Relative Risk to Public Health from Foodborne Listeria Monocytogenes Among Selected Categories of Ready-to-Eat Foods; Draft Risk Assessment Document and Risk Management Action Plan; Availability

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are announcing the availability of two documents: A draft risk assessment on the relationship between foodborne Listeria monocytogenes and human health that considers 20 ready-to-eat food categories, and a risk management action plan based on the L. monocytogenes risk assessment. We are making these documents available, and we are seeking public comment of a technical nature on the draft risk assessment. The risk management action plan identifies immediate actions as well as short-term and long-term activities targeted to reduce L. monocytogenes associated illnesses. This plan is intended to respond to the President's directive to reduce L. monocytogenes associated illnesses by 50 percent by the year 2005. HHS and USDA invite comments on the risk management strategies reflected in the action plan. A public meeting to discuss the draft risk assessment and the risk management plan will be announced in a future issue of the Federal Register.