Best Practices Guidance for Controlling Listeria Monocytogenes in Retail Delicatessens, 39819-39820 [2023-12994]

Download as PDF 39819 Notices Federal Register Vol. 88, No. 117 Tuesday, June 20, 2023 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request 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 are requested regarding (1) 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; (2) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) 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. Comments regarding this information collection received by July 20, 2023 will be considered. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of this notice on the following website www.reginfo.gov/ public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or by using the search function. 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:52 Jun 16, 2023 Jkt 259001 displays a currently valid OMB control number. Department of Agriculture Office of the Chief Information Officer Title: USDA eAuthentication Service Customer Registration. OMB Control Number: 0503–0014. Summary of Collection: The USDA Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) has developed the eAuthentication system as a management and technical process that addresses user authentication and authorization prerequisites for providing services electronically. The process requires a voluntary one-time electronic self-registration to obtain an eAuthentication account for each USDA customer desiring access to online services or applications that require user eAuthentication. The information collected through the electronic selfregistration process is necessary to enable the electronic authentication of users and grant them access to only those resources for which they are authorized. The authority to collect this information as well as the new Online Identity Proofing function can be found in section 2(c), of the Freedom to E-File Act (Pub. L. 106–222), the Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA, Pub. L. 105–277), the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESign, Pub. L. 106–229), the EGovernment Act of 2002 (H.R. 2458), and Gramm-Leach Bliley Act (Pub. L., 106–102, 502–504). Need and Use of the Information: The USDA eAuthentication Service provides public and government businesses single sign-on capability for USDA applications, management of user credentials, and verification of identity, authorization, and electronic signatures. USDA eAuthentication obtains customer information through an electronic self-registration process provided through the eAuthentication website. The voluntary online selfregistration process applies to USDA Agency customers, as well as employees who request access to protected USDA web applications and services via the internet. Users can register directly from the eAuthentication website located at www.eauth.egov.usda.gov. The information collected through the online self-registration process will be used to provide an eAuthentication account that will enable the electronic PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 authentication of users. The users will then have access to authorized resources without needing to reauthenticate within the context of a single internet session. If the information is not ever collected, the user must continue to conduct business with USDA through the existing paper-based processes. Description of Respondents: Farms; individuals or households; business or other for-profit; not-for-profit institutions; State, local or Tribal government. Number of Respondents: 235,092. Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Third party disclosure. Total Burden Hours: 27,270. Ruth Brown, Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2023–12997 Filed 6–16–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–KR–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food Safety and Inspection Service [Docket No. FSIS–2023–0001] Best Practices Guidance for Controlling Listeria Monocytogenes in Retail Delicatessens Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: FSIS is announcing the availability of its updated Best Practices Guidance for Controlling Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) in Retail Delicatessens. The best-practices guidance discusses steps that retailers can take to prevent certain ready-to-eat (RTE) foods that are prepared or sliced in retail delicatessens (delis) and consumed in the home, such as deli meats and deli salads, from becoming contaminated with Lm and thus a source of listeriosis. FSIS encourages retailers to review the guidance and evaluate the effectiveness of their retail practices and intervention strategies in reducing the risk of listeriosis to consumers from RTE meat and poultry deli products. ADDRESSES: A downloadable version of the guide is available to view and print at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/policy/ fsis-guidelines. No hard copies of the SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\20JNN1.SGM 20JNN1 39820 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 117 / Tuesday, June 20, 2023 / Notices best-practices guidance have been published. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Rachel Edelstein, Assistant Administrator, Office of Policy and Program Development by telephone at (202) 937–4272. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Lm is a bacterium that is found in moist environments, soil, and decaying vegetation and can persist along the food continuum. Transfer of the bacterium from the environment (e.g., deli cases, slicers, and utensils), employees, or contaminated food products is a particular hazard of concern in RTE foods, including meat and poultry products, because they generally receive no further processing that would kill Lm before consumption. Listeriosis is a serious infection with a high mortality rate, usually caused by eating food contaminated with Lm. In 2013, FSIS and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted an interagency risk assessment on Lm to better understand the risk of foodborne illness associated with eating certain RTE foods prepared in retail delis and developed recommendations for changes in current practices that may improve the safety of those products. FSIS and FDA made their findings available to the public in the Interagency Risk Assessment—Listeria monocytogenes in Retail Delicatessens (Interagency Retail Lm Risk Assessment) (79 FR 22082). FSIS also published its FSIS Best Practices Guidance for Controlling Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) in Retail Delicatessens. FSIS is announcing that it has revised its best practices guidance in response to FSIS focus group findings 1 and recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI).2 FSIS has also made changes to incorporate more recent scientific knowledge, update references to the FDA Food Code, and improve consistency, clarity, and overall content. For example, FSIS replaced the summary of findings from the Interagency Retail Lm Risk Assessment with a hyperlink to the risk assessment. FSIS also removed the recommendation that retailers should rotate sanitizers. FSIS relocated the Deli Self-Assessment Tool to the Appendices and added a glossary to the Appendices. Finally, FSIS added the following new 1 Retail Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) Focus Group Findings (usda.gov). 2 Available at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/ default/files/media_file/2021-02/Best-PracticesGuidance-Controlling-LM-Retail.pdf. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:52 Jun 16, 2023 Jkt 259001 sections: Sources of Listeria in Retail Firms, Active Managerial Control, and Risk Mitigation of Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) in Retail Firms. The updated best practices guidance is available at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/ guidelines/2015-0014. The guidance continues to provide practical recommendations that retailers can follow to control Lm contamination and outgrowth in the deli. Retailers can use the best practices guidance to help ensure that RTE meat and poultry products in the deli area are handled under sanitary conditions and are not adulterated under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) or the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.) (see 21 U.S.C. 623(d) and 464(e)). While these practices are specifically designed to control Lm, they also may help control other foodborne pathogens that may be introduced into the retail deli environment and other facilities where consumers purchase food. Additional Public Notification Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy development is important. Consequently, FSIS will announce this Federal Register publication online through the FSIS web page located at: https:// www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register. FSIS also will make copies of this 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 our constituents and stakeholders. The Constituent Update is available on the FSIS web page. Through the web page, FSIS provides 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 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 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.usda.gov/forms/electronicforms, 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. Done at Washington, DC. Theresa Nintemann, Deputy Administrator, FSIS. [FR Doc. 2023–12994 Filed 6–16–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P E:\FR\FM\20JNN1.SGM 20JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 117 (Tuesday, June 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39819-39820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12994]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2023-0001]


Best Practices Guidance for Controlling Listeria Monocytogenes in 
Retail Delicatessens

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: FSIS is announcing the availability of its updated Best 
Practices Guidance for Controlling Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) in 
Retail Delicatessens. The best-practices guidance discusses steps that 
retailers can take to prevent certain ready-to-eat (RTE) foods that are 
prepared or sliced in retail delicatessens (delis) and consumed in the 
home, such as deli meats and deli salads, from becoming contaminated 
with Lm and thus a source of listeriosis. FSIS encourages retailers to 
review the guidance and evaluate the effectiveness of their retail 
practices and intervention strategies in reducing the risk of 
listeriosis to consumers from RTE meat and poultry deli products.

ADDRESSES: A downloadable version of the guide is available to view and 
print at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/policy/fsis-guidelines. No hard 
copies of the

[[Page 39820]]

best-practices guidance have been published.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Edelstein, Assistant 
Administrator, Office of Policy and Program Development by telephone at 
(202) 937-4272.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Lm is a bacterium that is found in moist environments, soil, and 
decaying vegetation and can persist along the food continuum. Transfer 
of the bacterium from the environment (e.g., deli cases, slicers, and 
utensils), employees, or contaminated food products is a particular 
hazard of concern in RTE foods, including meat and poultry products, 
because they generally receive no further processing that would kill Lm 
before consumption. Listeriosis is a serious infection with a high 
mortality rate, usually caused by eating food contaminated with Lm.
    In 2013, FSIS and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 
conducted an interagency risk assessment on Lm to better understand the 
risk of foodborne illness associated with eating certain RTE foods 
prepared in retail delis and developed recommendations for changes in 
current practices that may improve the safety of those products. FSIS 
and FDA made their findings available to the public in the Interagency 
Risk Assessment--Listeria monocytogenes in Retail Delicatessens 
(Interagency Retail Lm Risk Assessment) (79 FR 22082). FSIS also 
published its FSIS Best Practices Guidance for Controlling Listeria 
monocytogenes (Lm) in Retail Delicatessens.
    FSIS is announcing that it has revised its best practices guidance 
in response to FSIS focus group findings \1\ and recommendations from 
the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection 
(NACMPI).\2\ FSIS has also made changes to incorporate more recent 
scientific knowledge, update references to the FDA Food Code, and 
improve consistency, clarity, and overall content. For example, FSIS 
replaced the summary of findings from the Interagency Retail Lm Risk 
Assessment with a hyperlink to the risk assessment. FSIS also removed 
the recommendation that retailers should rotate sanitizers. FSIS 
relocated the Deli Self-Assessment Tool to the Appendices and added a 
glossary to the Appendices. Finally, FSIS added the following new 
sections: Sources of Listeria in Retail Firms, Active Managerial 
Control, and Risk Mitigation of Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) in Retail 
Firms. The updated best practices guidance is available at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/guidelines/2015-0014.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Retail Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) Focus Group Findings 
(usda.gov).
    \2\ Available at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/2021-02/Best-Practices-Guidance-Controlling-LM-Retail.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The guidance continues to provide practical recommendations that 
retailers can follow to control Lm contamination and outgrowth in the 
deli. Retailers can use the best practices guidance to help ensure that 
RTE meat and poultry products in the deli area are handled under 
sanitary conditions and are not adulterated under the Federal Meat 
Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) or the Poultry Products 
Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.) (see 21 U.S.C. 623(d) and 
464(e)). While these practices are specifically designed to control Lm, 
they also may help control other foodborne pathogens that may be 
introduced into the retail deli environment and other facilities where 
consumers purchase food.

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, FSIS will announce this Federal 
Register publication online through the FSIS web page located at: 
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register.
    FSIS also will make copies of this 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 our constituents and 
stakeholders. The Constituent Update is available on the FSIS web page. 
Through the web page, FSIS provides 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.usda.gov/forms/electronic-forms, 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: usda.gov">[email protected]usda.gov.
    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

    Done at Washington, DC.
Theresa Nintemann,
Deputy Administrator, FSIS.
[FR Doc. 2023-12994 Filed 6-16-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P
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