FDA to Hold Public Meeting on Listeria Prevention

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is hosting a public meeting on Listeria monocytogenes prevention Aug. 18-19, from 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. ET, in the auditorium at the Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building in College Park, Md. It will also be available virtually.

The meeting will be the first in a series of public engagements, including workshops and webinars, to discuss best practices for managing risks posed by Listeria, said the agency.

Discussions will highlight stakeholder perspectives and complement the agency's efforts to integrate the latest scientific advancements and emerging developments in the prevention of Listeria, said FDA.

Listeria is the fourth-leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States. Despite continued efforts, incidence rates of listeriosis have remained essentially static for more than a decade, indicating the need for new, collaborative approaches to reduce public health burden, said FDA.

The meeting will focus on four key areas: reducing Listeria in foods during manufacturing and processing, reducing Listeria in ready-to-eat foods at retail establishments, reducing the risk of Listeria during consumer storage and use and improving awareness among vulnerable populations.

It will include presentations and listening sessions on:

• Advances in the understanding and control of Listeria
• Best practices in Listeria prevention
• Listeria dose-response modeling: applications and advancements
• Using food safety management systems for controlling Listeria in retail environments
• Preventing listeriosis in an era of changing demographics and dietary patterns

FDA said it encourages participation from all stakeholders, including industry, academia, consumer groups and public health practitioners.

The meeting is free and open to the public. Registration is required. More information about registration is available here.

FDA said it intends to open a docket and issue additional materials prior to the meeting.