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FSIS Posts Annual Progress Report on Salmonella Testing
On June 5, 2009, FSIS posted to its Web site the Progress Report on Salmonella Testing
of Raw Meat and Poultry Products, 1998-2008. This report provides new data for calendar
year 2008 on all establishments eligible for Salmonella testing.
The Agency has established as its goal that by 2010, 90 percent of establishments eligible
for Salmonella testing should be in Category 1, which means they demonstrate
consistent process control. As of December 2008, 81 percent of establishments were in
Category 1. Illustrated in the table below, the following percentages of establishments are
in Category 1 based on eight product classes.
| Plants in Category 1 by Product Class |
| Product Class |
Broilers |
Market Hog |
Cow/Bull |
Steer/ Heifer |
| Percentage |
82 |
86 |
81 |
86 |
| |
| Product Class |
Ground Beef |
Ground Chicken |
Ground Turkey |
Turkey |
| Percentage |
76 |
50 |
71 |
97 |
In calendar year 2008, subcategory "2T" was created to represent establishments with the most recent
set less than or equal to 50 percent of the performance standard or guidance and a prior set greater
than 50 percent of the performance standard or guidance. The Agency considers these establishments
to be transitioning to Category 1.
Also in calendar year 2008, FSIS started rounding down the allowable positives for Category 1 for
product classes having odd numbered performance standards or guidance: turkey, ground turkey and
ground beef. The Agency believes that this more stringent policy is necessary and an important
incentive to improve performance in controlling Salmonella.
To better allocate testing resources toward higher risk establishments, beginning in the second quarter
of 2008, FSIS began sampling very low volume establishments that produce raw ground beef for Salmonella
when it samples them for E. coli O157:H7 (one sample two tests). FSIS no longer schedules these
establishments under the traditional verification sampling program.
FSIS continues to post monthly the names of broiler establishments demonstrating variable or
inconsistent process control. Turkey establishments are exempt from posting because this product
class meets the criteria of at least 90 percent of all establishments being in Category 1 and
having no establishments in Category 3.
The complete report is available on FSIS' Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/Microbiology/
index.asp#salmonella.
Codex Seeks Comments on Sanitary and Phytosanitary International Standard-Setting Activities
On June 1, FSIS announced the publication of a notice of sanitary and phytosanitary standard-setting activities
of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex).
The notice also provides a list of other standard-setting activities of Codex, including commodity standards,
guidelines, codes of practice and revised texts.
Codex develops food standards, guidelines and codes of practice in order to protect the health of consumers,
ensure fair food trade practices and promote coordination of food standards undertaken by international
governmental and non-governmental organizations.
Comments can be sent to the Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture-FSIS, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.,
South Building, Room 2534, Washington, D.C., 20250-3700. Submissions may also be received through the Federal
eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov.
For further information, contact Karen Stuck, United States Manager for Codex, at (202) 205-7760. Documents
pertaining to Codex are accessible via the Codex Alimentarius Web site at www.codexalimentarius.net/current.asp.
Export Requirement Updates
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements for the following countries:
- Armenia
- Russia
- Uzbekistan
Complete information can be found at www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Export_Information/index.asp.
FSIS to Host Public Meeting on Interagency Risk Assessment for Listeria monocytogenes
FSIS is co-sponsoring a public meeting with the Department of Health and Human Service's Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) on June 23, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., to present background, approach, scope
and data needs for a recently initiated interagency risk assessment of the public health impact of
foodborne Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) in some ready-to-eat foods that are sliced, prepared or packaged
in retail facilities.
The purpose of this meeting is to ascertain the effect on public health where current practices and potential
interventions reduce or prevent Lm contamination in ready-to-eat foods. FSIS and FDA are
inviting interested individuals, organizations and other stakeholders to participate in the meeting and
comment on this topic.
The meeting will be held at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel, 480 L'Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington, D.C. More
information, including the agenda, is available on the "Meetings and Events" page of FSIS' Web site at
www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Meetings_&_Events/
index.asp.
"How To" Workshops for Small and Very Small Plants
The Agency hosted a series of "how to" workshops to provide practical tools and methods for
proper application and compliance. Resource handouts from these workshops are available in PowerPoint or
PDF formats on the FSIS Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/
Workshop_SmallPlants_HowTo/index.asp.
These outreach workshops covered various information on Specified Risk Materials, developing controls for
Salmonella and Campylobacter, establishing effective sanitation practices,
developing food defense plans, ensuring humane handling of livestock and conducting product recalls.
Public Meeting to Address Agenda Items for the 32nd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety is sponsoring a public meeting to provide information and
receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed in Rome, Italy at the
32nd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC).
The public meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 8, from 1 to 4 p.m., Room 107-A, Jamie Whitten Federal Building,
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C.
Documents and agenda items related to the 32nd Session of CAC, to be held from June 29 to July 4 will be
available at www.codexalimentarius.net/current.asp.
Written comments may be submitted by e-mail to Barbara.McNiff@fsis.usda.gov.
For further information concerning the 32nd Session of the CAC, contact Barbara McNiff by e-mail, by phone
(202) 690-4719 or by fax at (202) 720-3157.
To view the related press release, visit the FSIS Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_060309_01/index.asp.
Ask Karen
Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available
24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov.
FSIS Extends Outreach with Educational Meetings on Enhanced Enforcement of Imported Products
The Agency will conduct educational meetings in June regarding the recently enhanced enforcement program
for imported products containing small amounts of meat or poultry ingredients.
FSIS is enhancing its programs to ensure approved source requirements are met and to achieve the sanitary
processing and prevention of intentional or non-intentional contamination.
Affected industry organizations, importers and manufacturers of food products containing small amounts of
meat or poultry ingredients will learn what will be required for these products to enter the United States
after June 22.
For more information and to register, contact the Office of Outreach, Employee Education and Training at
1-800-336-3747.
Also, be sure to check the "Meetings and Events" page of FSIS' Web site at
www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Meetings_&_Events/
index.asp
for more updates.
June 9
7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Doubletree Hotel
200 Marina Boulevard
Berkley, California
June 16
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Hilton Newark Airport
1170 Spring Street
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Updates on FSIS Testing for E. coli O157:H7
Weekly updates for the Agency's raw beef E. coli sampling program are posted to the FSIS Web site.
For comparative 2008 and 2009 results, go to www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/
Ground_Beef_E.Coli_Testing_Results/index.asp.
FSIS Issues Notice
FSIS issues directives and notices to enhance the Agency's efforts in protecting public health.
The following notice was issued this week:
- Notice 44-09, Changes in Sampling Frequency for E. coli O157:H7 Testing in Raw Ground Beef
All directives and notices are available on FSIS' Web site at:
www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/
regulations_directives_&_notices/index.asp.
USDA to Host 2010 Food Safety Education Conference
To help educate stakeholders, USDA and NSF International are hosting the 2010 Food Safety Education Conference,
Advancements in Food Safety: Trends, Tools and Technologies, from March 23 to 26 at the Hyatt Regency
in Atlanta, Georgia.
Food safety educators and other professionals worldwide will have the opportunity to discover the latest
advancements in food safety education, including trends, tools and technologies.
For more information, visit www.fsis.usda.gov/Atlanta2010.
Get Answers at askFSIS
AskFSIS is searchable by visitors and designed to help answer policy-related questions on topics
such as exporting, labeling, inspection, programs and procedures. Visit http://askfsis.custhelp.com
to find the answers to your questions.
Recently Posted Questions and Answers
FSIS Posts New Podcasts
Tune in and subscribe to podcasts that offer information on the selection, handling and preparation of meat
and poultry products to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
This week, FSIS released podcasts helpful to both consumers and plant owners and operators.
- Food Safety at Home: Food Recalls (Spanish)
- Notice of Intended Enforcement: Options After Receiving an NOIE-Appeal (Part 3 of 4)
Check out these new podcasts on FSIS' Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov/news_&_events/Podcasts/index.asp.
Spanish language consumer podcasts are available at www.fsis.usda.gov/En_Espanol/Podcasts_SP/index.asp.
Updates on H1N1 Influenza
In response to an intensifying outbreak of H1N1 influenza, USDA has posted frequently asked questions and
answers to its Web site at www.usda.gov.
Also, be sure to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov for more updates and to
learn more about H1N1 influenza.
Be Food Safe!
The Kitchen Companion: Your Safe Food Handbook contains all the basic information you need to know about
food safety … some old, some new … and all in one place.
To view the handbook, go to www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Kitchen_Companion.pdf | Text-Only Version. |
Last Modified:
June 12, 2009 |
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