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Food Safety and Inspection
Service United States Department of Agriculture Washington, D.C. 20250-3700 |
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Food Safety and Inspection
Service United States Department of Agriculture Washington, D.C. 20250-3700 |
Congressional and Public
Affairs
(202) 720-9113; Fax (202) 690-0460
Linda Swacina
cell phone: (202) 213-1066
Carol Blake
cell phone: (202) 812-2314
I am disappointed to report that Supreme Beef Processors, Inc., of Dallas, Texas, has failed its fourth consecutive set of Salmonella tests. After previously failing three consecutive sets, Supreme Beef's ground beef operations again failed to meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service Salmonella performance standard. The fourth set was designed to verify that corrective changes made by the plant in February were effective.
If this were any other plant, FSIS would immediately suspend inspection upon learning that the corrective changes were inadequate. However, because of a Federal District Court decision in Texas, we are precluded from suspending inspection, which shuts down the ground beef operations, even though Supreme Beef has failed to meet a food safety standard that other plants around the country are required to meet. As a result of the court decision, FSIS has asked Supreme Beef to voluntarily suspend its ground beef operations and to determine what further corrective actions should be taken to bring the plant into compliance.
The Salmonella performance standard was established as part of the 1996 Pathogen Reduction/Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points rule. It was based on testing done by FSIS to determine the national prevalence for Salmonella prior to HACCP. Once plants implemented HACCP and its prevention strategies, including anti-microbial interventions, all plants are required to meet or exceed the so called industry average the standard represents.
The Salmonella performance standard, part of FSIS' new science-based food safety inspection system, has helped reduce Salmonella in raw meat and poultry by as much as 50 percent. It has also helped produce a significant decline in foodborne illnesses. The Salmonella performance standard has been proven to be effective and the reasonableness of the Salmonella standard is demonstrated by the fact that only three plants nationwide have ever failed to meet the standard.
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For Further Information, Contact:
FSIS Congressional and Public Affairs Staff
Phone: (202) 720-9113
Fax: (202) 690-0460
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