National Advisory Committee on
Microbiological Criteria For Foods (NACMCF)

Updated May 20, 2003

Minutes of the NACMCF Plenary Session
August 28, 2002

Jurys Doyle Hotel
1500 New Hampshire Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036

Dr. Merle Pierson, USDA, Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety, Chair opened the meeting at 9 AM, Wednesday, August 28. Both the Chair and the Vice-Chair, Dr. Robert Brackett, FDA/CFSAN, Director of Food Safety, made opening remarks. Minutes of the January 23-25, 2002 Plenary Session were adopted (1^st motion by Spencer Garrett, 2^nd motion by David Theno).

The Codex Subcommittee Chair, Dr. Michael Jancke, presented the Codex "Discussion Paper on Proposed Draft Guidelines for the Validation of Food Hygiene Control Measures"and it was adopted with changes (1^st motion by Anna Lammerding, 2^nd motion by Katherine Swanson/R. Bruce Tompkin).

Dr. Robert Brackett presented the issue of "Redefining Pasteurization ", and no action was taken. A subcommittee will be formed to address this issue.

The new charge regarding Campylobacter was introduced by Dr. Merle Pierson. Mr. Victor Cook, FSIS, and Dr. Norm Stern, ARS, each followed with a presentation on Campylobacter methods. Dr. Robert Mandrell, ARS, then spoke on Campylobacter aggregation. The Campylobacter Subcommittee meeting of August 8, 2002 was summarized by Chair Mr. Spencer Garrett.

Dr. Robert Buchanan, Subcommittee Chair, provided an interim report of the Subcommittee on Criteria for Shelf-life Based on Safety. No action was taken.

A final report on "Response to the Questions Posed by FSIS Regarding Performance Standards with Particular Reference to Ground Beef Products" was presented by Mr. Spencer Garrett, Chair, Subcommittee on Microbiological Performance Standards. After deliberations the document was adopted with changes (1^st motion by Katherine Swanson, 2^nd motion by Catherine Donnelly).

The meeting adjourned at approximately 3:30 PM, Wednesday August 28, 2002.

A list of NACMF members in attendance and outside participants follows. Further meeting details are available in the meeting transcripts.

Attendees:

Chair:

Dr. Merle Pierson

Vice-Chair:

Dr. Robert Brackett

NACMCF Members:

• Dr. David Acheson
• Mr. Dane Bernard
• Dr. Larry Beuchat
• Dr. Bob Buchanan
• Dr. Catherine Donnelly
• Dr. Stephanie Doores
• Dr. Frances Downes
• Dr. Dan Engeljohn
• Dr. Jeff Farrar
• Mr. Spencer Garrett
• Dr. Tsegaye Hahtemariam
• Dr. Michael Jahncke
• Dr. Mahipal Kunduru
• Dr. Anna Lammerding
• Dr. John Luchansky
• Dr. Roberta Morales
• Dr. Marguerite Neill
• Dr. Alison O’Brien
• Dr. Skip Seward
• Dr. Bill Sperber
• Dr. Balasubramanian Swaminathan
• Dr. Katie Swanson
• Dr. Dave Theno
• Dr. R. Bruce Tompkin

NACMCF Executive Committee:

• Dr. Art Liang, CDC
• Dr. Carol Maczka, FSIS
• Maj. Erik Torring, VSA

FSIS Staff:

• Mr. Victor Cook
• Ms. Brenda Halbrook
• Ms. Karen Thomas

FDA Staff:

• Dr. LeeAnne Jackson

NMFS Staff:

• Ms. Emille Cole
• Ms. Barbara Comstock
• Dr. Al Rainosek

Outside Participants:

• Mr. Tony Corbo, Public Citizen
• Ms. Nancy Donley, STOP
• Ms. Barbara Kowalcyk, consumer
• Dr. Robert Mandrell, ARS
• Ms. Felicia Nestor, GAP
• Dr. Norman Stern, ARS
• Ms. Caroline Smith DeWaal, CSPI

For Further Information Contact:

Gerri Ransom
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Office of Public Health and Science
Room 333, Aerospace Center
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20250-3700
Phone: (202) 690-6600
Fax: (202) 690-6337
E-mail: gerri.ransom@fsis.usda.gov

FSIS Home Page | USDA Home Page