In the summer of 1996 my column here in S²C² focused on the state of contamination control in the Food Industry in the United States. Little seems to have changed since that article. Millions of people still become ill from contaminated food each year, yet no clear standards for contamination control exist. U.S. meat and poultry plants are ‘encouraged’ to follow a contamination control practice known as Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP). This practice looks for and eliminates potential areas of food contamination, but it does not appear rigorous and it is only followed by a relatively small percentage of food processing facilities.

One new development is the approval in the U.S. to irradiate beef. The hope is that any viable organisms will be eliminated by the irradiation. This may be a positive step, but I fear that it will only minimise the emphasis needed on better contamination control standards. The public will think that the food supply will be safer, yet in reality I doubt that a very high percentage of beef will be treated with radiation. In addition, the same old practices will be used to handle and prepare the food after it is treated.

I am once again left to wonder when disciplined contamination control standards will be adopted by the food processing industry. I suppose that it will not be until economics or laws require it. I wonder what the real cost of all the food related illnesses are?

On a totally unrelated note, I want to remind you to attend the 1998 Annual Technical Meeting of the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST). The meeting will be held in Phoenix, Arizona from April 26 through May 1. IEST is also hosting the ICCCS 14th International Symposium on contamination control and will be jointly sponsoring the Symposium on cleanrooms for the Healthcare Industry with the Paranteral Drug Association (PDA) at this year's meeting. S²C² is a member of ICCCS, and as such is directly involved in this year's Annual Technical Meeting. An Advance Program for this outstanding contamination control technical conference can be obtained by contacting IEST by fax at (847)255-1699 (USA) or E-mail at iest@iest.org

I hope to see you in Phoenix!