USDA to Host Antimicrobial Resistance Workshop

USDA will host a virtual Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Workshop on August 30, 2022. The workshop is a result of collaboration among FSIS, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and the Research, Education and Economics (REE) mission area.

This year’s workshop will be an opportunity to guide future planning on this topic across the One Health interfaces of food safety, animal health, human health, and the environment. USDA will leverage the tools and advances made over the past decade in coordination with federal partners and stakeholders to develop a new AMR action plan.

Public input received during the first USDA AMR workshop in 2012 was used to develop the USDA Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan, which outlines USDA’s current and proposed activities to address antimicrobial resistance. This plan also helped direct USDA’s commitments in the first National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria.

The August 30 workshop will be open to the public via Zoom and teleconference. Those interested in attending the meeting via Zoom must register.

Written comments may be submitted before and up to two weeks following the virtual meeting. Written comments must be sent to usdaamrpublicmeeting@usda.gov by close of business September 13, 2022. Please refer to Docket No. APHIS-2022-0027 when submitting comments.

For more information on AMR, an overview is available on the Department’s website.

FSIS Removes Dual Labeling Requirements for Certain Packages of Meat and Poultry Products

FSIS has amended its labeling regulations to eliminate the requirement that packages of meat or poultry products that contain at least one pound or pint, but less than four pounds or one gallon, express the net weight or net content in two different units of measurement on the product label. FSIS is taking this action in response to a petition submitted on behalf of a small meat processing establishment. The final rule minimizes regulatory confusion and eliminate inefficiencies that disproportionately impact small and very small businesses.

After carefully considering comments on the corresponding April 17, 2019 proposed rule, FSIS has finalized the rule and determined that it is not necessary for labels of meat or poultry products to bear dual statements of weight because consumers are provided with enough information through one statement.

Under the final rule, all packages of meat and poultry will continue to show the weight of the product as required by law. However, establishments that produce meat and poultry products in packages containing one pound or one pint, and less than four pounds or one gallon, will be allowed to express the weight or contents in one unit of measurement on the product label, instead of using both measures [e.g., “Net Wt. 24 oz.” or “Net Wt. 1 lb. 8 oz.” rather than “Net Wt. 24 oz. (1 lb. 8 oz.)]. Establishments will be allowed to use their current labels until they run out or may elect to use them indefinitely. The final rule will minimize regulatory confusion and eliminate inefficiencies that disproportionately impact small and very small businesses. All packages of meat and poultry will continue to show the weight of the product. 

Comments on the 2019 proposed rule are available on Regulations.gov. To view the final rule and FSIS’ responses to comments on the proposed rule, please visit the Federal Register.

Two New HACCP Models Now Available for Raw Intact Catfish Products

FSIS has released two Generic Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Models for Raw Intact Siluriformes (Catfish) Products. The models use the production of catfish products to demonstrate hazard analysis and HACCP plan principles. One model demonstrates the process for farm-raised catfish, and the other model illustrates the process for wild-caught catfish. 

While the models’ critical control points do not necessarily apply to all operations or products, they may serve as starting points for similar products. The flow diagrams demonstrate general production processes and should be modified to reflect the processes used at the establishment. The food safety critical limits selected must come from scientific documents or other reliable sources. These models include references for guidance on the selection of critical limits.

As announced previously in the October 2, 2020, Constituent Update, FSIS updated its HACCP guide and multiple generic HACCP models. The agency has also developed a new sanitation standard operating procedure guide. The guides and the models are intended to assist establishments in meeting regulatory requirements to produce safe and wholesome products.

The revised Guideline for the Preparation of HACCP Plans leads an establishment through the process of developing a HACCP plan according to seven principles and provides links to additional reference materials. Templates are provided in the HACCP guide so the establishment can capture the product-specific information as demonstrated in the guide.

The contents of the models are not binding.  The documents are intended only to provide clarity regarding regulatory requirements. Additional models will be posted as they are revised.

These new models can be found among other HACCP models on the FSIS Guidelines page on the FSIS website.

Add Food Safety Items to Your Back-to-School List

More than 50 million youth are expected to attend U.S. schools this fall, and a good portion will be taking their own lunches to school. On your next back-to-school shopping trip, make sure to include food safety items on your shopping list to keep packed lunches safe. Hand wipes, hand sanitizers, cold packs, and insulated containers are just a few of the items the USDA recommends for food safety on the go.

Check out our press release on back-to-school food safety and follow FSIS on Twitter in English or Spanish.

Read more about USDA’s four steps to food safety and get your food safe lunch questions answered by calling the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854), email MPHotline@usda.gov or chat live at ask.usda.gov from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

Save the Date: FSIS to Host Encore Webinars on Revised Appendices A & B

On September 19 and September 21, 2022, FSIS will host two additional webinars to provide an overview of the revised 2021 Cooking Guideline for Meat and Poultry Products (Revised Appendix A) and 2021 Stabilization Guideline for Meat and Poultry Products (Revised Appendix B). 

The September 19 webinar will be held from 1-3 p.m. ET. The September 21 webinar will be held from 10 a.m.-noon ET.

These webinars are intended for establishments that were unable to attend the webinars hosted earlier this year. The previous webinars are available on the FSIS website — May 23: Revised Appendix A & B Guidelines, and May 24: Revised Appendix A & B Guidelines (repeat/encore). The September webinars will cover the same content as the May webinars and will provide an opportunity for participants to ask questions.

FSIS announced the availability of the revisions of its cooking (lethality) and stabilization (cooling and hot-holding) guidance, referred to as Appendices A & B, in the December 14, 2021, Federal Register. Establishments that utilized previous versions of Appendix A as support have until December 14, 2022, to either update to the 2021 guidelines or identify alternative support. 

Pre-registration for the webinars is not required. Recordings of both webinars, along with presentation slides, will be posted on the FSIS website for those unable to attend. FSIS will share more information on how to access the webinars in a future Constituent Update.

Policy Update

FSIS notices and directives on public health and regulatory issues are available on the FSIS Policy webpage. The following policy update was recently issued:

FSIS Notice 45-22 - Cancellation of FSIS Directives

FSIS Notice 46-22 - Eligibility of the Dominican Republic to Export Raw Intact Beef to the United States

Export Requirements Update

The Library of Export Requirements has been updated for products for the following:

• Dominica
• St. Lucia
• Uruguay
• Curacao
• Ecuador
• Hong Kong
• Peru
• Tunisia
• South Africa
• Morocco
• Egypt
• New Caledonia
• French Polynesia (Tahiti)
• United Arab Emirates
• Taiwan
• New Zealand
• European Union
• Myanmar
• Kiribati
• Solomon Islands
• Western Samoa (Samoa)
• Vietnam
• Jordan
• India
• Japan
• Honduras
• Mexico
• Korea
• Nicaragua
• Colombia

Complete information can be found at the FSIS Import & Export Library.