Availability of FSIS Salmonella Compliance Guidelines for Small and Very Small Meat and Poultry Establishments That Produce Ready-to-Eat Products, 58089-58091 [2012-23080]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 182 / Wednesday, September 19, 2012 / Notices
Description of Respondents: Business
or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 140.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 630.
Title: Importation of Papaya from
Colombia and Ecuador.
OMB Control Number: 0579–0358.
Summary of Collection: Under the
Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et
seq.), the Secretary of Agriculture is
authorized to carry out operations or
measures to detect, eradicate, suppress,
control, prevent, or retard the spread of
plant pests new to the United States or
not known to be widely distributed
throughout the United States. The
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS) amended the
regulations to allow, under certain
condition, the importation of
commercial shipments of fresh papaya
from Colombia and Ecuador in the
continental United States.
Need and Use of the Information:
APHIS requires that all consignments of
papaya from Colombia and Ecuador
would have to be accompanied by a
phytosanitary certificate by the National
Plant Protection Organization of the
exporting country stating that the
papayas were grown, packed, and
shipped in accordance with the
proposed requirements.
Description of Respondents: Federal
Government.
Number of Respondents: 3.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 151.
Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012–23000 Filed 9–18–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
September 13, 2012.
The Department of Agriculture has
submitted the following information
collection requirement(s) to OMB for
review and clearance under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13. Comments
regarding (a) whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate
of burden including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c)
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Jkt 226001
ways to enhance the quality, utility and
clarity of the information to be
collected; (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on those who are to respond, including
through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology should be addressed to: Desk
Officer for Agriculture, Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB),
OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or
fax (202) 395–5806 and to Departmental
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail
Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250–
7602. Comments regarding these
information collections are best assured
of having their full effect if received
within 30 days of this notification.
Copies of the submission(s) may be
obtained by calling (202) 720–8958.
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor a collection of information
unless the collection of information
displays a currently valid OMB control
number and the agency informs
potential persons who are to respond to
the collection of information that such
persons are not required to respond to
the collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB control
number.
Food and Nutrition Service
Title: Community Eligibility Option
Evaluation.
OMB Control Number: 0584–NEW.
Summary of Collection: Section 104(a)
of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of
2010 provides the Community
Eligibility Option (the CE Option) for
Local Educational Authorities (LEAs)
and schools, as an alternative to
household applications for Free or
Reduced Price meals. Under the CE
Option, families are not required to
submit application for free or reducedprice meals, and schools are required to
provide free meals to all students. The
potential benefits are that more students
participate, meals are more nutritious,
and LEAs may experience reductions in
administrative burden and errors. In
order to understand how the CE Option
is implemented, incentives and barriers
for LEAs and schools, as well as the
impacts on LEAs, schools and children,
Congress has mandated that the Food
and Nutrition Service (FNS) conduct an
evaluation of the CE Option.
Need and Use of the Information: FNS
will collection information from the
study: To estimate the number of
eligible LEAs and schools that do not
choose the CE Options; To assess the
barriers to participation in the CE
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58089
Option in non-participating but eligible
LEAs and schools; To describe the LEAs
and schools participating in the CE
Option; To examine the impacts of the
CE Option on (1) Program integrity, (2)
availability of School Breakfast program,
(3) nutritional quality of meals, (4)
program participation by students, (5)
program administration, (6) foodservice
revenues and costs; and To provide
input to FNS deliberations about the key
parameters for the CE Option: The
multiplier for determining the
percentage of meals reimbursed at the
free rate and the threshold value of the
ISP for determining eligibility to
implement the option.
Description of Respondents: State,
Local or Tribal Government; Not-forprofit institutions.
Number of Respondents: 3,574.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 2,383.
Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012–23016 Filed 9–18–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS–2012–0024]
Availability of FSIS Salmonella
Compliance Guidelines for Small and
Very Small Meat and Poultry
Establishments That Produce Readyto-Eat Products
Food Safety and Inspection
Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
The Food Safety and
Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing
the availability of a revised compliance
guide for small and very small meat and
poultry establishments on the safe
production of ready-to-eat (RTE) meat
and poultry products with respect to
Salmonella and other pathogens. FSIS
has posted this compliance guide on its
Significant Guidance Documents Web
page (https://www.fsis.usda.gov/
Significant_Guidance/index.asp). FSIS
encourages small and very small meat
and poultry establishments that
manufacture these products to avail
themselves of this guidance document.
DATES: Effective date: September 19,
2012.
SUMMARY:
A downloadable version of
the revised compliance guide is
available to view and print at https://
www.fsis.usda.gov/
ADDRESSES:
E:\FR\FM\19SEN1.SGM
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58090
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 182 / Wednesday, September 19, 2012 / Notices
Significant_Guidance/index.asp). No
hard copies of the compliance guide
have been published.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kristina Barlow, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection
Service, 1400 Independence Avenue
SW., Mailstop 3782, Washington, DC
20250; email:
kristina.barlow@fsis.usda.gov; or phone:
(202) 690–7739.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
In April, 2011, FSIS announced the
availability of a compliance guideline
for small and very small meat and
poultry establishments on the safe
production of RTE products (76 FR
22667). FSIS also solicited comments on
the guidance at that time. In response to
comments received, FSIS has updated
the guidance document to provide more
options for achieving lethality in RTE
meat and poultry products and to clarify
issues. FSIS has also added an appendix
to the document.
The ‘‘FSIS Salmonella Compliance
Guidelines for Small and Very Small
Meat and Poultry Establishments that
Produce Ready-to-Eat Products’’
provides meat and poultry
establishments that manufacture RTE
meat and poultry products with
information on regulatory requirements
associated with the safe production of
these products particularly with respect
to Salmonella and other pathogens. This
document also provides information
about the processing and safe handling
of RTE products after the lethality step,
so that they are not contaminated with
pathogens such as Salmonella or
Listeria monocytogenes (Lm). Though
Agency guidance documents are
recommendations rather than regulatory
requirements and are revised as new
information becomes available, FSIS
encourages meat and poultry
establishments to follow this guidance.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
II. Comments and Responses
FSIS received two comment letters in
response to the Salmonella Compliance
Guidelines for Small and Very Small
Meat and Poultry Establishments that
Produce RTE Products (RTE Salmonella
guidelines). Both letters were from
national trade associations representing
the interests of primarily small and very
small meat packers and processors.
Following is a discussion of these
comments and FSIS’s responses.
A. Agency Focus on Small and Very
Small Establishments
Comment: Both commenters
questioned why the RTE Salmonella
VerDate Mar<15>2010
19:20 Sep 18, 2012
Jkt 226001
guidelines focused on small and very
small establishments.
According to one commenter, small
and very small meat processors in the
U.S. represent 5 percent of the total
meat production volume, but 95 percent
of the total meat processing businesses
in the U.S. This commenter suggested
that the guidelines not be limited to
small and very small establishments but
rather should be addressed to the whole
industry.
Response: FSIS focused the RTE
Salmonella Guidelines on small and
very small establishments in support of
the Small Business Administration’s
initiative to provide small and very
small establishments with compliance
assistance. It is important that small and
very small establishments have access to
a full range of scientific and technical
support, and the assistance needed to
establish safe and effective HACCP
systems. Although large establishments
can benefit from the guidance that FSIS
provides, focusing the guidance on the
needs of small and very small
establishments provides them with
information that may be otherwise
unavailable to them.
B. Request for Clarification on
Alternative Processing Options
Comment: One commenter stated that,
in reality, most meat processors lack the
technology to address or monitor
specific aspects of Appendix A (64 FR
732; Jan. 6, 1999, at 746) and believes
that the guidance document fails to
adequately present alternative
processing options.
This commenter requested
clarification about FSIS’s expectations
related to the application of the
parameters outlined in Appendix A
(specifically, relative humidity and
dwell time) to all RTE products—not
just cooked, roasted, and corned beef
products.
In addition, both commenters strongly
encouraged FSIS to fund research that
would update existing Agency resources
to reflect modern processing practices.
Response: Although this comment is
outside the scope of this guidance
document, FSIS plans to revise
Appendices A and B (64 FR 732; Jan. 6,
1999, at 748) as part of its efforts to
revise guidance materials for RTE
products. The Agency plans to provide
clarification of its expectations with
respect to dwell time and humidity as
part of this revision. FSIS has also
recently issued ‘‘FSIS Compliance
Guideline for Meat and Poultry Jerky
Products by Small and Very Small
Establishments,’’ which provides more
flexible options for achieving humidity
in RTE products.
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
C. Demonstrating Adequate Support
Comment: One commenter stated that
although many of the items in the RTE
Salmonella Compliance Guidelines are
especially useful to industry, a 5-log10
reduction of Salmonella in finished
product will be hard to demonstrate for
a plethora of products, including lowtemperature fermented products and
non-fermented products. The
commenter said that if small and very
small establishments are able to
demonstrate adequate support for using
a science-based approach, the Agency
should view the product as
scientifically safe and wholesome,
regardless of whether the 5-log10
reduction is achieved. The commenter
encouraged FSIS, in consultation with
ARS, to develop more resources, along
the lines of safe harbors, for small and
very small establishments to use as
support for the processing of non-heat
treated RTE products.
Response: FSIS recognizes that a 5log10 reduction of Salmonella in
finished product may be hard to
demonstrate for some products. To
address this difficulty, the guidance
provides establishments with alternative
lethality approaches within the
guidelines, including utilizing good
manufacturing practices and incoming
product testing to support the safety of
lower levels of lethality. In addition,
FSIS intends to develop further
guidance that establishments can use to
achieve lethality in specific RTE meat
and poultry products.
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) prohibits discrimination in all
its programs and activities on the basis
of race, color, national origin, gender,
religion, age, disability, political beliefs,
sexual orientation, and marital or family
status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to
all programs.) Persons with disabilities
who require alternative means for
communication of program information
(Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.)
should contact USDA’s Target Center at
202–720–2600 (voice and TTY).
To file a written complaint of
discrimination, write USDA, Office of
the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights,
1400 Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20250–9410 or call
202–720–5964 (voice and TTY). USDA
is an equal opportunity provider and
employer.
Additional Public Notification
FSIS will announce this notice online
through the FSIS Web page located at
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/
regulations_&_policies/
Federal_Register_Notices/index.asp.
E:\FR\FM\19SEN1.SGM
19SEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 182 / Wednesday, September 19, 2012 / Notices
FSIS will also 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. In
addition, FSIS offers an electronic mail
subscription service which provides
automatic and customized access to
selected food safety news and
information. This service is available at
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/
News_&_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: September
13, 2012.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2012–23080 Filed 9–18–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS–2012–0020]
Risk-Based Sampling of Beef
Manufacturing Trimmings for
Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 and
Plans for Beef Baseline
Food Safety and Inspection
Service (FSIS), U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice; Request for comments.
AGENCY:
FSIS is announcing its
intention to redesign its E. coli O157:H7
verification testing program for beef
manufacturing trimmings to make the
program more risk-based and to enable
the Agency to calculate on-going
statistical prevalence estimates for E.
coli O157:H7 in raw beef manufacturing
trimmings. This notice also discusses
FSIS’s plans to perform a beef carcass
baseline. FSIS seeks public comment on
its plans, which have been developed in
response to a 2011 audit by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s Office of
Inspector General (OIG) of FSIS’s
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
19:20 Sep 18, 2012
Jkt 226001
protocol for N–60 sampling of beef
manufacturing trimmings for E. coli
O157:H7. This notice also announces
changes that FSIS has made to its beef
manufacturing trimmings program to
increase both the collection rate and the
likelihood that FSIS will find positive
samples. Finally, this notice
summarizes a 2012 OIG report and the
actions that FSIS has taken to address
the recommendations in that report.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be
submitted on or before November 19,
2012.
ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested
persons to submit comments on this
notice. Comments may be submitted by
either of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: This
Web site provides the ability to type
short comments directly into the
comment field on the Web page or
attach a file for lengthier comments. Go
to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow
the online instructions at that site for
submitting comments.
• Mail, including floppy disks or CD–
ROMs, and hand- or courier-delivered
items: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA),
FSIS, OPPD, RIMD, Docket Clearance
Unit, Patriots Plaza III, 1400
Independence Avenue SW., 8–163A,
Mailstop 3287, Washington, DC 20024–
3221.
Instructions: All items submitted by
mail or electronic mail must include the
Agency name and docket number FSIS–
2012–0020. Comments received in
response to this docket will be made
available for public inspection and
posted without change, including any
personal information, to https://
www.regulations.gov.
Docket: For access to background
documents or comments received, go to
the FSIS Docket Room at the address
listed above between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rachel Edelstein, Acting Assistant
Administrator for the Office of Policy
and Program Development, FSIS, USDA,
Room 351–E, Jamie Whitten Building,
14th and Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20250–3700; telephone
(202) 720–0399, fax (202) 720–2025;
rachel.edelstein@fsis.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In 1994, FSIS determined that E. coli
O157:H7 adulterates raw ground beef
product within the meaning of the
Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21
U.S.C. 601(m)(1)). FSIS began testing
ground beef for E. coli O157:H7 in 1994.
In 1999, FSIS determined that, besides
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
58091
ground beef, E. coli O157:H7 adulterated
all non-intact raw beef product and
intact raw beef product intended for use
in raw, non-intact beef product (64 FR
2803; Jan. 19, 1999).
Starting in 2007, FSIS began testing
beef manufacturing trimmings and other
raw ground beef components (raw
esophagus (weasand) meat, head meat,
cheek meat, beef from advanced meat
recovery systems, low temperature
rendered lean finely textured beef,
partially defatted chopped beef,
partially defatted beef fatty tissue, and
heart meat) for E. coli O157:H7 at the
originating slaughter establishment.
FSIS also began verifying that grinders,
fabricators, and supplying slaughter
establishments had effective controls for
E. coli O157:H7.
FSIS sampled beef manufacturing
trimmings under a simple random
sampling plan in which each slaughter
establishment had an equal chance of
being scheduled for sampling,
regardless of production volume or
previous history. FSIS collects
approximately 1,300 samples per year.
From calendar year 2007 through June
2011, FSIS found an average of about
seven E. coli positives per year,
resulting in an average E. coli-positive
rate of about 0.60% in beef
manufacturing trimmings during this
period. Each slaughter establishment
producing beef manufacturing
trimmings was sampled about 3.5 times
per year.
Inspection personnel collect beef
trimmings samples for testing using N–
60 procedures. Under these procedures,
inspection personnel collect 60 slices of
beef manufacturing trimmings cut to a
specific size and also collect an
additional, separate ‘‘grab sample’’ of
smaller pieces of trim from the same
production lot. FSIS laboratories use the
60 slices for the first part of the analysis
for E. coli O157:H7. If the 60 slices are
confirmed positive, laboratory
personnel do quantitative (most
probable number or MPN) analysis on
the ‘‘grab’’ sample.1
When an FSIS beef manufacturing
trimming sample tests positive, FSIS
takes a number of steps including:
Collecting follow-up samples at the
establishment where the positive
sample was found; documenting
production of adulterated product in a
noncompliance record when
appropriate; conducting a food safety
assessment (FSA) (a comprehensive
review of the establishment’s food safety
1 FSIS’s E. coli O157:H7 test results are reported
on the Agency’s Web site at: https://
www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/
Ecoli_Raw_Beef_Testing_Data_YTD/index.asp
(accessed June 20, 2012).
E:\FR\FM\19SEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 182 (Wednesday, September 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58089-58091]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23080]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2012-0024]
Availability of FSIS Salmonella Compliance Guidelines for Small
and Very Small Meat and Poultry Establishments That Produce Ready-to-
Eat Products
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing
the availability of a revised compliance guide for small and very small
meat and poultry establishments on the safe production of ready-to-eat
(RTE) meat and poultry products with respect to Salmonella and other
pathogens. FSIS has posted this compliance guide on its Significant
Guidance Documents Web page (https://www.fsis.usda.gov/Significant_Guidance/index.asp). FSIS encourages small and very small meat and
poultry establishments that manufacture these products to avail
themselves of this guidance document.
DATES: Effective date: September 19, 2012.
ADDRESSES: A downloadable version of the revised compliance guide is
available to view and print at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/
[[Page 58090]]
Significant--Guidance/index.asp). No hard copies of the compliance
guide have been published.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristina Barlow, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 Independence
Avenue SW., Mailstop 3782, Washington, DC 20250; email:
kristina.barlow@fsis.usda.gov; or phone: (202) 690-7739.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
In April, 2011, FSIS announced the availability of a compliance
guideline for small and very small meat and poultry establishments on
the safe production of RTE products (76 FR 22667). FSIS also solicited
comments on the guidance at that time. In response to comments
received, FSIS has updated the guidance document to provide more
options for achieving lethality in RTE meat and poultry products and to
clarify issues. FSIS has also added an appendix to the document.
The ``FSIS Salmonella Compliance Guidelines for Small and Very
Small Meat and Poultry Establishments that Produce Ready-to-Eat
Products'' provides meat and poultry establishments that manufacture
RTE meat and poultry products with information on regulatory
requirements associated with the safe production of these products
particularly with respect to Salmonella and other pathogens. This
document also provides information about the processing and safe
handling of RTE products after the lethality step, so that they are not
contaminated with pathogens such as Salmonella or Listeria
monocytogenes (Lm). Though Agency guidance documents are
recommendations rather than regulatory requirements and are revised as
new information becomes available, FSIS encourages meat and poultry
establishments to follow this guidance.
II. Comments and Responses
FSIS received two comment letters in response to the Salmonella
Compliance Guidelines for Small and Very Small Meat and Poultry
Establishments that Produce RTE Products (RTE Salmonella guidelines).
Both letters were from national trade associations representing the
interests of primarily small and very small meat packers and
processors.
Following is a discussion of these comments and FSIS's responses.
A. Agency Focus on Small and Very Small Establishments
Comment: Both commenters questioned why the RTE Salmonella
guidelines focused on small and very small establishments.
According to one commenter, small and very small meat processors in
the U.S. represent 5 percent of the total meat production volume, but
95 percent of the total meat processing businesses in the U.S. This
commenter suggested that the guidelines not be limited to small and
very small establishments but rather should be addressed to the whole
industry.
Response: FSIS focused the RTE Salmonella Guidelines on small and
very small establishments in support of the Small Business
Administration's initiative to provide small and very small
establishments with compliance assistance. It is important that small
and very small establishments have access to a full range of scientific
and technical support, and the assistance needed to establish safe and
effective HACCP systems. Although large establishments can benefit from
the guidance that FSIS provides, focusing the guidance on the needs of
small and very small establishments provides them with information that
may be otherwise unavailable to them.
B. Request for Clarification on Alternative Processing Options
Comment: One commenter stated that, in reality, most meat
processors lack the technology to address or monitor specific aspects
of Appendix A (64 FR 732; Jan. 6, 1999, at 746) and believes that the
guidance document fails to adequately present alternative processing
options.
This commenter requested clarification about FSIS's expectations
related to the application of the parameters outlined in Appendix A
(specifically, relative humidity and dwell time) to all RTE products--
not just cooked, roasted, and corned beef products.
In addition, both commenters strongly encouraged FSIS to fund
research that would update existing Agency resources to reflect modern
processing practices.
Response: Although this comment is outside the scope of this
guidance document, FSIS plans to revise Appendices A and B (64 FR 732;
Jan. 6, 1999, at 748) as part of its efforts to revise guidance
materials for RTE products. The Agency plans to provide clarification
of its expectations with respect to dwell time and humidity as part of
this revision. FSIS has also recently issued ``FSIS Compliance
Guideline for Meat and Poultry Jerky Products by Small and Very Small
Establishments,'' which provides more flexible options for achieving
humidity in RTE products.
C. Demonstrating Adequate Support
Comment: One commenter stated that although many of the items in
the RTE Salmonella Compliance Guidelines are especially useful to
industry, a 5-log10 reduction of Salmonella in finished
product will be hard to demonstrate for a plethora of products,
including low-temperature fermented products and non-fermented
products. The commenter said that if small and very small
establishments are able to demonstrate adequate support for using a
science-based approach, the Agency should view the product as
scientifically safe and wholesome, regardless of whether the 5-
log10 reduction is achieved. The commenter encouraged FSIS,
in consultation with ARS, to develop more resources, along the lines of
safe harbors, for small and very small establishments to use as support
for the processing of non-heat treated RTE products.
Response: FSIS recognizes that a 5-log10 reduction of
Salmonella in finished product may be hard to demonstrate for some
products. To address this difficulty, the guidance provides
establishments with alternative lethality approaches within the
guidelines, including utilizing good manufacturing practices and
incoming product testing to support the safety of lower levels of
lethality. In addition, FSIS intends to develop further guidance that
establishments can use to achieve lethality in specific RTE meat and
poultry products.
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination
in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color,
national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs,
sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited
bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's Target Center at
202-720-2600 (voice and TTY).
To file a written complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office
of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue
SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TTY).
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Additional Public Notification
FSIS will announce this notice online through the FSIS Web page
located at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Federal_Register_Notices/index.asp.
[[Page 58091]]
FSIS will also 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. In addition, FSIS offers an electronic mail subscription
service which provides automatic and customized access to selected food
safety news and information. This service is available at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_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: September 13, 2012.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2012-23080 Filed 9-18-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P
