Saving Seafood

Robert DeHaan Appointed to U.S. Trade Advisory Committee

July 17, 2020 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer today announced the appointment of Robert DeHaan to the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee that covers trade in animal products. DeHaan is the Vice President for Government Affairs at the National Fisheries Institute.

Advisory committees provide advice to the Government on trade policy matters, including the operation of existing trade agreements and the negotiation of new ones.

“This is a great opportunity for the seafood community to have a seat at the table where trade decisions are made,” said DeHaan. “I’m thrilled to be able to bring our industry’s perspective and guidance to the people in charge of trade policy.”

\Before joining NFI in 2011, DeHaan served as Special Counsel to the Deputy U.S. Trade Representative as well as Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“Bob knows his way around government and trade. This appointment is tailor made for his assets,” said NFI President John Connelly. “We are pleased that those responsible for carrying out U.S. trade policy as it relates to such an important part of our economy will have him as a resource.”

DeHaan will serve on the Advisory Committee until 2024.

FDA beefs up food safety guidelines and announces plans to resume inspections

July 15, 2020 — The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new food safety guidelines include utilizing technology to enhance traceability, responding more quickly to outbreaks, and other factors affecting the seafood industry.

This New Era of Smarter Food Safety blueprint represents a “new approach to food safety, leveraging technology and other tools to create a safer and more digital, traceable food system,” the agency said on its website.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

National Fisheries Institute Statement on the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Report

July 15, 2020 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:

The National Fisheries Institute commends the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee for its work in submitting its Scientific Report to the Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services.

The Committee’s review of the science supports advice to eat 8-12 ounces of seafood weekly, particularly before, during and after pregnancy. The report highlights that only 20 percent of adults and 6 percent of children meet the goal of eating seafood twice per week.

The report notes a healthy diet should “provide good sources of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, such as seafood, beginning at ages 6 to 12 months.”

The report is one more piece of evidence that Americans of all ages should eat seafood more frequently. As part of a healthy dietary pattern, seafood offers a lifetime of benefits from brain development among babies to heart health and a healthy weight for adults. The report even notes the link between diet-related diseases –which regular seafood consumption can help prevent – and increased susceptibility to the current global pandemic.

It will be vital that the final Guidelines use simple, consistent language to communicate actionable recommendations that result in increased seafood consumption, in order to realize the associated public health benefits.

Accredited nutrition experts like the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee continue to distinguish seafood as a food with benefits for all ages.

National Fisheries Institute Statement on the FDA’s Smarter Food Safety Blueprint

July 14, 2020 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:

Yesterday’s announcement of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) New Era of Smarter Food Safety blueprint demonstrates how the agency plans to rapidly evolve its regulatory approach in an age of unprecedented technological advancement.

Forecasting unique demands on the future value chain will help FDA identify and whenever possible neutralize challenges. In just the past few months, the seafood market has changed and the seafood community and FDA have worked to keep our food supply safe with a rigorous yet flexible approach.

We are pleased to see the Trump Administration embracing a food safety framework for the future that is both smart and safe.

Bloomberg Corrects Record on China’s Shrimp and COVID-19 Story

July 13, 2020 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:

Bloomberg, the giant media company with reporters in more than 100 countries, has corrected its piece originally titled, “China Signals Shrimp Virus Risk After Salmon Debacle.” Reporting on China’s General Administration of Customs announcement, the article erroneously claimed COVID-19 tests found the virus on “both the inside and outside of… shrimp packaging.”

The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) reached out to the reporting team and their editors to point out the positive COVID-19 tests were found inside the shipment container, not inside the product’s packaging.

“There was genuine confusion caused by this inaccurate reporting,” said NFI’s Senior Director of Communications and Advocacy, Brandon Phillips.  “This was not an issue of semantics. It was an issue of specificity.  Reports of a positive test on a shipping container as opposed to inside a product’s packaging are two very different stories.”

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) have been clear that COVID-19 is not a food borne illness. In June, the FDA and USDA released a joint statement that said, “Efforts by some countries to restrict global food exports related to Covid-19 transmission are not consistent with the known science of transmission.” Further, the statement read there’s, “no evidence that people can contract Covid-19 from food or from food packaging.”

“We’re disappointed that Bloomberg didn’t get the facts right the first time but we applaud them for correcting their mistake,” said Phillips. “Seafood continues to be a safe, healthy and available food that consumers should choose.”

National Fisheries Institute Statement on COVID19 and the Safety of Imported Shrimp

July 10, 2020 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:

Today the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China suspended imports and ordered recalls of frozen shrimp from three Ecuadorian companies after the government claimed “outer packaging…were at risk of being contaminated by the new coronavirus.”

But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been clear that there is no known transmission of the novel coronavirus from “food or food packaging”, and that there is “no reason to be concerned” about the virus passing in this way.  Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization, and the European Food Safety Agency reinforce this finding.

In fact, the Chinese Customs announcement states they found no evidence of the virus on the inner packaging of the samples they tested, nor on the shrimp itself.

In addition, the Chinese government emphasized humans would not get COVID from the shrimp, stating, “Experts judged that the result of the detection did not mean that it was transmissive.”

Governments should follow the advice of the World Health Organization, which states, “Food has not been implicated in the transmission of COVID-19” and continues “testing of food or food surfaces for this virus is not recommended.”

Simply stated global public health experts continue to state that humans will not get coronavirus from frozen food or its packaging.  Stating, implying, or reporting otherwise is just wrong.

NFI: Food workers should receive COVID-19 vaccine early on

June 25, 2020 — The National Fisheries Institute and other food industry groups are urging U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration to prioritize food, agriculture, and retail workers for receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Scientists have advised that COVID-19 will remain a continuous public health concern, so the importance of a vaccine cannot be overstated. A vaccine targeting COVID-19 is likely the only way to generate immunity across a population,” NFI, FMI – the Food Industry Association, the National Restaurant Association, and other groups said in a letter to Trump.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

NFI Statement on Guidance from CDC and OSHA about Protecting Seafood Processing Workers

June 25, 2020 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:

The National Fisheries Institute is pleased to see federal regulators working together to create important guidance to protect workers at seafood facilities and provide guidance for employers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recognize seafood is an important part of the U.S. economy and fish production facilities are essential to the Nation’s critical infrastructure. With the Food and Drug Administration, CDC and OSHA have released guidance designed to help keep seafood workers and food safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The guidance supplements general guidance already issued by the public health and worker safety agencies.

The seafood industry specific guidance reiterates that seafood-processing workers are not exposed to the disease through the fish and seafood products they handle. It provides useful tools to minimize hazards for workers who come in relatively close contact with each other and may raise exposure risk factors.

The guidance reviews screening, quarantining and testing of both onshore and offshore employees and is in keeping with the best practices recognized by the industry for COVID-prevention controls.

National Fisheries Institute Statement on Looking Forward to Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America in 2021

June 25, 2020 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:

Diversified Communications has long been a leader in connecting, educating and strengthening the seafood community. Its trade shows and informational forums are an essential gathering place for businesses of all sizes.

Making the decision to reschedule and then cancel Seafood Expo North America 2020 was likely a tough one but illustrates Diversified’s commitment to listen to its customers and its ability to be nimble in a time of change. Diversified’s actions reflect the responsiveness and innovation found in seafood harvesters, processors, distributors, retailers and restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pivoting to meet the seafood community’s needs, Diversified continues to provide a robust digital information and marketing space for the industry. In 2021 it will host an exciting edition of Seafood Expo North America that will meet the needs of our changing market place.

We look forward to seeing NFI members exhibiting at Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America next year in what will be an enthusiastic return to Boston.

Labor unions refile lawsuit calling on federal workplace safety guidelines for COVID-19

June 23, 2020 — The AFL-CIO on Thursday, 18 June sought a rehearing before the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in District of Columbia as it seeks to force the federal government to develop emergency workplace safety standards regarding the novel coronavirus.

The resubmission happened one week after a three-judge panel in the district denied the federation of labor unions request after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) opted not to issue emergency standards. The judges said in their order that the workplace safety regulatory body “reasonably determined” such standards weren’t needed right now.

Read the full story at Seafood Source