Whether you are a grill master or a first timer, food safety should always be part of your barbecue routine to ensure a healthy and happy Fourth of July. Bacterial cross-contamination, cleanliness, undercooking, and leaving food out for too long are all risk factors that can lead to illness. Ensure your food is safe to eat this Independence Day by following USDA’s food safety tips.

For more food safety information, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854), MPHotline@usda.gov, or chat live at ask.usda.gov.

Available for Public Comment

FSIS seeks public comments on proposed rules and notices, which are viewable on the FSIS Federal Register & Rulemaking webpage. FSIS is currently seeking comments on the following:

• Until July 5: Availability of FSIS Ready-To-Eat Fermented, Salt-Cured, and Dried Products Guideline
• Until July 11: Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Consumer Labeling Research: Focus Groups
• Until July 27: Salmonella in Not-Ready-To-Eat Breaded Stuffed Chicken Products
• Until August 29: Notice of Request To Revise an Approved Information Collection: Accreditation of Laboratories, Transactions and Exemptions

Policy Update

FSIS notices and directives on public health and regulatory issues are available on the FSIS Policy webpage. The following policy update was recently issued:

FSIS Notice 33-23 - Continuing Education Program: College Tuition Reimbursement Program Open to All Employees

FSIS Notice 32-23 - Continuous Development Initiative for All FSIS Employees

FSIS Notice 31-23 - Updated Cell-Cultured Meat and Poultry Products Sampling Program

FSIS Notice 30-23 - FSIS Sampling of Fowl Slaughtered under the New Poultry Inspection System(NPIS) as Authorized by Waiver

FSIS Notice 29-23 - Mandatory Food Defense Training for All FSIS Employees

FSIS Notice 28-23 - New Mail Locker System at Headquarters and George Washington Carver Center

Export Requirements Update

The Library of Export Requirements has been updated for products for the following:

• United Arab Emirates
• Jordan
• Myanmar
• Barbados
• St. Lucia
• Turks & Caicos Islands
• Ukraine
• Egypt
• Canada
• Peru
• Dominica
• Panama
• Brazil
• Australia
• Chile
• Honduras
• El Salvador
• Ecuador
• Hong Kong
• Curacao
• Colombia
• Kuwait

Complete information can be found at the FSIS Import & Export Library.

Original source can be found here.