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FSIS and FDA to discuss retail listeria risk assessment 09 Jun 2009

The U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced a public meeting to be held with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to discuss the background, approach and scope of a new interagency risk assessment on Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) at retail.
The public meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 23, 2009, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at L’Enfant Plaza Hotel, 480 L’Enfant Plaza, SW, Washington, DC 20024. The meeting will provide an opportunity for individuals, organizations and other stakeholders to discuss the scope and objectives of the Interagency Retail Lm Risk Assessment and to solicit comments and input on how FSIS and FDA may conduct the risk assessment.
 
 Little is known about how Lm contamination occurs in retail facilities. Retail practices may result in either cross-contamination from one product to another or through contamination from the retail environment.  It is important for food safety agencies to identify potential sources and practices that may contribute to Lm contamination in retail establishments and identify interventions that would control Lm.
 
 To understand Lm at retail, FSIS and FDA have initiated a joint interagency risk assessment that will evaluate the dynamics of Lm contamination in retail facilities.  This risk assessment will evaluate how retail practices can affect contamination and the relative effectiveness of various retail interventions. Various ready-to-eat foods, including cheeses, deli meats and deli-type salads, will be studied as part of the risk assessment.
 
Individuals are encouraged to pre-register to attend, at www.fsis.usda.gov
 
Source: FSIS
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