[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 2, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25491-25492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10839]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. 00N-1246]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Food Safety Survey

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an 
opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain 
information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(the PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the 
Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, 
including each proposed extension of an existing collection of

[[Page 25492]]

information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the 
notice. This notice solicits comments on a voluntary consumer survey 
about food safety.

DATES: Submit written comments on the collection of information by July 
3, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information to 
the Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 
5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. All comments should 
be identified with the docket number found in brackets in the heading 
of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peggy Schlosburg, Office of 
Information Resources Management (HFA-250), Food and Drug 
Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, 301-827-1223.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal 
agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. 
``Collection of information'' is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 
1320.3(c) and includes agency requests or requirements that members of 
the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a 
third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) 
requires Federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal 
Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including 
each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, 
before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with 
this requirement, FDA is publishing notice of the proposed collection 
of information set forth in this document.
    With respect to the following collection of information, FDA 
invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of FDA's functions, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy 
of FDA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques, when appropriate, and other forms of 
information technology.

Food Safety Survey (OMB Control Number 0910-0345)--Extension

    Under section 903(b)(2) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act 
(21 U.S.C. 393(b)(2)), FDA is authorized to conduct research relating 
to foods and to conduct educational and public information programs 
relating to the safety of the nation's food supply. FDA is planning to 
conduct a consumer survey about food safety under this authority. The 
food safety survey will provide information about consumers' food 
safety awareness, knowledge, concerns, and practices. A nationally 
representative sample of 2,000 adults in households with telephones and 
cooking facilities will be selected at random and interviewed by 
telephone. Participation will be voluntary. Detailed information will 
be obtained about risk perception, perceived sources of food 
contamination, knowledge of particular microorganisms, safe care label 
use, food handling practices, consumption of raw foods from animals, 
information sources, and perceived foodborne illness and food allergy 
experience.
    Most of the questions to be asked are identical to ones asked in 
the 1998 Food Safety Survey. Because of recent national consumer 
education campaigns about food safety and the large amount of media 
attention to food safety issues in the past few years, consumer 
attitudes, knowledge, and practices are likely to have changed greatly 
since the 1998 survey. FDA needs current information to support 
consumer education programs and regulatory development. In addition, 
FDA needs information from the consumer perspective on several new 
areas related to food safety. New areas include attitudes toward 
genetically modified foods, irradiated foods, and organically grown 
foods; handling of leftovers and foods associated with listeria 
monocytogenes contamination; washing practices for fresh fruits and 
vegetables; reaction to warning statements on unpasteurized juice and 
to handling statements on eggs; disability status; and perceived food 
allergy.
    FDA estimates the burden of this collection of information as 
follows:

                                  Table 1.--Estimated Annual Reporting Burden1
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                                                      Annual
               No. of respondents                  frequency per   Total annual      Hours per      Total hours
                                                     response        responses       response
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2,000                                                   1           2,000                .5        1,000
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\1\ There are no capital costs or operating and maintenance costs associated with this collection of
  information.

    The burden estimate is based on FDA's experience with the 1998 
survey mentioned in the previous paragraph.

    Dated: April 26, 2000.
William K. Hubbard,
Senior Associate Commissioner for Policy, Planning, and Legislation.
[FR Doc. 00-10839 Filed 5-1-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-F