[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 158 (Friday, August 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 43692]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21673]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 97-048N]


Technical Meeting to Solicit Input for a Survey on Browning in 
Hamburger

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is holding a 
public technical meeting on August 20, 1997. The purpose of the meeting 
is to solicit scientific information, including data, on a proposed 
survey to determine the frequency with which hamburger, sold at retail 
and cooked at home, turns brown before reaching 160 degrees F. The 
results of this survey will be used to determine the contribution of 
this factor to a risk assessment for E. coli O157:H7. Persons with an 
interest in the study, particularly in details such as sampling, 
preparation, cooking, and evaluation procedures to be used in this 
survey, are especially encouraged to attend.

DATES: The meeting will be held on August 20, 1997, from 8:30 a.m. to 
1:00 p.m. Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m., and materials will be 
available at that time.

ADDRESSES: The half-day meeting will be held at the Washington Plaza 
Hotel, 10 Thomas Circle, at Massachusetts Avenue and 14th Street, 
Washington, DC 20008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To register for the meeting, contact 
Ms. Traci Phebus at (202) 501-7138 or FAX (202) 501-7642. To arrange 
for presentation of technical materials, contact Mr. David Soderberg at 
(202) 501-7358 or FAX (202) 501-7639. Presenters are asked to submit 
one original and two copies of written comments to the FSIS Docket 
Clerk, Docket #97-048N, Department of Agriculture, FSIS, 102 Cotton 
Annex, 300 12th Street, Washington, DC 20250-3700. Persons wishing to 
present technical data are asked to bring 100 copies of their data for 
distribution to participants in the meeting. Participants who require a 
sign language or other special accommodations should contact Ms. Phebus 
at the above numbers by August 13, 1997.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A pilot study to prepare for this survey was 
undertaken. Preliminary results from the pilot study may be available 
for this meeting, but the primary purpose of the pilot study was to try 
out laboratory techniques (for example, cooking and color evaluation) 
and to test logistics before initiating the main survey. Actual results 
from the pilot study may require more confirmation before they can be 
determined to be scientifically accurate. It is expected that 
discussions in the August 20 meeting will focus on technical details of 
the proposed survey. Sampling may be a major topic of discussion. The 
purpose of this meeting is to solicit advice on the survey design from 
consumers, public health officials and others.
    Persons with expert knowledge about consumer behavior in the 
purchasing, preparing, and cooking of hamburger are especially 
encouraged to attend. Persons unable to attend the meeting may submit 
comments to the above addresses.
    Transcripts of this meeting will be available in the FSIS Docket 
Room.

    Done at Washington, DC, on: August 7, 1997.
Thomas J. Billy,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-21673 Filed 8-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P