The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on Tuesday they will hold a public meeting to discuss a recently completed draft risk assessment on Listeria monocytogenes in foods sold at retail delicatessens.

The meeting will be held at USDA’s Jefferson Auditorium at 1400 Independence Avenue, Southwest, Washington, D.C. on May 22nd from 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

According to an FDA press release, the agencies jointly conducted the draft risk assessment to “better understand the risk of foodborne illness associated with ready-to-eat foods prepared in retail delis and how industry practices may reduce or increase the risk.”

“Presentations at the public meeting will address listeriosis in the United States; the background, scope, purpose and findings of the draft risk assessment; and the request for public comments. The draft risk assessment is slated for publication the second week in May and a Federal Register notice will announce its availability,” according to FDA.

“Speakers at the public meeting will include FDA, FSIS and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials, as well as industry representatives and university researchers.”

For more information, including registration instructions, see the Federal Register Notice for the Public Meeting