FDA
TALK PAPER

Food and Drug Administration
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health Service 5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD 20857
FDA Talk Papers are prepared by the Press Office to guide FDA personnel in responding with consistency and accuracy to questions from the public on subjects of current interest. Talk Papers are subject to change as more information becomes available. 
 
 
T97-33                      Arthur Whitmore:    (202) 205-4144
July 17, 1997               
                            Consumer Hotline:   (800) 532-4440
 
 
 
MEDIA ADVISORY:  FDA TO CONVENE PUBLIC MEETING ON CYCLOSPORA
 
      The Food and Drug Administration has scheduled a public
meeting in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, July 23, on the
detection and control of Cyclospora on fresh produce.
      The meeting will be held 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the
Marriott Metro Center, 775 12th Street, N.W.
      Cyclospora cayetanensis is a protozoan parasite which in
1996 and 1997 caused outbreaks of diarrheal illness,
cyclosporiasis, in several U.S. states and Canadian provinces.
Most of the outbreaks have been associated with consumption of
fresh raspberries imported from Guatemala.  Two of the 1997
outbreaks have been associated with mixed lettuce products.  Some
past outbreaks are associated with drinking water.
      The purpose of the meeting is to provide a forum for the
public, consumer groups, industry, academia, and state and
federal health officials to review the science on Cyclospora and
its detection and control on fresh produce.  The meeting is
intended to help the agency identify research priorities and
appropriate measures to control cyclospora in the U.S. food
supply and prevent foodborne cyclosporiasis.
       The agenda includes presentations by the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention on recent outbreaks and ongoing
research; by FDA on traceback efforts, current detection
methodology and growing and harvesting practices; by USDA on its
research on the organism and its ecology.  Presentations will
also be made by academic and industry researchers.  Time is
allotted for public input after the presentations.
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