Background:
On June 30, 2003, the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) sponsored a national Stakeholders' Listening Session on Food Safety Research Priorities. The session was held in Denver, Colorado, at the Radisson Hotel Denver Stapleton Plaza and coordinated by Colorado State University's Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition.

Federal Register Announcement of Session
The session was announced in the Federal Register (June 17, 2003; Vol. 68, No. 116, pgs. 35841-35843). The listening session targeted industry groups, university partners, consumer groups and Federal food safety agencies. The session was open to the public.

The major objective of the Listening Session was to allow CSREES and ARS partners and stakeholders an opportunity to identify up to five food safety research priorities requiring increased attention over the next five years. All oral presentations were asked to use the following format: (1) Provide a clear description of up to five food safety priorities; (2) Describe the current state of affairs for each priority; and (3) Indicate where the organization/agency would like to be in five years in regard to each priority. Those unable to attend the meeting were encouraged to submit written presentations by July 14, 2003. Oral presenters were also asked to submit the text of their written presentations.

Proceedings of the Food Safety Research Priorities Listening Session
The proceedings of the Stakeholders' Listening Session are presented here in Adobe Acrobat format (file size 832 KB). Comments of various presenters can be read by scrolling through the document, or accessed directly by clicking on the bookmark tab (on the left of your screen), and then on the name of the speaker. The proceedings of the session are presented in two parts: written statements and comments made at the session on June 30, 2003, and written comments submitted on or before July 14, 2003.

The sponsors and organizers greatly appreciate the efforts of those agencies and organizations that provided written and oral comments. The food safety research priorities identified by partners and stakeholders in these proceedings provided valuable input for all USDA agencies concerned with food safety issues.