98-13165. Meeting on the Browning of Ground Beef Patties

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 96 (Tuesday, May 19, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 27555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13165]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 98-026N]


Meeting on the Browning of Ground Beef Patties

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is holding a 
public meeting to discuss safe handling measures consumers should take 
in cooking hamburgers. The results of a study on the browning of ground 
beef patties before they reach an internal temperature of 160  deg.F 
will be presented. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the food 
safety issues presented by premature browning, including the question 
whether color is an appropriate indicator that ground beef is cooked to 
a safe internal temperature.

DATES: The meeting will be held on May 27, 1998, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 
p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Arlington Hilton & Towers, 
950 North Stafford Street, Arlington, VA, 22203. The hotel is 
immediately adjacent to the Ballston Metro Station.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To register for the meeting and to 
obtain a copy of the study results on premature browning of ground beef 
patties, contact Ms. Jennifer Callahan of the FSIS Planning Office at 
[phone] or FAX [phone]. Participants who require a sign 
language interpreter or other special accommodation should contact Ms. 
Callahan at the above numbers by May 22, 1998.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A study was commissioned by FSIS in 1997 to 
examine laboratory techniques for cooking and color evaluation and to 
test logistics for ground beef patties. A previous meeting was held to 
seek public comment on the study design from consumers, public health 
officials, and other interested persons. The May 27 meeting announced 
in this notice will focus on the results of the study and other public 
and private research efforts on premature browning. FSIS is 
particularly interested in discussing options for educating consumers 
about the safe cooking of these products.
    The meeting is open to the public on a space-available basis. 
Transcripts of this meeting will be available in the FSIS Docket 
Office, Room 102, 300 12th Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-3700.

    Done in Washington, DC, on May 11, 1998.
Thomas J. Billy,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-13165 Filed 5-18-98; 8:45 am]
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