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Sara Lee Listeria Grant Announcement
| Sara Lee Listeria Grant Announcement, April 1999 Sara Lee Corporation FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SARA LEE CORPORATION APPOINTS LEADING USDA FOOD SCIENTIST TO ITS U.S. FOODS DIVISION COMPANY Sara Lee also announced that it is undertaking a number of strategic initiatives to ensure the highest possible quality and safety for its packaged meats products. In addition to implementing new state-of-the-art food safety technology throughout its U.S. Packaged Meats operations, the company has established a $1 million food safety research fund at the Center for Food and Nutrition Policy at Georgetown University. "Our first priority is always the quality and wholesomeness of our products, and we are confident that these actions speak directly to our consumers and trade customers about Sara Lee’s commitment to food safety," said C. Steven McMillan, president and chief operating officer of Sara Lee Corporation. "The initiatives we are announcing today are clearly intended to establish Sara Lee at the forefront of the nation’s food safety efforts." Dr. McNamara will report to James R. Carlson, senior vice president of Sara Lee Corporation and chief executive officer of the company’s U.S. Foods unit. Since 1992, she has served as director of the Microbiology Division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Public Health and Science in the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Dr. McNamara has authored or co-authored numerous scientific papers on food safety, in addition to serving as a USDA Representative to President Clinton’s Food Safety Initiative. She also served on the USDA committee responsible for drafting the agency’s Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) rules. Prior to joining USDA, Dr. McNamara served as a senior staff microbiologist for the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. Her previous experience includes work at hospitals and other research organizations with an emphasis on microbial food safety programs, microbiology and other aspects of medical technology. Dr. McNamara received a doctor of science degree in microbiology from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health in 1986. She served as a postdoctoral resident at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta from 1986 to 1988. In addition, she holds a master of science degree in medical technology from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor of science degree in medical technology from Quinnipiac College in Hamden, Conn. "As one of the nation’s premier scientists in the areas of food safety and technology, Ann Marie McNamara will be a valued addition to Sara Lee’s U.S. Foods group," said McMillan. "We believe her skills and experience will be extremely beneficial to our operations." Across its U.S. Packaged Meats divisions, Sara Lee is currently implementing state-of-the-art technology and advanced operating practices that will help to ensure the continued wholesomeness and safety of its products. One of these divisions, Bil Mar Foods, suspended production in portions of its Zeeland, Michigan, plant in December 1998 when it initiated a voluntary recall of specific production lots of hot dogs and other processed meats after learning of an investigation by the CDC and the USDA into a national outbreak of Listeriosis. Since that time, the company has worked closely with the USDA to review operations at the plant, which resumed partial operations in early March. "We have worked closely with government agencies to facilitate their investigations," said McMillan. "And now, having consulted outside experts in assessing and developing state-of-the-art food safety practices, we are embarking on a multi-year, $100 million-plus program to implement new processing, cleaning and testing procedures that exceed current industry-wide practices." Among the actions currently under way are the following:
At the Bil Mar Foods plant, production areas for retail hot dogs and sliced luncheon meats are being completely reconfigured with cutting-edge foods safety equipment, and are slated to reopen later this year. In addition, the company expects that it will increase its marketing support for the brands affected by the December 1998 recall. To further protect the nation’s food supply, and to identify new methods for improved food safety, Sara Lee’s $1 million food safety research grant will fund several simultaneous applied research projects, including studies of post-processing bacteria elimination ("post-pasteurization"), potential food additives, and other best practices for the packaged meats industry. An advisory committee including food safety research experts and industry professionals will oversee these efforts, under the direction of Lester M. Crawford, DVM, Ph.D., research professor and director of the Georgetown Public Policy Institute’s Center for Food and Nutrition Policy (CFNP). Dr. Crawford is the former administrator of the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the USDA. Dr. Crawford will oversee a panel that includes other CFNP members as well as advisors from the scientific community. This panel will review applications for research grants to determine which best address these issues. The Georgetown Center for Food and Nutrition Policy was established in 1992 to support the study of food safety, food regulation and the impact of new technologies on the nation’s food supply, nutrition and health. "We are pleased with Sara Lee's decision to fund this program at Georgetown," said Dr. Crawford. "Our work at the forefront of food safety has produced a number of well-trained professionals who have continued to serve the American food system through industry, academic and government careers." Grant applications will be accepted beginning May 1, 1999. Applicants may contact CFNP via telephone at 202-965-6400 or via its Internet web site at www.ceresnet.org. Sara Lee Corporation is a global consumer packaged goods company with approximately $20 billion in annual revenues. Its leading brands include Sara Lee, Douwe Egberts, Hillshire Farm, Hanes, Coach and Playtex. |
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Last updated: 03/10/2009