------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6444 Status Of Meat Safe Handling Labels Permission is granted to create and distribute copies of this document for non-commercial purposes provided that the author and MES receive acknowledgement and this notice is included. Minnesota Extension Service, University of Minnesota, 405 Coffey Hall, St. Paul, MN 55108. (612) 625-2787 * pmailop@mes.umn.edu ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ STATUS OF MEAT SAFE HANDLING LABELS FROM: Elizabeth L. Andress, NPL, Food Science and Chair, Food Safety & Quality Initiative Judith A. Bowers, Head, Public Affairs, CIT (Forwarded by William Schafer, Extension Food Technologist) Many of you have been asking about the status of the FSIS regulations for safe handling labels on meat and poultry. The attached news release explains the process that will now be followed to achieve a final rule and implementation date(s). The major milestones of the proposed rule are given in the news release; to see the label and get details, check the Federal Register tomorrow. This release also will bring you up to date on the reasons why the previous rule is not being implemented. It has been determined that going through a proposed rulemaking and comment period will take less time than litigation over the past process. Since the ultimate goal is to get needed information on safe handling recommendations to the consumer at point of purchase, USDA is choosing the most time-sensitive way of handling the issue. Please make sure that specialists from relevant disciplines receive copy of this notice. Thank you. - - - - - - - NEWS U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Public Affairs News Division Room 404-A Washington, DC 20250 Release No. 0919.23 Steve Kinsella (202) 720-4623 Mary Dixon (202) 720-4623 NEW REGULATIONS ON SAFE HANDLING AND COOKING INSTRUCTIONS FOR RAW MEAT AND POULTRY FORWARDED TO FEDERAL REGISTER WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture has forwarded to the Federal Register, with publication expected on Thursday, a new proposed rule ion safe handling and cooking instructions for raw meat and poultry. "The publication of the proposed rule mean that consumers will have access to safe handling and cooking instructions that can help keep their families safe," said Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy. "Washington has debated this common sense measure for years. It's time to end the debated and get information to the consumers. I hope there are no further attempts to hold up progress that can help save lives." The preamble of the proposed rule states, "The gravity of many cases of illness resulting from E.coli 0157:H7 and the continuing evidence of consumers undercooking hamburgers creates a serious public health problem." Studies have shown consistently that consumers lack basic knowledge about safe handling and cooking of meat and poultry, including not knowing about cross contamination of raw and cooking foods, the proposed rule adds. The new proposed rule calls for: a 45-day comment period after date of publication and implementation 30 days after publication of a final regulation. The rule calls for all raw meat and poultry products to be accompanied with safe handling and cooking instructions. Ground and chopped products must have a label upon implementation of the rule and all other products must have a label, sticker or leaflet. The proposed rule requires that on April 15 all products must have the label. The instructions state that "some food products may contain bacteria that could cause an illness if the product is mishandled or cooked improperly." Further, the instruction advise that "for your protection, follow these safe handling instructions: Keep refrigerated or frozen. Thaw in refrigerator or microwave. Keep raw meat and poultry separate from other foods. Wash working surfaces (including cutting boards), utensils, and hands after touching raw meat or poultry. Cook thoroughly. Keep hot foods hot. Refrigerate leftovers immediately or discard." Information icon or appropriate pictures are matched with the specific instructions. The publication of the proposed rule follows a court action over a previous final regulation published Oct 12. That rule was challenged in court by the National American Wholesale Grocers' Association/International Foodservice Distributors Association, the National Grocers Association and the Texas Food Industry Association. The plaintiff had argued that the previous expedited comment and implementation period for the labels and instructions were not justified. The USDA had argued that pathogenic outbreaks around the country warranted an expedited rule-making procedure that included a 30-day comment period. During the original comment period, USDA received more than 350 comments and suggestions, some of which were incorporated into the final rule. The labels and other safe handling information were to be mandated on Oct. 15, but the request for an injunction was granted on Oct. 14 by U.S. District Judge James B. Nowlin in Austin, Texas. Nowlin stated that there was no cause for an expedited rule-making process since E.coli outbreaks are "isolated" and "separate." Representatives of USDA had argued that illnesses and deaths attributed to E.coli, as well as other pathogens such as salmonella, have occurred all across the nation have not been limited to fast food chains. They cited several cases, including a Michigan child who died this summer from eating an undercooked hamburger at a picnic and another child in New York who died after eating an undercooked meatball. The proposed rule states: "While the department believes it would prevail on the APA (Administrative Procedures Acts) issue in further litigation, it recognize that a notice and comment rule-making will take less time than further litigating the APA issue with the plaintiff. "Due to the importance of protecting public health and the related need to provide this crucial information to consumers as quickly as possible, the department is publishing today this proposal to amend the regulations to require safe handling instructions on raw and partially cooked meat and poultry products, and a final rule, which is published elsewhere in this issue, that eliminates the provisions in the previously cited rule-making." Espy, who is working to improve the nation's meat inspection system, said he applauded groups who have opted to place the labels on meat and poultry as mandated in the previous final rule that was halted in the courts. Reports from throughout the country have noted that several grocery stores are voluntarily selling meat and poultry with rule safe handling and cooking labels and instructions. The new proposed rule states that the use of the previous label will be allowed for six months following the publication of the upcoming final rule. #  .