Food Safety and Inspection Service

11/22/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/22/2024 17:05

Constituent Update - November 22, 2024

Constituent Update
Friday, November 22 2024

Constituent Update - November 22, 2024

FSIS Announces Leadership Changes

FSIS is announcing strategic leadership changes that reflect the agency's goal to continually evolve our processes to protect public health.

Dr. Denise Eblen, currently FSIS' Assistant Administrator for the Office of Public Health Science (OPHS), has been named agency Administrator. As Assistant Administrator for OPHS since 2018, Dr. Eblen has led the agency's scientific analysis, including oversight of FSIS laboratories and testing of regulatory samples, risk assessment, and outbreak investigation and response. Drawing from her twenty-five years of experience at USDA, she will continue to steer FSIS in its efforts to use science-based decision making to modernize the agency's inspection strategies, policies, and approaches to improve public health. In addition to her work with FSIS, Dr. Eblen has held roles with USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service.

Dr. Eblen holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Ulster at Coleraine in Northern Ireland, a Master of Science Degree in Food Science from Queen's University, Belfast, in Northern Ireland, and a Ph.D. in Food Safety Microbiology from the University of Ulster at Jordanstown, Northern Ireland.

Paul Kiecker will take on the role of Assistant Administrator in the Office of Investigation, Enforcement and Audit (OIEA), where he will apply his deep experience with the agency and his leadership capabilities to head FSIS's investigation, enforcement, and audit functions. Mr. Kiecker has served FSIS for more than thirty years, beginning as a food inspector in 1988 and most recently serving as Administrator. His previous roles include experience across the Office of Field Operations (OFO) and as a Compliance Investigator and Supervisory Compliance Investigator with OIEA. Mr. Kiecker has advanced the agency's workforce recruitment effort and engagement with FSIS' large team of field employees, among other key priorities.

Dr. Kis Robertson Hale, the FSIS Deputy Assistant Administrator for OPHS and Chief Public Health Veterinarian, has been named Acting Assistant Administrator for OPHS. Dr. Robertson Hale has served in her current role with OPHS since 2017, partnering with the OPHS Assistant Administrator to support agency decision making on matters related to science and public health. Dr. Robertson Hale has held various positions in FSIS, including the Enforcement, Investigations and Analysis Officer (EIAO) role in OFO and various positions in OPHS' Applied Epidemiology Staff. In addition to her work with FSIS, Dr. Robertson Hale has held roles with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer and a Preventive Medicine Fellow. Dr. Robertson Hale holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree from Tuskegee University, and a Master of Public Health Degree from the University of Minnesota. She is also board certified in veterinary preventive medicine and a Rear Admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service.

Melissa Moore will take on the role of Acting OFO Assistant Administrator, transitioning from her previous role as a Deputy Assistant Administrator for OFO. While completing her bachelor's degree in food science at the University of Massachusetts, she participated in an FSIS summer internship program that inspired her to pursue a career in public health. Seventeen years ago, Ms. Moore joined FSIS as a Consumer Safety Inspector and has since held various field positions including EIAO and Frontline Supervisor. She has also served as a Senior Compliance Specialist within OIEA, a Program Analyst with the OFO Regulatory Operations, a Director for Internal Affairs, and an OFO Executive Associate for Regulatory Operations (EARO).

Paul Wolseley will transition to the role of EARO within OFO. To this role, Mr. Wolseley will apply his leadership and extensive FSIS experience to support field personnel and mission critical field activities. Since joining FSIS as a Food Inspector over 40 years ago, Mr. Wolseley has devoted his career to food safety and public health. He has held various positions and leadership roles in the field, field offices, and headquarters within the OFO and OIEA, most recently serving as the OFO Assistant Administrator.

These changes will be effective on December 9, 2024.

Keep Food Safety in Mind this Thanksgiving

For first-time hosts, or even experienced cooks, the Thanksgiving turkey can be a nerve-wracking dish to serve once a year. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is excited to announce the launch of our brand new Thanksgiving Thawing and Cooking calculators to reduce any anxiety over cooking your turkey this season! Just select your turkey's weight, along with your preferred thawing and cooking methods, and you'll immediately receive guidance on how to safely prepare your turkey this Thanksgiving!

Additionally, food safety information related to all things turkey is now compiled in one handy spot with our new Thanksgiving page for easy access during this busy holiday season.

As you gear up for Thanksgiving next week, here are some Thanksgiving food safety tips to keep in mind:

  • Cook your turkey to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 F, as measured by a food thermometer, in three places - the thickest part of the breast, the innermost part of the thigh, and the innermost part of the wing.
  • Reheat previously cooked turkey to 165 F or follow manufacturer's instructions.
  • Stuffing must also reach 165 F in the center of the stuffing.
  • Refrigerate perishable foods within two hours of serving.
  • If serving food, keep hot foods at or above 140 F and cold foods below 40 F.
  • Discard any perishable foods that sat out for more than two hours at room temperature.
  • If you have turkey leftovers, carve the bird into smaller pieces and place them into small, shallow containers so the meat can cool evenly and quickly.

For more Thanksgiving food safety tips, follow FSIS on X in English or Spanish, and follow USDA on Instagram and Facebook.

Please call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline with any food safety questions at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854), email [email protected], or chat with a food safety specialist live at www.ask.usda.gov from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. The Meat and Poultry Hotline is also open on Thanksgiving Day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern Time.

Reminder: FSIS to Host Virtual Public Meetings on Salmonella Framework

As announced in the November 1, 2024, Constituent Update and a Federal Register Notice published today, FSIS will host virtual public meetings on December 3 and 5, 2024, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. EST on both dates. The focus for December 3 will be on final product standards. The focus for December 5 will be on statistical process control monitoring methods and related topics. Each session will provide an opportunity for a small group of varied stakeholders to present their views and engage in discussion regarding the Salmonella Framework for Raw Poultry Products proposed rule and determination. FSIS plans to provide time for stakeholders from the larger group to ask questions.

Use this link to register for the December 3 session

Use this link to register for the December 5 session

As a reminder, FSIS extended the comment period for the Salmonella Framework for Raw Poultry Products proposed rule and determination until January 17, 2025. Written comments may be submitted online via the federal eRulemaking portal, available at www.regulations.gov; by mail sent to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, Washington, DC 20250-3700, or by hand or courier delivery to 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Jamie L. Whitten Building, Room 350-E, Washington, DC 20250-3700. All items submitted must include the agency name and docket number FSIS-2023-0028.

Upcoming Events

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:

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 Directive 9900.7 - Physical Examinations of Meat from Regions Where Foot-and-Mouth Disease Exist and Reporting of APHIS-Restricted Material - Revision 1

Export Requirements Update

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

  • Brazil
  • Turks & Caicos Islands
  • Curacao
  • French Polynesia (Tahiti)
  • St. Lucia
  • Western Samoa (Samoa)
  • Mexico
  • Peru
  • India
  • Ecuador
  • Solomon Islands
  • Qatar
  • Tunisia
  • Taiwan
  • Azerbaijan
  • Kazakhstan
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Japan
  • Singapore
  • Mauritius
  • Paraguay
  • Canada

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

Last Updated: Nov 22, 2024