Developments in the
Campylobacter Program
Inspection Methods
Subcommittee
Revised May 6, 1999
National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection
Goal
The subcommittee supports the Public Health Goal of reducing
foodborne illnesses caused by Campylobacter.
Conclusions
FSIS data is incomplete to conclude the value of
Campylobacter prevalence being used to establish a performance
standard but prevalence appears unlikely to be useful.
Risk assessment is in the planning stages to
evaluate:
- sources along the farm-to-table continuum.
- intervention placement.
- infectious dose.
It is noted that the Salmonella performance standard was
established prior to a risk assessment.
Actions
The Subcommittee supports the agency direction to evaluate a
Campylobacter performance standards, including:
- evaluating methodology;
- completing the baseline study;
- initiating the risk assessment.
The Subcommittee requests that NACMCF evaluate and recommend back to
NACMPI the options for defining Campylobacter performance
standards (e.g. quantitative vs. qualitative) and alternatives to a
Campylobacter performance standard that accomplish the same public
health objective.
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