USDA looks for volunteers to fight Listeria

Recent history has seen Listeria monocytogenes in cheeses, peaches, ice cream, raw milk cheese, leafy greens, ham, taco kits, salad kits, and more products; and the government recognizes the problem.

As a result,  the U.S. Department of Agriculture is soliciting nominations for membership to the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF),

NACMCF is an advisory committee that provides impartial scientific advice and recommendations to USDA and other government agencies, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, on microbiological and public health issues affecting food safety.

 USDA plans to appoint 30 committee members in 2025. These members will be charged with reviewing the Food Safety and Inspection Service’s (FSIS) regulatory approach for Listeria monocytogenes.

About Listeria infections
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections.

Symptoms of listeriosis can develop up to 70 days after exposure to Listeria. 

Symptoms of Listeria infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Specific laboratory tests are required to diagnose Listeria infections, which can mimic other illnesses. 

Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and people such as cancer patients who have weakened immune systems are particularly at risk of serious illnesses, life-threatening infections, and other complications. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, their infections can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.

Role of committee
USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service wants to use NACMCF’s expertise to inform long-term policy changes regarding Listeria monocytogenes regulation, as well as significant changes to the Listeria rule and oversight of inspections for ready-to-eat (RTE) food facilities. 

The changes came from an ongoing internal review of USDA-FSIS’s processes following a high-profile, fatal listeriosis outbreak linked to RTE deli meats produced at a chronically unhygienic and unsafe Boar’s Head facility. The review is likely to lead to more changes in the future.

For the NACMCF committee, USDA seeks nominations from individuals with knowledge and expertise in microbiology, risk assessment, epidemiology, public health, food science, and other relevant disciplines to obtain all stakeholders’ scientific perspectives, expertise, experience, and views.

 Those with experience in the specific areas to be addressed by NACMCF (i.e., Cronobacter, Listeria, genomic characterization, aged raw milk cheeses) are especially encouraged to apply. 

Nominees affiliated with consumer groups are not required to have a scientific background. Persons in academia, industry, state and local government agencies, public health organizations, and industry and consumer organizations are invited to submit nominations. Self-nominations are welcomed.

All nomination packages must be received within 60 days of publication of the Federal Register notice, where instructions for how to apply can be found.

To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here)