ENAFS Connection Newsletter

LINKING RESEARCH AND EDUCATION FOR FLORIDA'S ELDERS
March 2000

This project is possible thanks to funding by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs in partnership with state, county, and local agencies.

HIGHLIGHTS

National Health Days
FDA Finalizes Rules for Claims on Dietary Supplements
Web Sites - Check It Out!
Clinton Administration Announces Plan to Improve Egg Safety
Fast Facts
USDA Approves Irradiation of Meat
Healthy People 2010

National Health Days

The following are some health days for the upcoming months. I hope this list helps you plan upcoming educational programs.

March:

National Nutrition Month

"Food & Fitness: Health for a Lifetime" reinforces the importance of nutrition and physical activity as key components of a healthy lifestyle. Visit the ADA web site for more information: www.eatright.org/

American Diabetes ALERT

A signature program conducted annually to help reduce the number of undiagnosed cases of diabetes. Screenings conducted at various pharmacies, businesses, and corporations. Call 1-800-342-2383 for screening sites or to host an ALERT site.

April:

Alcohol Awareness Month Alcohol abuse in America is taking a high toll -- $250 billion, to be exact. Alcohol abuse is a nutritional risk factor for elders.

World Health Day

Introduced by the World Health Organization, to join people from around the globe to promote better health for all. For more information visit: www.aawhworldhealth.org/

May:

Older American Month

"In The New Century. . . . .The Future is Aging." Visit the Administration on Aging's web site for more information: www.aoa.dhhs.gov/

Cinco de Mayo

"A Celebration of Culture" May 4 - 6, 2000. Cinco de Mayo is a date of great importance for the Mexican and Chicano communities. People of Mexican descent in the U.S. celebrate this significant day by having parades, mariachi music, folkloric dancing, cuisine, and other types of festive activities.

National Senior Health and Fitness Day

The common goal for this day: to help keep older Americans healthy and fit. Always set for the last Wednesday in May, National Senior Health & Fitness Day is the nation's largest annual health promotion event for older adults. For more information call 1-800-828-8225 or visit their web site at: www.fitnessday.com/

LAM

FDA Finalizes Rules for Claims on Dietary Supplements

In January, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published its final rule concerning the types of statements that can be made about the effect of a dietary supplement.

Claims concerning a product's health benefits have always been a controversial feature of dietary supplements. Manufacturers rely on them to sell their products. But consumers often wonder if they can trust them.

Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA) and previous food labeling laws, supplement manufacturers are allowed to make structure/function claims [claims that the product affects the structure or function of the body] without prior FDA review. They may not make disease claims [claims that the supplement can prevent, treat, cure, mitigate, or diagnose disease] without prior FDA review.

This final rule describes how FDA will distinguish disease claims from structure/function claims.

The new ruling does not allow, without prior FDA review:

express disease claims - "prevents osteoporosis," or
implied disease claims - "prevents bone fragility in post-menopausal women."

The final rule states that disease claims can be made:

through the name of a product - "CircuCure,"
through a statement about the formulation of a product - "contains aspirin," or
through the use of pictures or symbols - electrocardiogram tracings.

The rule permits claims that do not relate to disease. These include:

health maintenance claims - "maintains a healthy circulatory system,"
non-disease claims - "helps you relax," and
claims for common, minor symptoms associated with life stages - "for common symptoms of PMS" or "for hot flashes."

Under the final rule, the number of acceptable structure/function claims has been expanded. The definition of "disease" has been revised and structure/function claims about certain common conditions associated with aging, pregnancy, menopause, and adolescence are now permitted. Serious conditions associated with life stages, such as toxemia of pregnancy and osteoporosis, will continue to be treated as diseases.

FDA believes this rule will ultimately provide consumers with better information on dietary supplements that will help them select appropriate products. PW

Source: FDA Talk Paper, Jan 2000, http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov

Web Sites - Check It Out!

Tax Aide Site Locator https://locator.aarp.org/vmis/sites/tax_aide_locator.jsp
American Pharmaceutical Association Consumer Page
http://www.phrma.org/
Public Health Week Planner's Guide http://www.apha.org/
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month http://www.fitness.gov/

Clinton Administration Announces Plan to Improve Egg Safety

Salmonella is a group of bacteria that causes illness in humans. Salmonella enteriditis (SE) and Salmonella typhimurium are the two most common types of Salmonella in the United States. Potential sources of Salmonella include raw or undercooked eggs, poultry, beef, and unpasteurized milk products.

In December, 1999, President Clinton announced a comprehensive plan to improve egg safety and reduce SE illnesses in the U.S. by 50% before the year 2005.

Under the new plan, egg producers and processors will implement one of two strategies to improve egg safety. Strategy I requires rigorous on-farm agricultural and sanitation practices, extensive testing for SE, and diversion of eggs to pasteurization or cooked product, based on positive SE testing. Strategy II requires implementation of new technologies, such as "in shell pasteurization," to kill the potentially dangerous organism at the packing stage of production. Both strategies should improve the safety of shell eggs and processed egg products.

Americans consume an average of 234 eggs per person per year. Although only an estimated 1 in 20,000 eggs in the U.S. contain SE bacteria, this involves nearly 3.36 million eggs annually. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates there were 300,000 cases of SE in 1997, with regional trends showing a decrease in the SE isolation rate in regions where egg quality assurance is the most intensive. Children, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable to SE infection. The costs associated with human salmonellosis due to SE are estimated to range from $150 million to $870 million annually.

The new plan also provides a strategy to consolidate egg safety oversight. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will develop consistent nationwide farm preventive controls and will enforce them by contracting with the states while maintaining federal oversight. The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will develop and enforce standards at the packing/processing level. CDC and FDA will conduct surveillance and monitoring activities. PW

Source: USDA News Release; Dec, 1999; www.fsis.usda.gov/

Fast Facts

After age 75 approximately 50% of women are widowed, divorced, or separated and most live alone.
People who live alone are more likely to have Activity of Daily Living (ADL) limitations (33.2%) than those who do not live alone (28.4%). The mean age of those with ADL limitations is between 79.4 and 81 years of age.

Source: Profile of Older Americans, 1999.

USDA Approves Irradiation of Meat

In December, 1999, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) authorized the meat industry to irradiate meat and meat products. Irradiation of refrigerated or frozen raw meat and meat products will help reduce or eliminate potentially dangerous microorganisms.

Irradiation is the process whereby food is exposed to high levels of radiant energy to reduce or eliminate hazardous microorganisms. It is currently the only known method to eliminate E. coli 0157:H7. Irradiation also reduces levels of Listeria, Salmonella, and Campylobacter found in the raw product.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved food additives such as irradiation since 1997. USDA officials also declare irradiation is both safe and effective.

Consumers will need to continue to handle and prepare irradiated meat following the same precautions they would take with other raw products because some bacteria are not destroyed by irradiation. Other foods can also cross-contaminate irradiated meat.

Irradiated products must meet all USDA requirements, including sanitation and pathogen reduction standards. They must also bear the radura symbol, which appears below, and a statement that the product was irradiated.

Irradiated meat used in other products such as sausages and bologna must also be labeled. For unpackaged meat products that do not have labels, the statement and logo must be displayed at the point of sale to consumers. These labeling requirements do not apply to products purchased through foodservice operations. PW

Source: USDA News Release; Dec 1999; www.fsis.usda.gov/

Healthy People 2010

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently released the Conference Edition of Healthy People 2010: Understanding and Improving Health.* Healthy People 2010 outlines a comprehensive, nationwide health promotion and disease prevention agenda. All of us involved in promoting healthy lifestyles for elders are contributing to the vision of "Healthy People in Healthy Communities" which is set forth in Healthy People 2010.

Healthy People 2010 is designed to achieve two central goals:

Increase quality and years of healthy life.

Strategies:

Help people gain knowledge, motivation, and opportunities needed to make informed decisions about their health.
Encourage community and state efforts that promote healthy behaviors, create healthy environments, and increase access to high-quality health care.
Eliminate health disparities related to gender, race and ethnicity, income and education, disability, rural localities, and sexual orientation.