Breaking Down the Beef Grinding Rule with Regulators

By: Hilary Thesmar, PhD, RD, FMI Vice President, Food Safety Programs, Food Marketing Institute

Food safety is often referred to as a “shared responsibility.”  When it comes to the safety of food within the supply chain, there are many stakeholders and each play a vital role in managing supply chain vulnerabilities.  Food safety is a top priority for our industry and each stakeholder has a shared interest in protecting public health by ensuring the safety of the food supply. 

Recently, FMI members hosted two store tours with government officials to demonstrate food retailers’ processes for the grinding of beef and how the agency’s proposed rule, Records to be Kept by Official Establishments and Retail Stores That Grind Raw Beef Products, will impact FMI members.  Seven government officials from two Federal Agencies and three different departments—including representatives from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), USDA Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS), and USDA Office of Budget ad Program Analysis (OBPA)—participated in the tours.

Most of the government officials had never seen the process or practice of grinding beef at retail; they expressed and engaged us with questions throughout the store tours.  Officials were able to go through various exercises, including using the USDA sample log, to garner better understanding of what happens behind the counter in retail stores.  The two store tours were incredibly informative and an opportunity to demonstrate to FSIS the practical impact of the proposed rule.  The store tour effort represents an example of regulatory and industry efforts working together to improve food safety.

As our industry begins to approach the court-ordered deadlines for the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), several of which are due in 2016, actively engaging with regulatory officials will be key to successful implementation.  Working with stakeholders is essential to developing policies that incorporate input from all interested parties to achieve the common goal of a safe food system—from farm to fork.

UPDATE:

FSIS granted a 30 day extension to its Proposed Recordkeeping Requirements for Retail Stores that Grind Raw Beef Products rule.  Comments are now due October 22, 2014.  FMI will be filing comments in response to the FSIS proposed rule.   A record of written comments can be accessed on FMI’s Comments Filed Page after the due date.