Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Consumer Labeling Research: Focus Groups, 30713-30715 [2023-10145]
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 92 / Friday, May 12, 2023 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request; Correction
National Institute of Food and
Agriculture, Department of Agriculture.
ACTION: Notice; correction.
AGENCY:
The National Institute of Food
and Agriculture, Department of
Agriculture, published a document in
the Federal Register of May 3, 2023,
concerning request for comments on
Small Business Innovation Research
Program. The document contained an
incorrect number of respondents and
total burden hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Correction
In the Federal Register of May 3,
2023, in FR Doc 2023–09324, on page
27857, in the second column, correct
the Number of Respondents: to read 403
and correct the Total Burden Hours: to
read 70.
Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023–10186 Filed 5–11–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–09–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS–2023–0012]
Notice of Request for a New
Information Collection: Consumer
Labeling Research: Focus Groups
Food Safety and Inspection
Service (FSIS), U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and
the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) regulations, FSIS is announcing
its intention to collect information using
focus groups to test new labels for safe
handling of raw and partially cooked
meat and poultry products. This is a
new information collection with 247
hours.
SUMMARY:
Submit comments on or before
July 11, 2023.
ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested
persons to submit comments on this
Federal Register notice. Comments may
be submitted by one of the following
methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: This
website provides commenters the ability
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DATES:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:11 May 11, 2023
Jkt 259001
to type short comments directly into the
comment field on the web page or to
attach a file for lengthier comments. Go
to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow
the on-line instructions at that site for
submitting comments.
• Mail: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Food Safety
and Inspection Service, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop
3758, Washington, DC 20250–3700.
• Hand- or Courier-Delivered
Submittals: Deliver to 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Jamie L.
Whitten Building, Room 350–E,
Washington, DC 20250–3700.
Instructions: All items submitted by
mail or electronic mail must include the
Agency name and docket number FSIS–
2023–0012. 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, call
(202) 937–4272 to schedule a time to
visit the FSIS Docket Room at 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
DC 20250–3700.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina
Kouba, Office of Policy and Program
Development, Food Safety and
Inspection Service, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop
3758, South Building, Washington, DC
20250–3700; (202) 937–4272.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Consumer Labeling Research
Focus Groups.
OMB Number: 0583–NEW.
Type of Request: Request for a new
information collection.
Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the
authority to exercise the functions of the
Secretary (7 CFR 2.18 and 2.53), as
specified in the Federal Meat Inspection
Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et seq.), the
Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA)
(21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.), and the Egg
Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (21
U.S.C. 1031, et seq.). These statutes
mandate that FSIS protect the public by
verifying that meat, poultry, and egg
products are safe, wholesome, and
properly labeled and packaged.
Safe handling instructions (SHI) are
required on the labels of raw or partially
cooked (i.e., not considered ready to eat)
meat and poultry products if the
product is destined for household
consumers or institutional uses (9 CFR
317.2(l) and 9 CFR 381.125(b)). FSIS has
required the SHI label for raw and
partially cooked meat and poultry
products since 1994 (59 FR 7217).
In response to inquiries from
consumer groups and other stakeholders
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Sfmt 4703
30713
about potential changes to SHI
requirements, FSIS gathered input from
members of academia, industry, and
consumer stakeholders concerning the
label in November 2013. FSIS presented
the results of the input in the form of
suggestions to the National Advisory
Committee on Meat and Poultry
Inspection (NACMPI) in January 2014.
The NACMPI Subcommittee on Food
Handling Labels recommended that
FSIS pursue changes in the existing SHI
label and conduct consumer research to
determine the effectiveness of any
revisions to the SHI label.
In 2015, FSIS conducted six consumer
focus groups (OMB No. 0583–0166; 11/
30/2017) to evaluate understanding of
the current SHI label and responses to
possible revisions. The results from the
focus groups suggested that consumers
would find certain revisions to the SHI
label useful. Participants recommended
changes to improve consumer
comprehension and adherence to
recommended safe handling practices
(e.g., add recommendations to use a
food thermometer and endpoint
temperatures for different cuts of meat
and poultry). Based on the results of
these focus groups, FSIS determined
that additional research using more
rigorous, quantitative approaches with a
larger sample of consumers was needed.
FSIS also surmised this research would
help inform potential revisions to the
current SHI label and assess whether a
label revision would improve consumer
food safety behaviors.
In 2020, FSIS completed a study that
comprised a web-based experimental
survey and an experimental behavior
change study that included meal
preparation in a test kitchen
environment, eye tracking, and in-depth
interviews to design and evaluate
potential revised SHI labels (OMB No.
0583–0177; 4/30/2022). For this study,
FSIS created new labels based on
recommendations from NACMPI, which
focused on updating the existing text
and icons in the current SHI label and
adding information on recommended
internal minimum temperatures for
different cuts of meat and poultry. This
study found that the three labels tested
did not perform better than the current
SHI label with regard to visual saliency
(i.e., noticeability) and behavior change
for the safe handling practices displayed
on the label (e.g., using a food
thermometer or washing hands with
soap and water for 20 seconds and then
drying) (final report available at https://
www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/
media_file/2022-02/SHI_Behavior_
Change_Study%20Final%20Report_9_
23_20.pdf).
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30714
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 92 / Friday, May 12, 2023 / Notices
Consumer groups and other
stakeholders have continued to advocate
for improved labeling for raw and
partially cooked meat and poultry
products. In response, FSIS is pursuing
research to create and assess consumer
responses to new labeling not included
in previous studies. FSIS plans to start
with a ‘‘blank slate’’ (i.e., freely develop
the label with no restrictions, ideas, or
characteristics instead of simply
revising the current SHI label). To
inform label creation for the current
study, FSIS recently worked with a
contractor to conduct listening sessions
and a literature review.
In December 2022 and January 2023,
listening sessions were conducted with
consumer groups; representatives from
the meat and poultry industry; and
experts in health communications, food
science, and food safety education to
collect information on factors to
consider when creating new labeling for
raw and partially cooked meat and
poultry products. Additionally, a
literature review was conducted to
identify and summarize best practices
for label design for attracting attention
and motivating behavior change and
recommendations for label design based
on human factors research. The findings
from the listening sessions and
literature review will be used in the
current study to create new labels for
safe handling of raw and partially
cooked meat and poultry products.
FSIS plans to use an iterative
approach with multiple rounds of
consumer research to obtain feedback
on the new label designs and make
refinements during the study. In Phase
1, the new label designs will initially be
tested in consumer focus groups to
obtain qualitative feedback on the
labels, and the findings will be used to
refine the label design and messaging. In
Phase 2, the revised label designs will
be tested in an exploratory web survey,
and the quantitative findings from this
survey will be used to revise and
prepare the final labels for testing in a
web-based experimental survey to
identify the top three performing labels
based on the outcomes of interest, such
as noticeability, changed food safetyrelated beliefs, and induced thinking
about the risks of contracting foodborne
illness. In Phase 3, an observation study
will be conducted to obtain empirical
evidence on the label design that is most
effective at encouraging consumers to
follow recommended safe handling
practices for raw and partially cooked
meat and poultry products and will
include the use of eye tracking to
measure visual saliency for the new
labels compared with the control, the
current SHI label.
FSIS is requesting approval for a new
information collection to conduct Phase
1, consumer focus groups. Phase 1 is a
new information collection with 247
hours. As each round of consumer
labeling research becomes available,
FSIS plans to submit additional
information collection requests for
approval.
FSIS will use the focus groups to test
the new labels and obtain qualitative
feedback for refining the label design
and messaging. FSIS has contracted
with RTI International to conduct the
phase 1 focus group study. A total of 12
focus groups will be conducted: three
focus groups in four different locations
(Northeast, South Atlantic, West South
Central, and West). To provide
homogeneity, the focus groups will be
segmented by the populations of
interest: Spanish-speaking individuals,
individuals with limited literacy,
individuals with limited cooking
experience (i.e., new cooks), parents or
guardians of young children (≤5 years of
age), older adults (≥65 years of age), and
individuals who are considered the
‘‘sandwich generation’’ (i.e., have
responsibility for providing care for
both children and older adults).
A local market research company in
each location will recruit potential
participants from their databases and
other sources. They will also provide
the facilities for hosting the focus group
discussions. Using convenience
sampling, a nonprobability sampling
technique where subjects are selected
because of their convenient accessibility
instead of random selection, the market
research companies will recruit
potential participants who meet the
eligibility criteria as defined by the
screening questionnaires.
An experienced moderator will
conduct the focus group discussions
and use a moderator guide, which will
serve as an outline and provide
structure for the focus group
discussions. Each focus group
discussion will be professionally audio
and video recorded, and the audiorecordings will be transcribed. The
moderators will review the videorecordings and transcripts of the focus
group discussions and prepare a
detailed summary of each discussion.
The moderators will then systematically
analyze the detailed summaries to
identify common themes and any
exceptions to these themes. The
contractor will summarize these
findings in a final report to FSIS. No
statistical analyses will be conducted.
Estimate of Burden: For the 12 focus
groups, it is expected that 768
individuals will complete the screening
questionnaire. It is estimated that 144
individuals will be eligible and agree to
participate. Among the 144 individuals
recruited for the focus group study, it is
estimated that 96 will show up and
participate in the focus group study
(eight people per group). Each screening
questionnaire is expected to take 8
minutes (0.133 hour). Taking part in the
focus group discussion will take a total
of 90 minutes (1.5 hours). The estimated
annual reporting burden is 246.14
hours, which is the sum of the burden
estimates for the screening
questionnaire and focus group
discussion for respondents and
nonrespondents.
ESTIMATED ANNUAL REPORTING BURDEN FOR THE FOCUS GROUP STUDY
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Study
component
Sample
size
Annual
frequency
per
response
Respondents
Freq ×
Count
Count
Hours/resp
Nonrespondents
Burden
hours
Count
Freq ×
count
Hours/resp
Total
hours
Burden
hours
Screening
questionnaire.
Focus group
discussion.
768
1
144
144
0.133 (8 min.) ....
19.15
624
624
0.133 (8 min.) ....
82.99
102.14
144
1
96
96
1.5 (90 min.) ......
144.00
48
48
0 ........................
0
144.00
Total ....
................
....................
................
................
...........................
163.15
................
................
...........................
82.99
246.14
Respondents: Consumers.
Estimated No. of Respondents: 768.
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19:11 May 11, 2023
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Estimated No. of Annual Responses
per Respondent: 1.
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Estimated Total Burden: 247 hours.
E:\FR\FM\12MYN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 92 / Friday, May 12, 2023 / Notices
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
for OMB approval. All comments will
also become a matter of public record.
Copies of this information collection
assessment can be obtained from Gina
Kouba, Office of Policy and Program
Development, Food Safety and
Inspection Service, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop
3758, South Building, Washington, DC
20250–3700; (202) 937–4272.
Comments are invited on: (a) whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of FSIS’ functions, including whether
the information will have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of FSIS’ estimate
of the burden of the proposed collection
of information, including the validity of
the method and assumptions used; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information,
including through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
techniques, or other forms of
information technology. Comments may
be sent to both FSIS, at the addresses
provided above, and the Desk Officer for
Agriculture, Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, Office of
Management and Budget (OMB),
Washington, DC 20253.
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of
rulemaking and policy development is
important. Consequently, FSIS will
announce this Federal Register
publication on-line through the FSIS
web page located at: https://
www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register.
FSIS will also announce and provide
a link to this Federal Register
publication 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 our constituents and stakeholders.
The Constituent Update is available on
the FSIS web page. Through the web
page, FSIS can provide information to a
much broader, more diverse audience.
In addition, FSIS offers an email
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/subscribe.
Options range from recalls to export
information, regulations, directives, and
notices. Customers can add or delete
subscriptions themselves and have the
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:11 May 11, 2023
Jkt 259001
option to password protect their
accounts.
USDA Non-Discrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil
rights law and USDA civil rights
regulations and policies, USDA, its
Mission Areas, agencies, staff offices,
employees, and institutions
participating in or administering USDA
programs are prohibited from
discriminating based on race, color,
national origin, religion, sex, gender
identity (including gender expression),
sexual orientation, disability, age,
marital status, family/parental status,
income derived from a public assistance
program, political beliefs, or reprisal or
retaliation for prior civil rights activity,
in any program or activity conducted or
funded by USDA (not all bases apply to
all programs). Remedies and complaint
filing deadlines vary by program or
incident.
Program information may be made
available in languages other than
English. Persons with disabilities who
require alternative means of
communication to obtain program
information (e.g., Braille, large print,
audiotape, American Sign Language)
should contact the responsible Mission
Area, agency, or staff office; the USDA
TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600
(voice and TTY); or the Federal Relay
Service at (800) 877–8339.
To file a program discrimination
complaint, a complainant should
complete a Form AD–3027, USDA
Program Discrimination Complaint
Form, which can be obtained online at
https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/
ad-3027, from any USDA office, by
calling (866) 632–9992, or by writing a
letter addressed to USDA. The letter
must contain the complainant’s name,
address, telephone number, and a
written description of the alleged
discriminatory action in sufficient detail
to inform the Assistant Secretary for
Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature
and date of an alleged civil rights
violation. The completed AD–3027 form
or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
DC 20250–9410;
(2) Fax: (833) 256–1665 or (202) 690–
7442; or
(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov.
USDA is an equal opportunity
provider, employer, and lender.
Paul Kiecker,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2023–10145 Filed 5–11–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P
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30715
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Black Hills National Forest Advisory
Board
Forest Service, Agriculture
(USDA).
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
The Black Hills National
Forest Advisory Board will hold a
public meeting according to the details
shown below. The committee is
authorized under the Forest and
Rangeland Renewable Resources
Planning Act of 1974, the National
Forest Management Act of 1976, the
Federal Public Lands Recreation
Enhancement Act, and operates in
compliance with the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (FACA). The purpose of
the committee is to provide advice and
recommendations on a broad range of
forest issues such as forest plan
revisions or amendments, forest health
including fire, insect and disease, travel
management, forest monitoring and
evaluation, recreation fees, and sitespecific projects having forest-wide
implications.
SUMMARY:
An in-person meeting will be
held on June 14, 2023, 1:00 p.m.–4:30
p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (MDT).
Written and Oral Comments: Anyone
wishing to provide in-person oral
comments must pre-register by 11:59
p.m. MDT on June 9, 2023. Written
public comments will be accepted by
11:59 p.m. MDT on June 9, 2023.
Comments submitted after this date will
be provided to the Forest Service, but
the Committee may not have adequate
time to consider those comments prior
to the meeting.
All board meetings are subject to
cancellation. For status of the meeting
prior to attendance, please contact the
person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held in
person at the South Dakota Game Fish
and Parks, Outdoor Campus—West,
4130 Adventure Trail, Rapid City, South
Dakota 57702. Board information and
meeting details can be found at the
following website: https://
www.fs.usda.gov/main/blackhills/
workingtogether/advisorycommittees or
by contacting the person listed under
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Written Comments: Written comments
must be sent by email to
scott.j.jacobson@usda.gov or via mail
(i.e., postmarked) to Scott Jacobson,
8221 Mount Rushmore Road, Rapid
City, South Dakota 57702. The Forest
DATES:
E:\FR\FM\12MYN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 92 (Friday, May 12, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30713-30715]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10145]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2023-0012]
Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Consumer
Labeling Research: Focus Groups
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, FSIS is announcing
its intention to collect information using focus groups to test new
labels for safe handling of raw and partially cooked meat and poultry
products. This is a new information collection with 247 hours.
DATES: Submit comments on or before July 11, 2023.
ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this
Federal Register notice. Comments may be submitted by one of the
following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: This website provides
commenters the ability to type short comments directly into the comment
field on the web page or to attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions at that
site for submitting comments.
Mail: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 Independence
Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
Hand- or Courier-Delivered Submittals: Deliver to 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Jamie L. Whitten Building, Room 350-E,
Washington, DC 20250-3700.
Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2023-0012. 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,
call (202) 937-4272 to schedule a time to visit the FSIS Docket Room at
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and
Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, South Building, Washington, DC
20250-3700; (202) 937-4272.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Consumer Labeling Research Focus Groups.
OMB Number: 0583-NEW.
Type of Request: Request for a new information collection.
Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the
functions of the Secretary (7 CFR 2.18 and 2.53), as specified in the
Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et seq.), the
Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.), and
the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031, et seq.). These
statutes mandate that FSIS protect the public by verifying that meat,
poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, and properly labeled and
packaged.
Safe handling instructions (SHI) are required on the labels of raw
or partially cooked (i.e., not considered ready to eat) meat and
poultry products if the product is destined for household consumers or
institutional uses (9 CFR 317.2(l) and 9 CFR 381.125(b)). FSIS has
required the SHI label for raw and partially cooked meat and poultry
products since 1994 (59 FR 7217).
In response to inquiries from consumer groups and other
stakeholders about potential changes to SHI requirements, FSIS gathered
input from members of academia, industry, and consumer stakeholders
concerning the label in November 2013. FSIS presented the results of
the input in the form of suggestions to the National Advisory Committee
on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI) in January 2014. The NACMPI
Subcommittee on Food Handling Labels recommended that FSIS pursue
changes in the existing SHI label and conduct consumer research to
determine the effectiveness of any revisions to the SHI label.
In 2015, FSIS conducted six consumer focus groups (OMB No. 0583-
0166; 11/30/2017) to evaluate understanding of the current SHI label
and responses to possible revisions. The results from the focus groups
suggested that consumers would find certain revisions to the SHI label
useful. Participants recommended changes to improve consumer
comprehension and adherence to recommended safe handling practices
(e.g., add recommendations to use a food thermometer and endpoint
temperatures for different cuts of meat and poultry). Based on the
results of these focus groups, FSIS determined that additional research
using more rigorous, quantitative approaches with a larger sample of
consumers was needed. FSIS also surmised this research would help
inform potential revisions to the current SHI label and assess whether
a label revision would improve consumer food safety behaviors.
In 2020, FSIS completed a study that comprised a web-based
experimental survey and an experimental behavior change study that
included meal preparation in a test kitchen environment, eye tracking,
and in-depth interviews to design and evaluate potential revised SHI
labels (OMB No. 0583-0177; 4/30/2022). For this study, FSIS created new
labels based on recommendations from NACMPI, which focused on updating
the existing text and icons in the current SHI label and adding
information on recommended internal minimum temperatures for different
cuts of meat and poultry. This study found that the three labels tested
did not perform better than the current SHI label with regard to visual
saliency (i.e., noticeability) and behavior change for the safe
handling practices displayed on the label (e.g., using a food
thermometer or washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds and
then drying) (final report available at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/2022-02/SHI_Behavior_Change_Study%20Final%20Report_9_23_20.pdf).
[[Page 30714]]
Consumer groups and other stakeholders have continued to advocate
for improved labeling for raw and partially cooked meat and poultry
products. In response, FSIS is pursuing research to create and assess
consumer responses to new labeling not included in previous studies.
FSIS plans to start with a ``blank slate'' (i.e., freely develop the
label with no restrictions, ideas, or characteristics instead of simply
revising the current SHI label). To inform label creation for the
current study, FSIS recently worked with a contractor to conduct
listening sessions and a literature review.
In December 2022 and January 2023, listening sessions were
conducted with consumer groups; representatives from the meat and
poultry industry; and experts in health communications, food science,
and food safety education to collect information on factors to consider
when creating new labeling for raw and partially cooked meat and
poultry products. Additionally, a literature review was conducted to
identify and summarize best practices for label design for attracting
attention and motivating behavior change and recommendations for label
design based on human factors research. The findings from the listening
sessions and literature review will be used in the current study to
create new labels for safe handling of raw and partially cooked meat
and poultry products.
FSIS plans to use an iterative approach with multiple rounds of
consumer research to obtain feedback on the new label designs and make
refinements during the study. In Phase 1, the new label designs will
initially be tested in consumer focus groups to obtain qualitative
feedback on the labels, and the findings will be used to refine the
label design and messaging. In Phase 2, the revised label designs will
be tested in an exploratory web survey, and the quantitative findings
from this survey will be used to revise and prepare the final labels
for testing in a web-based experimental survey to identify the top
three performing labels based on the outcomes of interest, such as
noticeability, changed food safety-related beliefs, and induced
thinking about the risks of contracting foodborne illness. In Phase 3,
an observation study will be conducted to obtain empirical evidence on
the label design that is most effective at encouraging consumers to
follow recommended safe handling practices for raw and partially cooked
meat and poultry products and will include the use of eye tracking to
measure visual saliency for the new labels compared with the control,
the current SHI label.
FSIS is requesting approval for a new information collection to
conduct Phase 1, consumer focus groups. Phase 1 is a new information
collection with 247 hours. As each round of consumer labeling research
becomes available, FSIS plans to submit additional information
collection requests for approval.
FSIS will use the focus groups to test the new labels and obtain
qualitative feedback for refining the label design and messaging. FSIS
has contracted with RTI International to conduct the phase 1 focus
group study. A total of 12 focus groups will be conducted: three focus
groups in four different locations (Northeast, South Atlantic, West
South Central, and West). To provide homogeneity, the focus groups will
be segmented by the populations of interest: Spanish-speaking
individuals, individuals with limited literacy, individuals with
limited cooking experience (i.e., new cooks), parents or guardians of
young children (<=5 years of age), older adults (>=65 years of age),
and individuals who are considered the ``sandwich generation'' (i.e.,
have responsibility for providing care for both children and older
adults).
A local market research company in each location will recruit
potential participants from their databases and other sources. They
will also provide the facilities for hosting the focus group
discussions. Using convenience sampling, a nonprobability sampling
technique where subjects are selected because of their convenient
accessibility instead of random selection, the market research
companies will recruit potential participants who meet the eligibility
criteria as defined by the screening questionnaires.
An experienced moderator will conduct the focus group discussions
and use a moderator guide, which will serve as an outline and provide
structure for the focus group discussions. Each focus group discussion
will be professionally audio and video recorded, and the audio-
recordings will be transcribed. The moderators will review the video-
recordings and transcripts of the focus group discussions and prepare a
detailed summary of each discussion. The moderators will then
systematically analyze the detailed summaries to identify common themes
and any exceptions to these themes. The contractor will summarize these
findings in a final report to FSIS. No statistical analyses will be
conducted.
Estimate of Burden: For the 12 focus groups, it is expected that
768 individuals will complete the screening questionnaire. It is
estimated that 144 individuals will be eligible and agree to
participate. Among the 144 individuals recruited for the focus group
study, it is estimated that 96 will show up and participate in the
focus group study (eight people per group). Each screening
questionnaire is expected to take 8 minutes (0.133 hour). Taking part
in the focus group discussion will take a total of 90 minutes (1.5
hours). The estimated annual reporting burden is 246.14 hours, which is
the sum of the burden estimates for the screening questionnaire and
focus group discussion for respondents and nonrespondents.
Estimated Annual Reporting Burden for the Focus Group Study
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual Respondents Nonrespondents
Sample frequency ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total
Study component size per Freq x Burden Freq x Burden hours
response Count Count Hours/resp hours Count count Hours/resp hours
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Screening question-naire............ 768 1 144 144 0.133 (8 min.)............ 19.15 624 624 0.133 (8 min.)........... 82.99 102.14
Focus group discussion.............. 144 1 96 96 1.5 (90 min.)............. 144.00 48 48 0........................ 0 144.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total........................... ......... ........... ......... ......... .......................... 163.15 ......... ......... ......................... 82.99 246.14
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Respondents: Consumers.
Estimated No. of Respondents: 768.
Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Burden: 247 hours.
[[Page 30715]]
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of
public record. Copies of this information collection assessment can be
obtained from Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and Program Development,
Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW,
Mailstop 3758, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-3700; (202) 937-
4272.
Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS' functions,
including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the
accuracy of FSIS' estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of
information, including the validity of the method and assumptions used;
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information, including through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection
techniques, or other forms of information technology. Comments may be
sent to both FSIS, at the addresses provided above, and the Desk
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Washington, DC 20253.
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy
development is important. Consequently, FSIS will announce this Federal
Register publication on-line through the FSIS web page located at:
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register.
FSIS will also announce and provide a link to this Federal Register
publication 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 our
constituents and stakeholders. The Constituent Update is available on
the FSIS web page. Through the web page, FSIS can provide information
to a much broader, more diverse audience. In addition, FSIS offers an
email 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/subscribe. Options range from
recalls to export information, regulations, directives, and notices.
Customers can add or delete subscriptions themselves and have the
option to password protect their accounts.
USDA Non-Discrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights
regulations and policies, USDA, its Mission Areas, agencies, staff
offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering
USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color,
national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender
expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status,
family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance
program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil
rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA
(not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing
deadlines vary by program or incident.
Program information may be made available in languages other than
English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of
communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large
print, audiotape, American Sign Language) should contact the
responsible Mission Area, agency, or staff office; the USDA TARGET
Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY); or the Federal Relay Service
at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should
complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form,
which can be obtained online at https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-3027, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a
letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's
name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the
alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date
of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or
letter must be submitted to USDA by:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20250-9410;
(2) Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
(3) Email: [email protected].
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Paul Kiecker,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2023-10145 Filed 5-11-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P
