[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