Browse: Departments   Dates   Agencies  

Docket ID: [Docket No. FSIS 2008-0035]

NOTICE: NOTICES

ACTION: Meetings:

DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

SUBJECT CATEGORY: Sampling and Testing Procedures for Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Beef Manufacturing Trimmings

DATES: The public meeting will be held on October 14 and 15, 2008.

DOCUMENT SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing that it will hold a public meeting on October 14 and 15, 2008, to discuss sampling and testing procedures used by FSIS and industry for Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 in beef manufacturing trimmings and draft guidance to industry concerning this pathogen. Copies of the guidance materials are available on the FSIS Web site.

SUMMARY: Sampling and Testing Procedures for Escherichia coli O157-H7 in Beef Manufacturing Trimmings,

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

The presence of E. coli O157:H7 in raw beef products continues to be a concern to FSIS. Based on E. coli O157:H7 test results from FSIS, other Federal and State entities, and industry, E. coli O157:H7 continues to contaminate finished product. Controls in food safety systems, including sanitary dressing procedures, do not consistently prevent, eliminate, or reduce E. coli O157:H7 to an undetectable level. Therefore, testing may be a means to ensure that contaminated product does not enter commerce. The meeting will focus on sampling and testing of beef manufacturing trimmings for E. coli O157:H7.

Issues To Be Discussed at the Public Meeting

FSIS will discuss the issues associated with the uniformity and [[Page 60231]]
consistency of sampling and testing procedures used by FSIS and industry for E. coli O157:H7 in beef manufacturing trimmings and to solicit comment on how to improve uniformity and consistency in such sampling and testing. FSIS will also discuss the laboratory enrichment procedure that it began using in January 2008 (73 FR 53406; September 16, 2008) and its likely impact on sensitivity for identifying more positives in beef.

The discussion will also include the draft ``Compliance Guideline for Sampling Beef Trimmings for Escherichia coli O157:H7.'' It can be found on the FSIS Web page at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Significant_ Guidance/index.asp. FSIS is particularly interested in discussing the importance of distinguishing the occasional or sporadic positive from a series of positive results that indicate a systemic cause or breakdown of the process controls (``high event days''). This determination is important for decisions regarding the microbiological independence of production lots and the disposition of product, as well as the necessary feedback loop between slaughter operations and further processing operations to ensure implementation of effective corrective and preventive actions.

FSIS will also discuss the draft guidance on the use of labels bearing E. coli O157:H7 testing claims (such as statements indicating that labeled product has been sampled under an N60 procedure). This guidance is also available on the FSIS Web page at http:// www.fsis.usda.gov/Significant_Guidance/index.asp. Such special label claims would be voluntary, and FSIS must approve the labels. The draft guidance provides information to establishments concerning the conditions they must meet to be able to use such claims on their raw beef products. Importantly, the use of such label claims could provide the further processor with greater assurance regarding prior controls for E. coli O157:H7 than certificates of analysis (COAs) currently provide. Many small and very small establishments have indicated that they have difficulty receiving COAs either from the distributor or supplier establishment.

In addition, presentations will be given on the training used by FSIS concerning proper sampling procedures for E. coli O157:H7 and the training developed by industry on N60 sampling procedures. FSIS also anticipates that the meeting will help identify issues of concern about pathogens other than E. coli O157:H7, including Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella.

Additional Public Notification

Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are aware of this notice, FSIS will announce it online through the FSIS Web page located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/2008_Notices_Index/.

FSIS also will make copies of this Federal Register publication available through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal Register notices, FSIS public meetings, and other types of information that could affect or would be of interest to constituents and stakeholders. The Update is communicated via Listserv, a free electronic mail subscription service for industry, trade groups, consumer interest groups, health professionals and other individuals who have asked to be included. The Update is also available on the FSIS Web page. Through the Listserv and the Web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader and more diverse audience. In addition, FSIS offers an e mail subscription service which provides automatic and customized access to selected food safety news and information. This service is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/ news_and_events/email_subscription/. Options range from recalls to export information to regulations, directives and notices. Customers can add or delete subscriptions themselves, and have the option to password protect their accounts.

Done at Washington, DC on: October 7, 2008.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E824216 Filed 10708; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410DMP

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Pre-registration for this meeting is recommended. To preregister, go to the FSIS Web site at http:// www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Reg_Ecoli_101408/index.asp.

For additional information, please contact Keith Payne by telephone at (202) 6906522 or by email at keith.payne@fsis.usda.gov. Persons requiring a sign language interpreter or special accommodations should contact Keith Payne as soon as possible.