[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
[May 5, 2000]
[Pages 854-855]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Memorandum on Reducing the Risk of Listeria Monocytogenes
May 5, 2000

Memorandum for the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services

Subject: Reducing the Risk of Listeria Monocytogenes

    Food safety is a vital issue for all Americans. When people across 
this country sit down to a meal at home or in a restaurant, they expect 
that the food they eat will be safe. While the U.S. food supply is 
abundant, the marketplace has evolved from one dominated by minimally 
processed basic commodities for home preparation to one with an array of 
highly processed products that are ready-to-eat or require minimal 
preparation in the home.
    To take account of the changes in the way Americans eat and to 
ensure that America's food supply remains safe, my Administration has 
made wide-ranging, dramatic improvements in food safety. We have worked 
successfully to revolutionize our meat and poultry inspection system, 
instituting scientific testing and pathogen reduction controls to target 
and reduce dangerous pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 and 
the illnesses they cause. We also have implemented an innovative system 
of preventative controls for the seafood industry, published industry 
guidance to improve the safety of fruits and vegetables, and taken steps 
to prevent unsafe imported foods from reaching American consumers. My 
Food Safety Initiative is now in its third year of improving food safety 
surveillance, outbreak response, education, research, and inspection. In 
1998, I issued an Executive Order creating the President's Council on 
Food Safety (Council), which oversees Federal food safety research 
efforts and is currently developing a comprehensive, national food 
safety strategic plan. It is under the Council's auspices that my 
Administration produced last year an Egg Safety Action Plan with the 
goal of eliminating illnesses from Salmonella Enteritidis in eggs. 
Additionally, we launched a high-tech early warning system called 
PulseNet that uses DNA-fingerprinting techniques to help us better 
detect and prevent outbreaks of foodborne illness.
    These and other efforts have helped to make meaningful improvements 
in food safety. But we can do even more. Millions of Americans get sick 
from eating contaminated food each year. With changing patterns of food 
production and consumption, we must continue to aggressively meet the 
food safety challenges of the 21st century.
    One challenge we must address immediately is that of Listeria 
monocytogenes, which can cause a severe infection called listeriosis. 
Listeriosis is a significant public health concern, and is especially 
lethal, resulting in death in about 20 percent of cases. The Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 2,518 persons become ill 
and 504 persons die each year from listeriosis. Pregnant women with 
listeriosis can pass the infection on to their unborn children, 
potentially resulting in severe illness or death to the fetus or newborn 
infant. Others at high risk for severe disease or death are the elderly 
and those with weakened immune systems. Ready-to-eat food products, such 
as lunch meats, smoked fish, certain types of soft cheeses, and hot 
dogs, are among the foods most commonly associated with food-related 
illness from Listeria. To address this serious public health problem, 
the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in cooperation with 
the Department of Agriculture (USDA), is conducting a risk assessment on 
Listeria monocytogenes to determine which foods warrant further 
preventive measures. This risk assessment will be completed shortly, and 
I believe we must build on what is already being done to target this 
deadly organism.
    My Administration's goal--articulated in our Healthy People 2010 
plan--is to cut the number of illnesses caused by Listeria in half by 
2010, from 0.5 cases to 0.25 cases per 100,000. To meet and exceed this 
goal, I hereby direct you,

[[Page 855]]

in cooperation and consultation with the Council and relevant Federal 
agencies, to report back to me within 120 days on the aggressive steps 
you will take to significantly reduce the risk of illness and death by 
Listeria monocytogenes ready-to-eat foods. In particular, within this 
time period, I direct the Secretary of Agriculture to complete proposed 
regulations that include any appropriate microbiological testing and 
other industry measures to: 1) prevent cross-contamination in the 
processing environment; 2) ensure that the processing of ready-to-eat 
products meets appropriate standards; and 3) ensure that such products 
are safe throughout their shelf life. In addition, I direct the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services, within this time frame, to 
develop an action plan identifying additional steps necessary to reduce 
Listeria monocytogenes contamination. This plan should include 
consideration of control measures for at-risk foods and the publication 
of guidance for processors, retailers, and food service facilities. 
Finally, you should consider whether enhanced labeling is necessary to 
provide additional safeguards for consumers. These actions should be 
based in science and should establish the foundation for a comprehensive 
approach that significantly reduces the opportunity for Listeria product 
contamination and Listeria-related illnesses to occur. All these 
actions, taken together, should allow us to achieve our Healthy People 
Goal by 2005 rather than 2010.
    These steps will continue to ensure the safety of America's food 
supply and will help protect some of the Nation's most vulnerable 
populations from foodborne illness.

                                                      William J. Clinton

Note: This memorandum was embargoed for release by the Office of the 
Press Secretary until 10:06 a.m. on May 6.