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
Steven Cohen

 Pathogen Reduction Efforts:
Statement by Dr. Elsa Murano
Under Secretary For Food Safety,
U.S. Department of Agriculture
May 23, 2002

“Americans enjoy the safest, most wholesome food in the world, and this Administration is fully committed to continued improvements to protect public health through an enhanced food safety system for meat, poultry, and egg products.  Although we are constantly looking for proven methods to strengthen our programs, successes are already apparent. Data collected since 1998 indicate that rates of Salmonella have decreased markedly in all categories of product since Pathogen Reduction/HACCP implementation.  Most importantly, recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show a 23 percent drop in bacterial foodborne illness since 1996, confirming Pathogen Reduction/HACCP's success in preventing foodborne illness-- our ultimate goal.

“Pathogen Reduction/HACCP is a multi-pronged scientific approach to improving food safety.  While Salmonella testing remains an important component of the Pathogen Reduction/ HACCP system, it is not the sole indicator of whether plants are meeting food safety standards.  Our food safety experts are continually verifying, through rigorous reviews, that establishments have sound HACCP systems and sanitation practices that prevent and control hazards.  We are aggressively targeting ground beef establishments that fail to control hazards and providing incentives to plants that use a decontamination step in their processes.

“Like other components of the Pathogen Reduction/HACCP system, microbial testing is continuously being reviewed, evaluated and improved, with the ultimate goal of protecting public health and enhancing meat and poultry safety for all consumers. Pathogen Reduction/HACCP has been developed and implemented with full input from the public and our expert advisory committees, and their valuable input will continue to help us as additional improvements are considered.”

For Further Information, Contact:
FSIS Congressional and Public Affairs Staff
Phone: (202) 720-9113
Fax: (202) 690-0460

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