Constituent Update - September 2, 2022

USDA Announces Grants Awarded to Further Strengthen Meat and Poultry Supply Chains

On August 31, 2022, USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced an additional $21.9 million of funding is being awarded to 111 grant projects through the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant Program (MPIRG), bringing total funding to $54.6 million.

The funding will help strengthen and develop new market opportunities for meat and poultry processors throughout the United States. To further these efforts, AMS is also encouraging MPIRG awardees and eligible participants in USDA’s Meat and Poultry Supply Chain initiatives to request assistance through the Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity Technical Assistance Program (MPPTA). Launched in March 2022, MPPTA connects participants to a nationwide network of resources and expertise.

Facility improvements and expansions funded through MPIRG will help processors obtain a Federal Grant of Inspection or qualify for a state’s Cooperative Interstate Shipment program. Achieving a Federal Grant of Inspection or operating under a Cooperative Interstate Shipment program allows meat and poultry processors to ship products across state lines, develop new markets, increase capacity, and better meet consumer and producer demand along the supply chain.

MPIRG recipients and other eligible participants, especially small and underserved stakeholders, in USDA’s Meat and Poultry Supply Chain initiatives are encouraged to take advantage of the broad technical assistance offered through MPPTA. AMS has cooperative agreements with six organizations to form the MPPTA network, which has already provided valuable assistance to over 300 businesses and organizations across the U.S. and its territories since its launch earlier this year.

To view the list of this year’s MPIRG awardees, visit the MPRIG award page. Additional information on MPIRG can be found on AMS’ MPIRG webpage.

FSIS to Host Encore Webinars on Revised Appendices A & B

On September 19 and September 21, 2022, FSIS will host two additional webinars to provide an overview of the revised 2021 Cooking Guideline for Meat and Poultry Products (Revised Appendix A) and 2021 Stabilization Guideline for Meat and Poultry Products (Revised Appendix B).

Pre-registration for the webinars is not required. Recordings of both webinars, along with presentation slides, will be posted on the FSIS website for those unable to attend.

The September 19 webinar will be held from 1-3 p.m. ET. Information on how to access the September 19 webinar is available on the FSIS website.
The September 21 webinar will be held from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. ET. Information on how to access the September 21 webinar is available on the FSIS website.

These webinars are intended for establishments that were unable to attend the webinars hosted earlier this year. The previous webinars are available on the FSIS website — May 23: Revised Appendix A & B Guidelines, and May 24: Revised Appendix A & B Guidelines (repeat/encore). The September webinars will cover the same content as the May webinars and will provide an opportunity for participants to ask questions.

FSIS announced the availability of the revisions of its cooking (lethality) and stabilization (cooling and hot-holding) guidance, referred to as Appendices A & B, in the December 14, 2021, Federal Register. Establishments that utilized previous versions of Appendix A as support have until December 14, 2022, to either update to the 2021 guidelines or identify alternative support.

September is Food Safety Education Month

For 24 years, National Food Safety Education Month (NFSEM) has provided 30 days for health educators at the national, state, and local levels to focus attention on the fundamentals of buying, storing, preparing, and serving food as safely as possible.

This year, our program focuses on preventing cross-contamination – the transfer of harmful bacteria from food to other foods, cutting boards, or utensils.

While the United States has one of the safest food supplies in the world, every year an estimated one in six Americans gets foodborne illness. By taking steps to prevent cross-contamination at home, you can help protect yourself and your family from illness.

We will be sharing messages on this theme throughout the month on our English Twitter and Spanish Twitter. Keep an eye out for a new topic each week!

Pack Food Safety on your Next Hike or Camping Trip

Hiking and camping are perfect Labor Day weekend activities, and there’s something special about enjoying a meal while admiring nature. To ensure your experience stays foodborne illness free, follow these tips for food safety in the great outdoors.

Have questions about how to best prepare for your hiking or camping adventure? Call or email the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline to get advice from a food safety expert: 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) or MPHotline@usda.gov.

Export Requirements Update

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