FSIS Risk Management Plan For Listeria monocytogenes

1. FSISRisk Management PlanFor Listeria monocytogenes Daniel Engeljohn, Ph.D. Executive Associate Policy Analysis and Formulation

2. Risk Management • FSIS follow-up to 2001 HHS/USDA Joint Action Plan • Issued a proposed rule • February 27, 2001 • Held public meetings • 3 meetings designed to clarify effective controls • Issued a new directive • Focused on high-risk product controls • Caused industry sharing of plant-generated data

3. Risk Management • Joint Action Plan (continued) • In 2003, FSIS issued • In-plant risk assessment • Interim final rule • 5 workshops • New compliance guidelines • New inspection procedures

4. Risk Management • Interim Final Rule Effectiveness • Change in industry practices • Rigor of lethality, growth suppression, and sanitation • Risk-based verification – focus on high risk products and operations

5. Risk Management • Interim Final Rule Effectiveness(continued) • Training of inspection personnel • Prevalence changes in groups of products • Use of labeling claims

6. Risk Management • Interim Final Rule Effectiveness(continued) • Compliance guidelines for small plants • Public health impact • Attribution of illness for meat, poultry, and processed eggs (FoodNet case-control study)

7. Risk Management • Interim Final Rule Effectiveness(continued) • Distribution concerns – retail, growth • State program activities • Education and outreach

8. Risk Communication • FDA/FSIS risk ranking and FSIS risk assessment have informed risk communication activities • FSIS has worked closely with FDA to ensure that messages for consumers are consistent.

9. Consumer Advice • Based on the the scientific information available today, consumer advice on L. monocytogenes that we provide to at-risk populations will remain the same…

10. Consumer Advice • Advice regarding meat and poultry products remains as follows: • Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, or deli meats unless they are reheated until steaming hot • Do not eat refrigerated pâté or meat spreads. Canned or shelf-stable pâté and meat spreads can be eaten

11. Consumer Advice • Because L. monocytogenes can grow at refrigeration temperatures of 40 ºF or below, FSIS joins FDA in advising all consumers to: • Use perishable items that are precooked or ready-to-eat as soon as possible • Clean refrigerators regularly • Use a refrigerator thermometer to make sure that the refrigerator always stays at 40 º F or below

12. Outreach • FSIS continues to target at-risk populations with its consumer messages, including the elderly, pregnant women and individuals with weakened immune systems

13. Outreach • FSIS is increasing outreach to these groups in a variety of ways • Food safety messages are included in patient education videos shown in doctors' waiting rooms • Expanding efforts to reach medical centers that treat organ transplant patients • USDA Food Safety Mobile

14. Future Directions • As industry makes further strides in reducing levels of L. monocytogenes in ready-to-eat products, and as more information is gathered regarding consumer behavior, FSIS will re-evaluate whether changes in consumer advice are warranted

15. Future Directions (continued) • FSIS expects to: • Refine its risk-based verification activities to enhance public health protection at the points in the farm-to-table continuum where mitigation is most effective • Continue to work closely with FDA and CDC to reduce the burden of human illnesses caused by L. monocytogenes infections