Upcoming NACMCF Public Meeting on Genomics, Cronobacter in Infant Formula Charges
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The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) will hold a virtual public meeting on June 24, 2024. The committee will provide updates on its charges from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA’s FSIS) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding genomics and Cronobacter in powdered infant formula, respectively.
The virtual public plenary meeting will be held from 1:00–3:00 P.M. EST. Registration is requested no later than June 19, 2024, and those interested in providing oral comments at the meeting should indicate their interest when registering. The deadline to submit comments (docket number FSIS-2024-011) is June 19. Attendance is free.
NACMCF provides scientific advice and recommendations to USDA and FDA on public health issues related to the safety of the food supply, including the development of microbiological criteria, as well as the review and evaluation of epidemiological and risk assessment data and methodologies for assessing microbiological hazards in foods.
The genomics charge to NACMCF from FSIS requests advice on the considerations, advantages, and disadvantages of genomic analysis of foodborne pathogens, as well as information on current or emerging technologies and strategies that would help to rank and focus resources on foodborne pathogen subtypes based on risk to public health. The charge specifically requests NACMCF to consider Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter.
The charge from FDA on Cronobacter in powdered infant formula requests information from NACMCF to create a better understanding of the factors that contribute to contamination in formula and the production environment. This information will be used to increase the effectiveness of contamination prevention and management strategies.
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