DHS and USDA Kick Off 2011 Summer Food Program
June 6, 2011
Local Agencies Throughout State Assist Children With Nutrition Needs
Nashville, TN – The need for healthy nutrition does not end when school lets out for the summer. Providing proper nutrition options is especially important for those children in low-income areas so they may learn, grow and be active throughout the summer months.
Thanks to the Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), free meals and snacks will again be available for low income children during the summer months through the 2011 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). [Read more]
First Lady, Agriculture Secretary Launch MyPlate Icon as a New Reminder to Help Consumers to Make Healthier Food Choices
June 3, 2011
Washington, D.C. – First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today unveiled the federal government’s new food icon, MyPlate, to serve as a reminder to help consumers make healthier food choices. MyPlate is a new generation icon with the intent to prompt consumers to think about building a healthy plate at meal times and to seek more information to help them do that by going to www.ChooseMyPlate.gov.
The new MyPlate icon emphasizes the fruit, vegetable, grains, protein and dairy food groups.
Tennessee identifies Large Animal Care Shortage Areas
May 21, 2011
Veterinarians Can Apply for School Loan Repayment Program
Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Department of Agriculture has identified four areas of the state that are now eligible for USDA assistance in filling a shortage of large animal veterinary practitioners.
The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) will pay up to $25,000 each year towards qualified educational loans of eligible veterinarians who agree to serve in an underserved area for three years. [Read more]
Population-wide Reduction in Salt Consumption Recommended
January 17, 2011
Dallas, TX – The American Heart Association today issued a call to action for the public, health professionals, the food industry and the government to intensify efforts to reduce the amount of sodium (salt) Americans consume daily – which is currently more than two times higher than the recommended upper limit of 1,500 mg daily, with 77 percent of that consumption coming from packaged, processed and restaurant foods.
In an advisory, published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, the association sets out the science behind the American Heart Association’s recommendation for the general population, which is to consume no more than 1500 milligrams (mg) of sodium a day because of the harmful effects of sodium – elevated blood pressure and increased risk of stroke, heart attacks and kidney disease. Elevated blood pressure (hypertension) is a major public health problem – approximately 90 percent of all Americans will develop hypertension over their lifetime.
Reduction in Salt Consumption Recommended
Salmonella Enteritidis Outbreak in Shell Eggs
August 19, 2010
FDA is collaborating with Federal and state partners to investigate a nationwide increase of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) infections. Partners include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and state public health and agriculture officials.
Joint FDA/CDC field investigation teams are working to identify potential sources of SE infection in shell eggs.
Emerald Ash Borer Discovered in East Tennessee
July 30, 2010
Plans underway to survey and restrict movement of ash material in Knox, Loudon counties
Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Department of Agriculture today announced the discovery of emerald ash borer (EAB), the first detection of the destructive tree pest in the state. The discovery was made last week at a truck stop in Knox County near the Loudon County line.
“We knew EAB could potentially reach Tennessee, and we’re prepared to help slow the spread of the infestation and protect our forest resources.” said state Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens. “We will be working closely with federal officials and other stakeholders to determine the extent of the infestation and to take steps to limit its spread.”
Emerald Ash Borer.
New Final Rule to Ensure Egg Safety, Reduce Salmonella Illnesses Goes Into Effect
July 12, 2010
Silver Spring, MD — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that as many as 79,000 illnesses and 30 deaths due to consumption of eggs contaminated with the bacterium Salmonella Enteritidis may be avoided each year with new food safety requirements for large-scale egg producers.
The new food safety requirements will become effective on July 9th, 2010, through a rule for egg producers having 50,000 or more laying hens — about 80 percent of production. Among other things, it requires them to adopt preventive measures and to use refrigeration during egg storage and transportation.
Large-scale egg producers that produce shell eggs for human consumption and that do not sell all of their eggs directly to consumers must comply with the refrigeration requirements under the rule; this includes producers whose eggs receive treatments such as pasteurization. Similarly, those who transport or hold shell eggs must also comply with the refrigeration requirements by the same effective date. [Read more]
