80 FR 12142 - Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Gathering Sessions for Safe Food Handling Instructions

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 44 (March 6, 2015)

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request a new information collection for a survey of consumers about safe food handling instructions.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 44 (Friday, March 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12142-12144]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05334]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2015-0003]


Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Gathering 
Sessions for Safe Food Handling Instructions

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and 
Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request a new 
information collection for a survey of consumers about safe food 
handling instructions.

DATES: Submit comments on or before May 5, 2015.

[[Page 12143]]


ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this 
information collection. Comments may be submitted by one of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web site provides the 
ability to type short comments directly into the comment field or 
attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the on-line instructions at that site for submitting comments.
     Mail, including CD-ROMs, etc.: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Docket 
Clerk, Patriots Plaza 3, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Mailstop 3782, 
Room 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
     Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to Patriots 
Plaza 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2014-0003. Comments 
received in response to this docket will be made available for public 
inspection and posted without change, including any personal 
information, to http://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to hard copies of background documents or 
comments received, you can visit the FSIS Docket Room at Patriots Plaza 
3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8-164, Washington, DC 20250-3700 between 8:00 
a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lee W. Puricelli, Program Analyst, 
Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 
Room 6073, South Building, Washington, DC 20250.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Safe Food Handling Instructions Survey.
    Type of Request: New information collection.
    Abstract: The Food Safety and Inspection Service has been delegated 
the authority to exercise the functions of the Secretary of Agriculture 
(7 CFR 2.18, 2.53) as specified in the Federal Meat Inspection Act and 
the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 453 et. seq., 601 et 
seq.). FSIS protects the public by verifying that meat and poultry 
products are wholesome, not adulterated, and properly marked, labeled, 
and packaged.
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection 
Service's Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education (USDA, FSIS, 
OPACE) ensures that all segments of the farm-to-table chain receive 
valuable food safety information. The consumer education programs 
developed by OPACE's Food Safety Education Staff informs the public on 
how to safely handle, prepare, and store meat, poultry, and egg 
products to minimize incidence of foodborne illness.
    Safe-handling instructions are required on a product if the 
product's meat or poultry component is raw or partially cooked (i.e., 
not considered ready-to-eat) and if the product is destined for 
household consumers or institutional uses (9 CFR 317.2(l) [meat]; 9 CFR 
381.125(b) [poultry]). FSIS conducted consumer focus groups to inform 
the design of the current safe-handling instructions in the 
regulations. Since the final safe handling rule became effective in 
1994, the safe-handling instructions have not been revised.
    In response to inquiries from consumer groups and other 
stakeholders for more information about potential changes to the safe-
handling instructions regulations, FSIS sent a letter, in November 
2013, to consumer groups, industry groups and academia posing questions 
about the current safe-handling instructions and how to revise them. 
The stakeholder comments supported the need for consumer testing of any 
changes to safe-handling instructions. FSIS presented a summary of the 
stakeholders suggestions to the National Advisory Committee on Meat and 
Poultry Inspection (NACMPI) in January 2014.
    The feedback FSIS received from the NACMPI meeting echoed the 
stakeholders' emphasis of the necessity for consumer testing. In 
addition, NACMPI recommended that FSIS should consider requiring 
crucial endpoint temperatures on the label. The current safe-handling 
instructions use ``Cook Thoroughly'' as a simple, single statement 
appropriate to all products. This statement was used because, at the 
time of development, product label size limitations and many varying 
endpoint temperatures prevented an easy to understand label with 
endpoint cooking temperatures. Instead of multiple endpoint 
temperatures, FSIS now recommends only three internal minimal 
temperatures: one for all poultry (165[emsp14][deg]F), one for ground 
red meat (160[emsp14][deg]F), and one for all whole-muscle red meat 
(145[emsp14][deg]F and hold for 3 minutes). With only three temperature 
recommendations, the endpoint temperature information could be more 
easily incorporated into the safe-handling instructions through 
rulemaking than when the current instructions were finalized in 1994. 
Other possible changes to the safe-handling instructions might include 
incorporating new icons developed and branded under USDA's Food Safe 
Families campaign and providing a Web link or phone number for more 
information on food safety.
    The NACMPI Subcommittee on Food Handling Labels recommended that 
FSIS pursue changes in the existing safe-handling instructions in the 
regulations and conduct consumer testing to determine the effectiveness 
of any revisions to the instructions.
    To inform decisions about possible modifications to the safe-
handling instructions, FSIS is requesting approval for a new 
information collection to conduct consumer focus groups. These focus 
groups will help FSIS understand what information in the instructions 
could better enable consumers to safely handle and prepare raw and 
partially cooked meat and poultry at home.
    FSIS has contracted with RTI International to conduct six consumer 
focus groups to gather information on consumers' understanding and use 
of the current safe-handling instructions and responses to possible 
revisions to the instructions. To provide geographic diversity, FSIS 
will conduct two focus groups in three different geographic locations 
each with two focus groups (for a total of six). Locations will be 
representative of three of the four main geographical areas of the 
country (East Coast, South, Midwest, and West Coast). In each location, 
FSIS will conduct one focus group with English-speaking adults and one 
focus group with Spanish-speaking adults. The focus groups will include 
individuals at-risk for foodborne illness (i.e., older adults, parents 
of young children, immunocompromised individuals or their caregivers) 
as well as from the general population as seen in Table 1.

                   Table 1--Focus Group Subpopulations
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Group                   Subpopulation         Language
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................  Parents of young      Spanish
                                   children \a\.
2...............................  Immunocompromised     English
                                   \b\.

[[Page 12144]]

 
3...............................  Older adults \c\....  Spanish
4...............................  General population/   English
                                   less educated \d\.
5...............................  General population/   Spanish
                                   less educated \d\.
6...............................  Parents of young      English
                                   children a e.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ Parents/caregivers of children aged 5 years old and younger,
  including pregnant women.
\b\ Adults diagnosed with cancer, diabetes, or a condition that weakens
  the immune system or their adult caregiver.
\c\ Adults aged 60 years or older.
\d\ Adults aged 26 to 59 years old with a high school education or less.
\e\ Adults with a college degree or higher.

    Estimate of Burden: FSIS plans to screen 480 individuals to obtain 
no more than 60 focus group participants (10 participants per group). 
Each screening is expected to take 8 minutes (0.133 hour), and each 
focus group discussion is expected to last 1.45 hours. Before and after 
each group, participants will be asked to complete a short survey; each 
survey will take about 3 minutes (0.05 hour) to complete.
    Respondents: Consumers.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 480.
    Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 157 hours.
    Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained 
from Gina Kouba, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety and 
Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence, SW., Room 6077, South 
Building, Washington, DC 20250, (202)690-6510.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS's 
functions, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of FSIS's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology 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, 
Washington, DC 20253.
    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.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

    No agency, officer, or employee of the USDA shall, on the grounds 
of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual 
orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, 
income derived from a public assistance program, or political beliefs, 
exclude from participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject to 
discrimination any person in the United States under any program or 
activity conducted by the USDA.

How to File a Complaint of Discrimination

    To file a complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program 
Discrimination Complaint Form, which is available online at http://www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_12.pdf, or write a letter signed by you or your 
authorized representative.
    Send your completed complaint form or letter to USDA by mail, fax, 
or email:

Mail

    U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410.

Fax

    (202) 690-7442.

Email

    [email protected].

    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), should contact 
USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

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: 
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register.
    FSIS also will make this Federal Register 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 Update is available on the FSIS Web page. Through the 
Web page, FSIS is able to 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: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe.

    Done at Washington, DC, on: March 3, 2015.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015-05334 Filed 3-5-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE P