Fed's Listeria Control Proposal A "Band-Aid," Says GMA.

August 3, 1999

The Grocery Manufacturers of America believes the federal government's proposal to control listeria contamination in ready-to-eat products is a "band-aid approach" that may not make much difference.

GMA was responding to a USDA recommendation for processors to reassess their food safety inspection plans for listeria contamination. But what the Food Safety and Inspection Service published in the Federal Register May 26 "represents a hasty, ill-conceived response to pressures generated by recent events," says GMA Vice President Stacey Zawel and General Counsel and Vice President James Skiles.

FSIS reaches conclusions about listeria and the potential health hazards it presents "without consideration of the science or providing legally mandated opportunities for public comments. For these reasons, GMA urges the agency to reconsider the document carefully and suspend further action on all substantive requirements pending completion of a full notice and comment rule making procedure."

The agency cites no scientific support for an apparent conclusion that listeria "represents a hazard in the production of ready to eat meat and poultry products," says GMA. "In addition, FSIS seemingly ignores the fact that the Food and Drug Administration is currently undertaking a comprehensive assessment of the risks posed by (listeria), including work on the critical issue of infectious dose."