National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods Announces Public Meeting to Discuss Cronobacter

SILVER SPRING, Md. — On Nov. 15, 2022, the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) will hold a virtual public meeting of the full Committee. The Committee will discuss adding a work charge being advanced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Cronobacter spp. in powdered infant formula. The Committee will also discuss updates under the Cyclospora cayetanensis subcommittee and vote on adopting the following report: “Enhancing Salmonella Control in Poultry Products.”

The charge being advanced by FDA to the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods is intended to help us gain scientific insight about some of the questions we have regarding Cronobacter infections including recommendations for how public health authorities can better protect public health; and recommendations for food safety management practices that the food industry can implement to enhance the safety of powdered infant formula.

NACMCF is an advisory committee, established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), that provides impartial, scientific advice, and/or peer reviews to Federal food safety agencies for use in the development of an integrated national food safety systems approach that assures the safety of domestic, imported, and exported foods.

Comments should be submitted electronically to docket number FSIS-2022-0031 on or before November 15, 2022.

Registration: The meeting will be held virtually using Zoom. Attendees must pre-register to receive a join link, dial-in number, access code, and unique Attendee ID for the event. Attendees who express interest in delivering comments during the meeting must register by Nov. 8, 2022. USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will do its best to accommodate all registered persons who request to provide oral comments. Attendees that do not plan to speak at the public meeting may register at any time up to the day of the meeting.