Notice2023-10145
Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Consumer Labeling Research: Focus Groups
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
May 12, 2023
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentFood Safety and Inspection Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, FSIS is announcing its intention to collect information using focus groups to test new labels for safe handling of raw and partially cooked meat and poultry products. This is a new information collection with 247 hours.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 92 (Friday, May 12, 2023)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 92 (Friday, May 12, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30713-30715]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10145]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2023-0012]
Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Consumer
Labeling Research: Focus Groups
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, FSIS is announcing
its intention to collect information using focus groups to test new
labels for safe handling of raw and partially cooked meat and poultry
products. This is a new information collection with 247 hours.
DATES: Submit comments on or before July 11, 2023.
ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this
Federal Register notice. Comments may be submitted by one of the
following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: This website provides
commenters the ability to type short comments directly into the comment
field on the web page or to attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the on-line instructions at that
site for submitting comments.
<bullet> Mail: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 Independence
Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
<bullet> Hand- or Courier-Delivered Submittals: Deliver to 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Jamie L. Whitten Building, Room 350-E,
Washington, DC 20250-3700.
Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2023-0012. Comments
received in response to this docket will be made available for public
inspection and posted without change, including any personal
information, to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Docket: For access to background documents or comments received,
call (202) 937-4272 to schedule a time to visit the FSIS Docket Room at
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and
Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, South Building, Washington, DC
20250-3700; (202) 937-4272.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Consumer Labeling Research Focus Groups.
OMB Number: 0583-NEW.
Type of Request: Request for a new information collection.
Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the
functions of the Secretary (7 CFR 2.18 and 2.53), as specified in the
Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et seq.), the
Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.), and
the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031, et seq.). These
statutes mandate that FSIS protect the public by verifying that meat,
poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, and properly labeled and
packaged.
Safe handling instructions (SHI) are required on the labels of raw
or partially cooked (i.e., not considered ready to eat) meat and
poultry products if the product is destined for household consumers or
institutional uses (9 CFR 317.2(l) and 9 CFR 381.125(b)). FSIS has
required the SHI label for raw and partially cooked meat and poultry
products since 1994 (59 FR 7217).
In response to inquiries from consumer groups and other
stakeholders about potential changes to SHI requirements, FSIS gathered
input from members of academia, industry, and consumer stakeholders
concerning the label in November 2013. FSIS presented the results of
the input in the form of suggestions to the National Advisory Committee
on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI) in January 2014. The NACMPI
Subcommittee on Food Handling Labels recommended that FSIS pursue
changes in the existing SHI label and conduct consumer research to
determine the effectiveness of any revisions to the SHI label.
In 2015, FSIS conducted six consumer focus groups (OMB No. 0583-
0166; 11/30/2017) to evaluate understanding of the current SHI label
and responses to possible revisions. The results from the focus groups
suggested that consumers would find certain revisions to the SHI label
useful. Participants recommended changes to improve consumer
comprehension and adherence to recommended safe handling practices
(e.g., add recommendations to use a food thermometer and endpoint
temperatures for different cuts of meat and poultry). Based on the
results of these focus groups, FSIS determined that additional research
using more rigorous, quantitative approaches with a larger sample of
consumers was needed. FSIS also surmised this research would help
inform potential revisions to the current SHI label and assess whether
a label revision would improve consumer food safety behaviors.
In 2020, FSIS completed a study that comprised a web-based
experimental survey and an experimental behavior change study that
included meal preparation in a test kitchen environment, eye tracking,
and in-depth interviews to design and evaluate potential revised SHI
labels (OMB No. 0583-0177; 4/30/2022). For this study, FSIS created new
labels based on recommendations from NACMPI, which focused on updating
the existing text and icons in the current SHI label and adding
information on recommended internal minimum temperatures for different
cuts of meat and poultry. This study found that the three labels tested
did not perform better than the current SHI label with regard to visual
saliency (i.e., noticeability) and behavior change for the safe
handling practices displayed on the label (e.g., using a food
thermometer or washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds and
then drying) (final report available at <a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/2022-02/SHI_Behavior_Change_Study%20Final%20Report_9_23_20.pdf">https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/2022-02/SHI_Behavior_Change_Study%20Final%20Report_9_23_20.pdf</a>).
[[Page 30714]]
Consumer groups and other stakeholders have continued to advocate
for improved labeling for raw and partially cooked meat and poultry
products. In response, FSIS is pursuing research to create and assess
consumer responses to new labeling not included in previous studies.
FSIS plans to start with a ``blank slate'' (i.e., freely develop the
label with no restrictions, ideas, or characteristics instead of simply
revising the current SHI label). To inform label creation for the
current study, FSIS recently worked with a contractor to conduct
listening sessions and a literature review.
In December 2022 and January 2023, listening sessions were
conducted with consumer groups; representatives from the meat and
poultry industry; and experts in health communications, food science,
and food safety education to collect information on factors to consider
when creating new labeling for raw and partially cooked meat and
poultry products. Additionally, a literature review was conducted to
identify and summarize best practices for label design for attracting
attention and motivating behavior change and recommendations for label
design based on human factors research. The findings from the listening
sessions and literature review will be used in the current study to
create new labels for safe handling of raw and partially cooked meat
and poultry products.
FSIS plans to use an iterative approach with multiple rounds of
consumer research to obtain feedback on the new label designs and make
refinements during the study. In Phase 1, the new label designs will
initially be tested in consumer focus groups to obtain qualitative
feedback on the labels, and the findings will be used to refine the
label design and messaging. In Phase 2, the revised label designs will
be tested in an exploratory web survey, and the quantitative findings
from this survey will be used to revise and prepare the final labels
for testing in a web-based experimental survey to identify the top
three performing labels based on the outcomes of interest, such as
noticeability, changed food safety-related beliefs, and induced
thinking about the risks of contracting foodborne illness. In Phase 3,
an observation study will be conducted to obtain empirical evidence on
the label design that is most effective at encouraging consumers to
follow recommended safe handling practices for raw and partially cooked
meat and poultry products and will include the use of eye tracking to
measure visual saliency for the new labels compared with the control,
the current SHI label.
FSIS is requesting approval for a new information collection to
conduct Phase 1, consumer focus groups. Phase 1 is a new information
collection with 247 hours. As each round of consumer labeling research
becomes available, FSIS plans to submit additional information
collection requests for approval.
FSIS will use the focus groups to test the new labels and obtain
qualitative feedback for refining the label design and messaging. FSIS
has contracted with RTI International to conduct the phase 1 focus
group study. A total of 12 focus groups will be conducted: three focus
groups in four different locations (Northeast, South Atlantic, West
South Central, and West). To provide homogeneity, the focus groups will
be segmented by the populations of interest: Spanish-speaking
individuals, individuals with limited literacy, individuals with
limited cooking experience (i.e., new cooks), parents or guardians of
young children (<=5 years of age), older adults (>=65 years of age),
and individuals who are considered the ``sandwich generation'' (i.e.,
have responsibility for providing care for both children and older
adults).
A local market research company in each location will recruit
potential participants from their databases and other sources. They
will also provide the facilities for hosting the focus group
discussions. Using convenience sampling, a nonprobability sampling
technique where subjects are selected because of their convenient
accessibility instead of random selection, the market research
companies will recruit potential participants who meet the eligibility
criteria as defined by the screening questionnaires.
An experienced moderator will conduct the focus group discussions
and use a moderator guide, which will serve as an outline and provide
structure for the focus group discussions. Each focus group discussion
will be professionally audio and video recorded, and the audio-
recordings will be transcribed. The moderators will review the video-
recordings and transcripts of the focus group discussions and prepare a
detailed summary of each discussion. The moderators will then
systematically analyze the detailed summaries to identify common themes
and any exceptions to these themes. The contractor will summarize these
findings in a final report to FSIS. No statistical analyses will be
conducted.
Estimate of Burden: For the 12 focus groups, it is expected that
768 individuals will complete the screening questionnaire. It is
estimated that 144 individuals will be eligible and agree to
participate. Among the 144 individuals recruited for the focus group
study, it is estimated that 96 will show up and participate in the
focus group study (eight people per group). Each screening
questionnaire is expected to take 8 minutes (0.133 hour). Taking part
in the focus group discussion will take a total of 90 minutes (1.5
hours). The estimated annual reporting burden is 246.14 hours, which is
the sum of the burden estimates for the screening questionnaire and
focus group discussion for respondents and nonrespondents.
Estimated Annual Reporting Burden for the Focus Group Study
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual Respondents Nonrespondents
Sample frequency ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total
Study component size per Freq x Burden Freq x Burden hours
response Count Count Hours/resp hours Count count Hours/resp hours
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Screening question-naire............ 768 1 144 144 0.133 (8 min.)............ 19.15 624 624 0.133 (8 min.)........... 82.99 102.14
Focus group discussion.............. 144 1 96 96 1.5 (90 min.)............. 144.00 48 48 0........................ 0 144.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total........................... ......... ........... ......... ......... .......................... 163.15 ......... ......... ......................... 82.99 246.14
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Respondents: Consumers.
Estimated No. of Respondents: 768.
Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Burden: 247 hours.
[[Page 30715]]
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of
public record. Copies of this information collection assessment can be
obtained from Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and Program Development,
Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW,
Mailstop 3758, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-3700; (202) 937-
4272.
Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS' functions,
including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the
accuracy of FSIS' estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of
information, including the validity of the method and assumptions used;
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information, including through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection
techniques, or other forms of information technology. Comments may be
sent to both FSIS, at the addresses provided above, and the Desk
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Washington, DC 20253.
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy
development is important. Consequently, FSIS will announce this Federal
Register publication on-line through the FSIS web page located at:
<a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register">https://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register</a>.
FSIS will also announce and provide a link to this Federal Register
publication through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to
provide information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations,
Federal Register notices, FSIS public meetings, and other types of
information that could affect or would be of interest to our
constituents and stakeholders. The Constituent Update is available on
the FSIS web page. Through the web page, FSIS can provide information
to a much broader, more diverse audience. In addition, FSIS offers an
email subscription service which provides automatic and customized
access to selected food safety news and information. This service is
available at: <a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe">https://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe</a>. Options range from
recalls to export information, regulations, directives, and notices.
Customers can add or delete subscriptions themselves and have the
option to password protect their accounts.
USDA Non-Discrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights
regulations and policies, USDA, its Mission Areas, agencies, staff
offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering
USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color,
national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender
expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status,
family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance
program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil
rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA
(not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing
deadlines vary by program or incident.
Program information may be made available in languages other than
English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of
communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large
print, audiotape, American Sign Language) should contact the
responsible Mission Area, agency, or staff office; the USDA TARGET
Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY); or the Federal Relay Service
at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should
complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form,
which can be obtained online at <a href="https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-3027">https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-3027</a>, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a
letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's
name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the
alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date
of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or
letter must be submitted to USDA by:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20250-9410;
(2) Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
(3) Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1e6e6c71796c7f733077706a7f757b5e6b6d7a7f30797168"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8ffffde0e8fdeee2a1e6e1fbeee4eacffafcebeea1e8e0f9">[email protected]</span></a>.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Paul Kiecker,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2023-10145 Filed 5-11-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on May 12, 2023.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.