Post by Admin on Jun 12, 2015 15:34:10 GMT
In response to our request the Oregon Department of Agriculture has restored posting the test results for PSP and DA to the Shellfish Hotline. Click HERE to access the Shellfish Hotline. Scroll down to the, “Biotoxin Data For Shellfish” and click on the PDF document for Biotoxin Data for Oregon Mussels and Clams. We express our thanks to the ODA for their fast response to our request
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Dear Mr. Lackner,
Thanks for your patience on our response to your most recent email. Here are responses to each of the issues you raised:
1. Posting of testing results online
Since these results are valuable to your members, we are happy to start posting them again on the ODA web site. It may take a few weeks for us to re-start the posting as we work with our publications staff to identify the best location and train our staff on where/how to post them. We will notify you once they are posted online again.
2. Domoic acid threshold level
ODA uses the threshold level for domoic acid established by the federal Food and Drug Administration. We rely on FDA scientists' expertise to establish this threshold, and to modify it based on their review of new and existing research. If you believe the threshold should be changed from the FDA level based on the studies you have shared with us, you could consider working with your legislator to pursue this change.
3. Lead time for reporting areas with increasing levels of toxins
Our staff briefed me on the current analysis methods for shellfish toxin and the timeline for delivering and processing samples. Our lab has changed its work schedule to accommodate some weekend work, which helps process samples more quickly in general, but it would be very difficult to shorten the delivery and analysis time any further for shellfish samples without significantly increasing the costs of the program.
Stephanie Page
Director of Food Safety and Animal Health & ID Programs
(503) 986-4727 office
.
Dear Mr. Lackner,
Thanks for your patience on our response to your most recent email. Here are responses to each of the issues you raised:
1. Posting of testing results online
Since these results are valuable to your members, we are happy to start posting them again on the ODA web site. It may take a few weeks for us to re-start the posting as we work with our publications staff to identify the best location and train our staff on where/how to post them. We will notify you once they are posted online again.
2. Domoic acid threshold level
ODA uses the threshold level for domoic acid established by the federal Food and Drug Administration. We rely on FDA scientists' expertise to establish this threshold, and to modify it based on their review of new and existing research. If you believe the threshold should be changed from the FDA level based on the studies you have shared with us, you could consider working with your legislator to pursue this change.
3. Lead time for reporting areas with increasing levels of toxins
Our staff briefed me on the current analysis methods for shellfish toxin and the timeline for delivering and processing samples. Our lab has changed its work schedule to accommodate some weekend work, which helps process samples more quickly in general, but it would be very difficult to shorten the delivery and analysis time any further for shellfish samples without significantly increasing the costs of the program.
Stephanie Page
Director of Food Safety and Animal Health & ID Programs
(503) 986-4727 office