[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 19 (Monday, January 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2790-2791]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1481]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 95-053N]
Nutritional Labeling/Safe Handling Information Study, Raw Meat
and Poultry; Availability
AGENCY: Food and Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability of report.
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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing
the availability of the report, ``Nutritional Labeling/Safe Handling
Information Study, Raw Meat and Poultry.'' This report summarizes
survey data on actions taken by food retailers to provide consumers
with nutrition information and safe handling instructions on raw meat
and poultry products.
DATES: Comments may be submitted at any time.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments and requests for single copies of
the report to: Charles R. Edwards, Director, Product Assessment
Division, Regulatory Programs, Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250, Docket #95-053N. Send
a self-addressed, adhesive mailing label to assist the office in
processing requests for copies.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Charles R. Edwards, Director, Product Assessment Division, Regulatory
Programs, Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250, (202) 254-2565.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 6, 1993, FSIS published a final
rule, ``Nutrition Labeling of Meat and Poultry Products,'' (58 FR 632)
that, in part, established a voluntary nutrition labeling program for
single-ingredient, raw meat and poultry products.
To determine if significant numbers of food retailers were
participating in the voluntary nutrition labeling program and were
providing nutrition labeling for single-ingredient, raw meat and
poultry products, FSIS contracted with National Retail Tracking Index,
Inc. (NRTI) to collect this data. The survey showed that of the nearly
2,000 grocery stores surveyed nationwide, 66.5 percent were providing
nutrition information in accordance with the voluntary nutrition
labeling program guidelines. When the results are weighted by the
stores' annual sales volumes, the participation level rose to 72.2
percent, comfortably exceeding the target goal of 60 percent.
FSIS will continue to assess retailer participation in the program
every two years. If significant participation by food retailers exists,
that is, at least 60 percent of all stores that are evaluated are
participating in accordance with the guidelines, the voluntary
nutrition labeling program will remain in effect.
On March 28, 1994 (59 FR 14528), FSIS made safety handling
instructions mandatory on the labels of all raw meat
[[Page 2791]]
and poultry products. The safe handling instructions include a
rationale statement and address the safe storage of raw product,
prevention of cross contamination, cooking of raw product, and handling
of leftovers.
To determine retailer compliance with this new mandatory rule, FSIS
expanded the scope of the nutritional labeling study to include an
estimate on the prevalence of stores that are providing safe handling
instructions for raw meat and poultry items packaged at the retail
level. Specifically, the rule requires that each store have the
appropriate safe handling label affixed to all packages of raw meat and
poultry products that it sells. NRTI found that 92.2 percent of the
surveyed stores had safe handling instructions present on every package
of every item. FSIS intends to follow up with retail trade associations
and retailers to increase awareness that safe handling labeling at the
store level is mandatory and to advise that these products are
misbranded in the absence of such labeling.
Done at Washington, DC, on January 22, 1996.
Michael R. Taylor,
Acting Under Secretary for Food Safety.
[FR Doc. 96-1481 Filed 1-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-M
