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Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113; FAX: (202) 690-0460
STATEMENT By Dr. Garry L. McKee
Administrator, Food Safety & Inspection Service
OIG Audit Report on ConAgra
Washington, D.C.
October 2, 2003
“The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has
carefully considered the comments and recommendations contained in the Office of
Inspector General (OIG) audit of the ConAgra recall. Protecting public health
is our number one goal and we are continually working to enhance our systems to
ensure they are the strongest possible.
“FSIS acted swiftly in the interest of protecting public
health when microbiological testing determined that meat produced by ConAgra
Beef Company was contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The initial recall
of ConAgra products began 10 days before the
first cases of illness were reported and 15 days before the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed a linkage between the illnesses and
ground beef.
“Within 24 hours of the June 30, 2002 recall, FSIS launched
its own investigation. For this reason, the majority of the findings contained
in the OIG’s audit of the ConAgra recall have already been addressed by the
Agency.
“For example, in September 2002, FSIS eliminated a 1998
program that exempted ConAgra and other establishments from FSIS’ E. coli
O157:H7 testing program. Now, every plant in America that slaughters or
processes beef products is subject to rigorous Agency testing for E. coli
O157:H7.
“A dramatic reduction in the positive rate of E. coli
O157:H7 samples collected by FSIS has taken place in 2003 on the heels of the
first ever systematic examination of HACCP plans at beef plants, ordered by
FSIS. [news
release] Of E. coli O157:H7 samples collected by FSIS through Sept. 1,
2003, 0.32 percent tested positive, versus 0.78 percent in 2002. More than
1,000 HACCP plan reassessments have been carried out by a force of inspectors
specially trained in the science of HACCP. This has resulted in a dramatic
increase in testing by companies, as a way of validating the interventions
incorporated into their HACCP plans to control E. coli O157:H7. The
percentage of FSIS samples testing positive for Listeria monocytogenes
and Salmonella in 2003 have also significantly decreased.
“Additionally, based on the redesigned and implemented
FSIS
Directive 5,000.1, which describes the inspection methods to be used for all
food safety responsibilities, FSIS inspectors are systematically reviewing all
plant-generated testing data and other information to better determine whether
plants’ food safety systems are meeting HACCP requirements.
“FSIS issued a directive designed to speed the process of
identifying the supplier of contaminated product that is discovered further down
the distribution chain, quickening the recall process and thereby better
protecting public health. The Agency has launched comprehensive new training
programs for inspectors that are public health focused and regionally based.
FSIS has also redesigned its recall procedures and now begins collecting vital
plant data prior to the final results of testing so that potentially
contaminated product can be prevented from reaching the public.
“While we welcome the work that went into this report, FSIS
feels it reflects conditions that existed more than one year ago at a single
plant. Those conditions were not reflective of HACCP enforcement at the time,
nor do they bear any resemblance to the state of HACCP enforcement programs
today. The extensive changes FSIS has made in its programs since the recall
have had a positive impact on every facility in America that produces meat,
poultry and egg products and have improved FSIS’ ability to ensure that
Americans continue to enjoy the safest food supply in the world.”
FSIS has developed and implemented a number of initiatives
to control E. coli O157:H7 in the past year. A list of FSIS Initiatives
and Policy Changes is available on the FSIS website at
www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/news/2003/fsisinitiatives.htm
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NOTE: Access news releases and other information
at the FSIS web site at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov.
For Further Information, Contact:
FSIS Congressional and Public Affairs Staff
Phone: (202) 720-9113
Fax: (202) 690-0460
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