
Constituent Update - October 11, 2024
FSIS Extends Comment Period on Proposed Salmonella Framework for Raw Poultry Products
FSIS is extending the comment period for the Salmonella Framework for Raw Poultry Products proposed rule and determination until January 17, 2025. The deadline for submitting comments was originally scheduled for October 7, 2024, and was initially extended until November 7, 2024. After the initial extension, stakeholders, including consumer groups, industry associations, and academia, submitted requests for FSIS to further extend the comment period to allow sufficient time to consider the proposal and supporting documentation to formulate comments on these documents.
Comments may be submitted online via the federal eRulemaking portal, available at www.regulations.gov; by mail sent to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, Washington, DC 20250-3700, or by hand or courier delivery to 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Jamie L. Whitten Building, Room 350-E, Washington, DC 20250-3700. All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must include the agency name and docket number FSIS-2023-0028.
FSIS Tips for Food Safety After Hurricane Milton
Floods and prolonged power outages after Hurricane Milton can jeopardize the safety of your food. It’s important to take the proper steps to evaluate and discard certain foods after these events. To stay safe, be sure to follow these tips:
- Never taste a food to determine its safety!
- If your power has been out for several days, please throw away any food in your refrigerator and freezer. Reference our chart of what is safe or should be discarded after a prolonged power outage.
- Drink only bottled water or other beverages that have not been in contact with flood water. Screw caps are not waterproof, so discard any bottled water or other beverages that may have come in contact with flood water. If you don’t have bottled water, learn how to safely boil or disinfect water.
- Discard any food that is not in a waterproof container if there is any chance it may have been in contact with flood water. Containers with screw caps, snap lids, pull tops and crimped caps are not waterproof.
- Undamaged, commercially prepared foods in all-metal cans and retort pouches such as flexible, shelf-stable juice or seafood pouches, can be saved by following the steps in the FSIS Consumer's Guide to Food Safety: Severe Storms and Hurricanes.
- Thoroughly wash all metal pans, utensils and ceramic dishes that came in contact with flood water with hot soapy water. Rinse, then sanitize, by boiling them in clean water or by immersing them for 15 minutes in a solution of one of tablespoon unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water.
- Discard wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers that may have come in contact with flood water. These items cannot be saved after contact with flood water.
For questions about food safety, call the Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854, Monday - Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET (English or Spanish), email MPHotline@usda.gov or live chat at Ask USDA.
More information and resources regarding food safety during emergencies are available on the FSIS website:
- Toolkit with Talking Points, Social Media Messaging, Infographics, and more: Food Safety During Emergencies: Severe Storms, Power Outages, Floods and Fires
- Factsheet: A Consumer's Guide to Food Safety: Severe Storms and Hurricanes
For more information on what the federal government is doing to help those affected by Hurricane Milton or to seek assistance:
- What @DHSgov and @fema are doing to support: Hurricane Milton | FEMA.gov
- What the U.S. Government is doing to support: Hurricane Milton | USAGov
Other USDA Resources:
- USDA Disaster Resource Center
- USDA Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool
- USDA Disaster Assistance Programs Brochure
- Farm Service Agency (FSA) - Disaster Assistance: USDA Farm Service Agency offers a variety of programs to help farmers, ranchers, communities, and businesses that have been hard hit by natural disaster events.
- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) - Disaster Recovery Assistance: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provides disaster recovery assistance to farmers, ranchers, landowners and communities through a variety of USDA programs.
- Rural Development Disaster Assistance
- USDA Rural Development Toolkit - Disaster Resiliency and Recovery Resources for Rural Communities
- Toolkit in Spanish linked below -
- Desarrollo Rural del USDA Recursos de resistencia y recuperación en caso de desastres Una guía para las comunidades rurales
- Food & Nutrition Service (FNS) – Disaster Assistance: FNS coordinates with state, territory, tribal, and voluntary organizations to provide nutrition assistance to families and individuals affected by a disaster or emergency.
- Guide: D-SNAP Resources for State Agencies and Partners - The following resources are meant to assist states in planning, operating, and reporting Disaster SNAPs (D-SNAPs). Many of these documents are also available in the Disaster SNAP Guidance Handbook and the D-SNAP Toolkit. States should work with their regional disaster coordinators, which can be found on the following FNS regional office page.
- FSA Call center number: 1-877-508-8364
Available for Public Comment
FSIS seeks public comments on proposed rules and notices, which are viewable on the FSIS Federal Register & Rulemaking webpage. FSIS is currently seeking comments on the following:
- Until November 12, 2024: Availability of FSIS Guideline on Substantiating Animal-Raising or Environment-Related Labeling Claims
- Until November 12, 2024: Notice of Request to Renew an Approved Information Collection: Accredited Laboratories
- Until January 17, 2025: Salmonella Framework for Raw Poultry Products
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 43-24 - Family Member Eligibility For Federal Employees' Health Benefits Program Coverage
FSIS Notice 42-24 - Export Module of the Public Health Information System - Phase Ten Mexico
FSIS Notice 41-24 - Cut-off Dates for Fiscal Year 2025 Purchases
Export Requirements Update
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated for products for the following:
- French Polynesia (Tahiti)
- Chile
- Egypt
- Dominican Republic
- Jamaica
- Singapore
- Cuba
- Solomon Islands
- St. Lucia
- Turks & Caicos Islands
- Curacao
- India
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- European Union
- Mauritius
- Tunisia
- Qatar
- Hong Kong
- North Macedonia
- Azerbaijan
- Peru
- Canada
- Australia
- Turkey
- Mexico
- Vietnam
Complete information can be found at the FSIS Import & Export Library.