Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Web-Based Surveys

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Published

December 15, 2023

Issuing agencies

Agriculture DepartmentFood Safety and Inspection Service

Abstract

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, FSIS is announcing its intention to collect information using web surveys to test new labels for safe handling of raw and partially cooked meat and poultry products. This is a new information collection with 3,550 hours.

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 240 (Friday, December 15, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 240 (Friday, December 15, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86874-86877]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27602]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2023-0027]

Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Web-Based
Surveys

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, FSIS is announcing
its intention to collect information using web surveys to test new
labels for safe handling of raw and partially cooked meat and poultry
products. This is a new information collection with 3,550 hours.

DATES: Submit comments on or before February 13, 2024.

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-2023-0027. 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 202-720-5046 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; 202-720-5046.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Consumer Labeling Research Web-based Surveys.
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.
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 40209).
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

[[Page 86875]]

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>).
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 do this FSIS will take into
consideration recent research via a literature review and input from
key stakeholders and experts via listening sessions.
In December 2022 and January 2023, through a contractor, FSIS
conducted listening sessions 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 were used for 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 are
being 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 accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, FSIS
published a 60-day notice (88 FR 30713 May 12, 2023) and a 30-day
notice requesting comments regarding this information collection
request (88 FR 65359 September 22, 2023). The Agency received no
comments, and the information collection request is currently being
reviewed by OMB.
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 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 in experimental test kitchens 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 2, consumer web-based surveys. Phase 2 is a new
information collection with 3,550 hours. FSIS plans to submit an
additional information collection request for approval of Phase 3, the
observation studies.
FSIS has contracted with RTI International to conduct the Phase 2
web-based surveys. FSIS will use the exploratory web survey to refine
the labeling format, layout, design features (e.g., icons, colors), and
messaging and to collect other information such as awareness of the
current SHI and risk perceptions of contracting foodborne illness. The
exploratory survey will be important for testing and refining the
labels for understanding, readability, visual receptivity, and
perceived effectiveness.
The experimental survey will use a limited time exposure (LTE)
experiment to measure label saliency (i.e., noticeability) and identify
the top performing labels. Respondents will be randomly assigned to 1
of 10 conditions (up to 9 test labels and the current SHI label). A
mock meat or poultry product bearing the assigned label will be briefly
displayed on the screen (e.g., 20 seconds), and respondents will be
asked to recall whether specific text or images were present on the
label. Using statistical analysis, we can determine the relative
saliency of the labels tested. Additionally, we will ask a series of
questions to measure other outcomes, such as whether the labels
provided new information, induced thinking about the risks of
contracting foodborne illness, and changed food safety-related beliefs.
To administer the surveys, RTI will partner with Kantar's
Lightspeed Global Market Insite Panel, an opt-in panel. RTI will use
quotas to ensure that the survey respondents mirror the demographics of
the U.S. population (e.g., age, education level, race, ethnicity) based
on the most recent Census data. Kantar will conduct a pilot for each
survey, 50 respondents for the exploratory survey and 100 respondents
for the experimental survey. For the full-scale survey, Kantar will
select samples that are sufficient to yield 1,000 respondents for the
exploratory survey and 2,400 respondents for the experimental survey.
Kantar will conduct a separate set of cognitive interviews for the
survey instruments for the exploratory and experimental surveys. Up to
nine cognitive interviews will be conducted to evaluate and refine each
survey instrument before receiving OMB approval. After receiving OMB
approval, Kantar will conduct separate pilot studies for the
exploratory and web-based surveys to ensure that the programming logic
for the online survey is correct before the full-scale study is
implemented.
Estimate of Burden: For the pilot for the exploratory survey, it is
expected that 1,000 panel members selected by Kantar will receive email
invitations and that 50 of the eligible panel members will subsequently
complete the questionnaire. For the full-scale study, it is expected
that 20,000 panel members selected by Kantar will receive email
invitations and that 1,000 of the eligible panel members will
subsequently complete the questionnaire. The email invitations for the
pilot and full-scale study are expected to take 2 minutes to read. The

[[Page 86876]]

exploratory survey is expected to take 20 minutes to complete.
For the pilot for the experimental survey, it is expected that
2,000 panel members selected by Kantar will receive email invitations
and that 100 of the eligible panel members will subsequently complete
the questionnaire. For the full-scale study, it is expected that 48,000
panel members selected by Kantar will receive email invitations and
that 2,400 of the eligible panel members will subsequently complete the
questionnaire. The email invitations for the pilot and the full-scale
study are expected to take 2 minutes to read. The exploratory survey is
expected to take 20 minutes to complete.
The total estimated burden of the web-based surveys are 3,550 hours
(1,050.00 hours for the exploratory survey and 2,500 hours for the
experimental survey).

Estimated Annual Reporting Burden for the Exploratory Survey
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responses Non-responses
Sample ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total
Study component size Freq Freq X Burden Freq X Burden burden
Count count Min/ resp hours Count count Min/ resp hours hours
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pilot: ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ...........
Email invitation......... 1,000 1 50 50 2 1.67 950 950 2 31.67 33.34
Questionnaire............ 50 1 \a\ 50 50 20 16.67 0 0 0 0 16.67
Full-Scale: ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ...........
Email invitation......... 20,000 1 1,000 1,000 2 33.33 19,000 19,000 2 633.33 666.66
Questionnaire............ 1,000 1 \a\ 1,000 1,000 20 333.33 0 0 0 0 333.33
Total Burden hours... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... 1,050.00
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\a\ A subset of the people who received the invitation.

Estimated Annual Reporting Burden for the Experimental Survey
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responses Non-responses
Sample ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total
Study component size Freq Freq X Burden Freq X Burden burden
Count count Min/ resp hours Count count Min/ resp hours hours
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pilot: ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ...........
Email invitation......... 2,000 1 100 100 2 3.33 1,900 1,900 2 63.33 66.66
Questionnaire............ 100 1 \a\ 100 100 20 33.33 0 0 0 0 33.33
Full-Scale:.............. ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ...........
Email invitation......... 48,000 1 2,400 2,400 2 80.00 45,600 45,600 2 1,520 1,600
Questionnaire............ 2,400 1 \a\ 2,400 2,400 20 800.00 0 0 0 0 800
Total Burden hours... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... 2,499.99
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ A subset of the people who received the invitation.

Respondents: Consumers.
Estimated No. of Respondents: 3,550.
Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Burden: 3,550 hours.
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,

[[Page 86877]]

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.usda.gov/forms/electronic-forms">https://www.usda.gov/forms/electronic-forms</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#fc8c8e939b8e9d91d29592889d9799bc898f989dd29b938a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="39494b565e4b58541750574d58525c794c4a5d58175e564f">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Paul Kiecker,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2023-27602 Filed 12-14-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P

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