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Steven Cohen

 National Alliance For Food Safety Completes Review Of HIMP Data

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2002- A technical review of data on the effectiveness of the HACCP-based Inspection Models Project (HIMP) was presented today at a meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service contracted with National Alliance for Food Safety (NAFS), a consortium of 20 universities, to determine the soundness of the design and methodology for the HIMP pilot project and the utility of data collected to determine its validity by the Research Triangle Institute and by FSIS.

The review team chosen by NAFS was an independent, third party team consisting of nationally and internationally recognized experts in the area of poultry microbiology, poultry health, poultry processing, food safety and statistical evaluation. The review team was charged with reviewing the validity of the pilot study’s design as well as the methodologies used to assess the accomplishments of the traditional inspection system versus the HIMP system.

The NAFS review team concluded that, "Overall, the HIMP system compared favorably to the traditional system of inspection with regard to meaningful parameters to consumers of poultry and poultry products." The technical review team also made recommendations for optimal design.

"This review is very important as USDA determines further action on the HIMP project," said FSIS Administrator Dr. Garry L. McKee. "We will consider this information as well as input from interested parties as we move to determine ways to strengthen the program to meet our goals of enhanced food safety and public health."

The HIMP program was designed to reallocate in-plant responsibilities to provide FSIS inspectors the flexibility to best focus on public health concerns from the farm to table. Under the program, industry carries out certain process control activities, under FSIS oversight, while FSIS inspectors focus their attention on inspection and verification activities.

While implementing the HIMP pilot program which began in 1999, USDA has continued to seek input from interested parties and has been responsive to recommendations as well as those of the General Accounting Office and other entities.

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