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Dr. Robert Brackett, Director, Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FDA/CFSAN), Vice-Chair, opened the meeting at 8:30 a.m., Friday, March 24, 2006.

Subcommittee Reports/Work
Ms. Angela Ruple, filling in for Mr. Spencer Garrett, Subcommittee Chair for the Determination of Cooking Parameters for Safe Seafood for Consumers, handed out a background and subcommittee status report prepared by Spencer Garrett. She reviewed the main aspects of the group's charge and summarized the group's approach to their report. The group has been examining epidemiological data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Center for Science in the Public Interest to determine relevant pathogens to seafood and the frequency of occurrence of these pathogens. From their review of available data, the group has identified Listeria monocytogenes as the hardiest of the vegetative bacterial pathogens associated with seafood. Safe cooking methods for consumers and determining doneness will be addressed. Ms. Ruple indicated that the group needs two additional working sessions to complete their report. The Subcommittee anticipates being ready to present their document to the full committee for consideration of adoption at the next plenary session. No action was taken.

Dr. David Acheson, Subcommittee Chair on Assessment of the Food Safety Importance of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), reviewed the main elements of the group's charge and reported on the first meeting of this Subcommittee. Dr. Acheson emphasized that the group would focus on the sources of MAP to the food supply, processing interventions, efficacy of current detection methods for MAP in foods, research needs. He indicated that the group's role is not to determine whether MAP is a human pathogen. The Subcommittee will review available scientific information and rely on presentations by experts to report on the state of current science regarding their charge and to establish what research is needed to help address the charge. No action was taken.

Dr. Daniel Engeljohn, Subcommittee Chair, Consumer Guidelines for the Safe Cooking of Poultry Products, presented their final report to the Full Committee for consideration of adoption. After deliberations, the document: "Consumer Guideline for the Safe Cooking of Poultry Products" was adopted with changes (1st motion by Irene Wesley, 2nd motion John Sofos). Dr. Engeljohn indicated that this report would be posted on the FSIS website as soon as possible.

Public Comment
Robert G. Hibbert, McDermott Will & Emery LLP, Washington, D.C., stated that there is a need for some degree of regulatory certainty for manufacturers of (raw breaded) poultry products affected by the new (FSIS) requirements for resubmitting labels (with validated cooking instructions). He asked what would happen in the unfortunate event that something went wrong despite if manufacturers of poultry products change their labels in accordance with the new guidelines arising from these documents? He mentioned that his assumption is that relabeled, revalidated raw breaded product, would have the same regulatory status as ordinary raw poultry. Thus, that even in the unfortunate instance where contaminated product becomes associated with an illness, his understanding of the FSIS position is that raw breaded type poultry products are neither adulterated, nor misbranded, and are not subject to recall or any other regulatory action. He stated that it is extremely important for the Agency to clarify for industry benefit, whether his assumption is correct.

Tony Corbo, Food and Water Watch Fund, Washington, D. C., commended the Committee for taking up the issue of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) and indicated that this is a consumer concern. He mentioned the "Is It Done Yet" campaign and held up a refrigerator magnet from the USDA Outlook Forum, indicating that these were attractive and useful tools for outreach as they list the FSIS recommended safe cooking temperatures. He indicated that he is unaware of what kind of outreach is being done by FSIS. He suggested that FSIS target the Food Network for outreach, as he has found that TV chefs rarely follow food safety protocols. He said reaching out on the use of thermometers might be a way to get these chefs to talk about the recommended cooking temperatures for the various types of foods.

Caroline Smith DeWaal, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington, D.C., commended the Committee for its current work and for coming to congruence on the poultry cooking messages. She stressed that consumer messages regarding avian influenza should not rely on cooking as the primary protection. She said that the virus needs to be kept out of processing plants and should not be on raw poultry in kitchens. She stated that it is critical that consumer messages on avian influenza start far before the kitchen to inform about risk.

Close
Dr. Brackett adjourned the meeting at approximately 10:11 a.m., Friday, March 24, 2006.

A list of NACMCF members and outside participants in attendance follows. Further meeting details are available in the meeting transcripts.

3-24-06 NACMCF Meeting Participants

• Vice-Chair: Dr. Robert Brackett
• Representing the Chair: Dr. Curt Mann
• NACMCF Members:
  • Dr. David Acheson
  • Dr. Larry Beuchat
  • Dr. Kathryn Boor
  • Dr. Scott Brooks
  • Dr. Daniel Engeljohn
  • Dr. Timothy Freier
  • Dr. Linda Harris
  • Dr. Walt Hill
  • Dr. Michael Jahncke
  • Dr. Lee-Ann Jaykus
  • LTC Robin King
  • Ms. Barbara Kowalcyk
  • Dr. John Kvenberg
  • Dr. Joseph Madden
  • Dr. Alejandro Mazzotta
  • Dr. Ann Marie McNamara
  • Dr. Jianghong Meng
  • Dr. Dale Morse
  • Ms. Angela Ruple
  • Dr. Donald Schaffner
  • Ms. Jenny Scott
  • Dr. John Sofos
  • Dr. Sterling Thompson
  • Dr. Irene Wesley
  • Dr. Donald Zink
• NACMCF Executive Committee:
  • Dr. LeeAnne Jackson, FDA
  • LTC Bradford Hildabrand, DOD
  • Dr. David Goldman, FSIS
• FSIS Staff:
  • Ms. Gerri Ransom, NACMCF Executive Secretariat
  • Ms. Karen Thomas, Advisory Committee Specialist
• Outside Participants:
  • Mr. Robert G. Hibbert, McDermott Will & Emery
  • Mr. Tony Corbo, Food & Water Watch Fund
  • Mrs. Caroline Smith DeWaal, Center for Science in the Public Interest