a-4297-b352-2d41becc8f73/2008-0031F.pdf?MOD=AJPERES. Additional clarification on how FSIS is enforcing the requirements at official establishments throughout the transitional period may be found in FSIS Notice 23-16, “Consumer Safety Inspectors Responsibilities at Fish (of the order Siluriformes) Establishments During the 18-month Transitional Period” at: www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/9dc3dddb-d0d7-42af-bd48-dc9af16e003f/23-16.pdf?MOD=AJPERES.

The Final Rule, FSIS Notice 23-16, and other information can also be found at www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/inspection/siluriformes.

ASKFISH

FSIS Releases New Video Showcasing How Employees Impact Food Safety

On September 28, FSIS released a new video to the i-Impact Food Safety web page at www.fsis.usda.gov/iimpact or at https://youtu.be/v5CRdZjkhVg. The video begins with an animation of a hypothetical family in the United States. This family represents the millions of consumers that the employees of FSIS impact every day. The video then highlights various FSIS career fields and how the work performed by those employees impacts the safety of the food every family eats. This video is one piece of a greater commitment that FSIS is making to ensure that every FSIS employee fully understands how the work that he or she does impacts food safety. In addition, the video can be used for recruiting or other informational events. Enjoy this video and be proud of how we all impact food safety!

The Beacon . October 2016 . Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education 9

Recent FSIS RetireesThank you for your service and dedication to public health.

Name and Position Duty Station Years Service

Adeyemo, OyewolE,

Microbiol

Bonham, John, CSI

Buus, Henry J., CSI

Day, Steven W.,

Consmr Safety Offcr

Dubon, Jaime E., CSI

Holley, Michael, CSI

Johnson, Clementine, CSI

Key, Ronald C., CSI

Kleve, William R., FI-S

Krusekopt, Dr. Kurt, VMO

Athens, Ga.

Springdale, Ark.

La Crosse, Wis.

Des Moines, Iowa

Center, Texas

New York, N.Y.

Arcadia, La.

Decatur, Ala.

Butterfield, Minn.

College Station, Texas

13

39

32

30

18

25

28

40

26

30

Larson, Clara C., FI-S

Long, Howard B., CSI

Mayer, Gabriele E., Chemst

McClelland, Pearline, FI-S

McDowell, Norma J., FI-S

Olson, Terry F., CSI

Sanchez, Catherine M., CSI

Shockey, Harry T., CSI

Short, Dr. William, VMO

Wilson, Donald J., FI-S

Wippler, John F., Chemst

Woods, Ricky, FI-S

Norwalk, Wis.

Hinton, Va.

Athens, Ga.

Douglas, Ga.

Albertville, Ala.

Boscobel, Wis.

Dinuba, Calif.

Moorefield, W. Va.

Lakewood, Colo.

Postville, Iowa

St. Louis, Mo.

Fresno, Calif.

15

38

10

10

17

36

26

36

25

14

14

18

Name and Position Duty Station Years Service

2016 Diversity Training ConferenceBy Damali Carr, OAPhone: (301) 504-7753

This year, the Diversity Training Conference (DTC) was held at the Washington Court Hotel in Washington, D.C., on August 23-25 and was attended by more than 225 FSIS employees. The theme for the DTC was “Diversity, Inclusion, and Engagement: The Key to Our Success,” which was highlighted throughout the conference during its general sessions and workshops. The workshops also delivered training on other topics such as Equal Employment Opportunity, conflict management, Agency policies, and career and personal development.

In addition to receiving formal training, participants had the opportunity

to network and interact with their colleagues and FSIS and

USDA leadership. Feedback received during the

conference and through evaluations showed many employees felt inspired by the conference and that it sparked new motivation to accomplish the FSIS mission. Employees reported that they were eager to share

their experiences and the information gained

once they returned to their worksites. Based on

the positive feedback from participants, FSIS recognizes the

conference as a definite success for the Agency in furthering its Diversity,

Inclusion and Engagement efforts!

10 Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education . October 2016 . The Beacon

more outreach and a focus on recruiting events to address the staffing issues. "Additionally, district management continues to work with the Agency’s Human Resource Office and headquarters to find ways to improve its performance by utilizing a variety of hiring authorities such as direct hires through the Veterans’ Preference Program, Consumer Safety Inspector Delegated Exam Recruits at the GS-5 and GS-7 level and the Pathways Recent Graduate Program,” said Resource Manager Robin Way.

"In addition to making sure the establishments have appropriate daily staffing, I also ensure that field personnel are following humane handling practices. I am right there to provide guidance to the in-plant field team, including district veterinary medical specialists, frontline supervisors, consumer safety inspectors and Enforcement, Investigations and Analysis Officers on all matters,” said Deputy District Manager Lynda Lilyestrom.

Moving into the new fiscal year, with the arrival of the new Strategic Plan for 2017-2021, Scarcia and her deputy district managers will continue to look for ways to help employees in the district better understand how they do, indeed, impact food safety.

PHILADELPHIA … Continued from page 5

FSIS issues notices and directives to protect public health. New issuances are available at www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations.

• Notice 61-16, Poultry Disposition Reporting• Notice 66-17, Requirements for the Disposition of Non-

Ambulatory Disabled Veal Calves• Directive 5030.5, Review of Egg Products Plants

Drawings and Specifications• Notice 75-16, Verifying That Records Are Kept By

Official Establishments and Retail Stores That Grind Raw Beef

• Directive 60201. Rev. 1, Enhanced Inspection of Poultry in Response to a Notification of a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreak

• Directive 9500.8 Rev. 1, Importation of Products for Other Than Commercial Purposes

• Notice 72-16 - Other Raw Chicken Parts Sampling Project

• Directive 5060.1, Hygiene and Biosecurity Practices

Administrative issues were also published.

• Notice 58-16, WebTA 4.2 Delayed Implementation• Notice 59-16, Performance Award Distribution for Non-

Bargaining Unit Employees • Notice 60-16, End of The Year Performance

Management Instructions • Notice 62-16, 2016 Open Season for Federal

Employees' Group Life Insurance Program• Notice 63-16, Submission of Fiscal Year 2017 Renewal

Orders• Directive 1306.12 Rev. 2, Information System Security

Maintenance• Notice 64-16, Partner Government Agency Message Set• Directive 1306.11 Rev. 2, Information Systems Audit

and Accountability• Directive 1306.13 Rev. 1, Information Systems Planning• Directive 1306.19 Rev. 1, Personnel Security for

Information Systems• Directive 1306.20 Rev. 1, Information System and

Services Acquisition• Directive 2410.3 Rev. 2, Personal Property• Directive 4735.9 Rev. 2, Office of Field Operations

Assignment Restrictions and Rules on Gifts from Regulated Industry

• Directive 1306.10 Rev. 2, Information System Access Control

• Notice 65-16, Considering Interim Ratings And Advisory Assessments In Final Ratings Of Record

• Notice 67-16, Fiscal Year 2017 Pay Periods and Official Payday Dates

• Notice 68-16, Further Delay of WEBTA 4.2 Implementation

• Notice 69-16, Time and Attendance (T&A) Reporting Procedures for Pay Period 19

• Notice 70-16, Restoration of Forfeited Annual Leave • Notice 71-16, Prior Notification and Failure to Present • Directive 1306.14 Rev. 2, Media Protection• Directive 1306.18, Safeguarding Mobile or Portable

Electronic Equipment and Data• Notice 73-16, USDA Ethics Office Inquiries • Notice 76-16, Fiscal Year 2017 Accounting Codes in

WebTA 3.8• Notice 74-16, WebTA 4.2 New Implementation Date• Directive 1306.16 Rev. 1, Security Assurance• Directive 1306.15 Rev. 1, Information Systems

Contingency Planning

Note: Field employees will receive paper copies.

POLICY UPDATES

The Beacon . October 2016 . Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education 11

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)

FSIS employees and applicants for employment wishing to file an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) complaint must first contact an EEO Counselor by calling (301) 504-7755 or 1-800-269-6912, or writing to the FSIS Civil Rights Division at USDA/FSIS, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Building 1, Room 2260, Mail Drop 5261, Beltsville, MD 20705. Contact must be made with an FSIS EEO Counselor within 45 calendar days of the date of the matter alleged to be discriminatory or, in the case of a personnel action, within 45 calendar days of the effective date of the personnel action.

>>> RECALLS

Sept. 1 California firm recalls poultry products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens.

Sept. 8 California firm recalls ground beef products due to possible E. coli O157:H7 adulteration.

Sept. 9 New Hampshire firm recalls lamb products due to possible E. coli contamination.

Sept. 10 Arkansas firm recalls meat and poultry products due to insanitary conditions.

Sept. 10 Ohio firm recalls pork rinds due to misbranding and undeclared allergen.

Sept. 16 Arizona firm recalls beef tamale products containing meat produced without benefit of federal inspection.

Sept. 16 Pennsylvania firm recalls pork products formulated with water that did not meet EPA drinking water standards.

Sept. 17 Washington firm recalls sausage, beef and lamb products produced without benefit of inspection.

Sept. 20 Colorado firm recalls chicken spring rolls due to misbranding and undeclared allergens.

Sept. 21 Washington firm recalls black forest ham products due to possible foreign matter contamination.

Sept. 22 Canada firm recalls meat and poultry pizza products distributed without benefit of import inspection.

Sept. 24 Massachusetts firm recalls beef, veal and bison products due to possible E. coli O157:H7 adulteration.

Sept. 24 California firm recalls wattie’s canned spaghetti with sausage products distributed without benefit of import inspection.

Sept. 27 Missouri firm recalls chicken nugget products due to possible foreign matter contamination.

Sept. 27 Texas firm recalls beef products due to possible E. coli O103 contamination.

For more information, go to www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

12 Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education . October 2016 . The Beacon