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National Academy Of Sciences Concludes Performance Standards Should Be Science-Based And Linked To Public Health Objectives

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2003--In a final report entitled “Scientific Criteria to Ensure Safe Food”, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) concluded that performance standards are a useful “score card” for measuring process control by food processors and recommended that efforts be made to link such scientific criteria to improvements in public health.

The report was commissioned by the U.S. Congress in early 2001, to provide recommendations for the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Department of Health and Human Service’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the role and appropriate use of performance standards and other scientific criteria for improving food safety.

The report makes several general recommendations.  Among these are the development of a comprehensive plan to harmonize disease surveillance and microbial prevalence data, and the adoption of science-based strategies in developing food safety criteria.

“We are appreciative of all the work and effort that went into this report, and agree with the NAS that development of food safety criteria, including performance standards, must be based on science and linked to public health goals,” said Dr. Elsa A. Murano, USDA under secretary for Food Safety.  “We have been very supportive of the Centers for Disease Control’s FoodNet disease surveillance network since its inception, and believe strongly in the harmonization of these data with the prevalence of microbial hazards in foods.”

The NAS report outlines various specific measures for the USDA to undertake, most of which were already considered and are being implemented by FSIS including:  

Baseline surveys – As part of the President's Fiscal Year (FY) 2004 budget, FSIS has requested $1.7 million to conduct baseline studies on a variety of pathogens, including Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7.

Reevaluate Current Salmonella performance standards – As stated above, with adequate funding FSIS plans to complete a Salmonella baseline study, which will be essential for determining whether current standards should be revised, and if new standards should be established.

Expand testing of E. coli O157:H7 to beef trim – In September of 2002, FSIS published its new measures to address E. coli O157:H7 contamination.  FSIS expects to add beef trim sampling as an adjunct to its E. coli O157:H7 testing of ground beef, particularly if a supplier is identified as a repeat supplier of positive material.

Research into the ecology of E. coli O157:H7 –Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Research, Education, and Extension mission area at USDA are coordinating food safety research priorities and needs, including elucidating the ecology of various pathogens from farm to table.

Focused intervention at all stages of production -- FSIS is currently reviewing its approval process for safe interventions in order to fast-track their implementation at processing plants.  FSIS is also working to target interventions at appropriate control points to best protect public health.  In addition, FSIS is in the process of developing guidelines for cattle, hog and poultry producers on best management strategies that can be taken on the farm to reduce pathogens in these animals.

 The report also recommends that Congress grant authorities to regulatory agencies to establish, implement and enforce food safety criteria, including performance standards.  Legal analysis of current statutes and regulations conducted by USDA concludes that FSIS does have the legal authority necessary to enforce food safety criteria.  The Agency has used the failure to pass microbial standards as indicators of lack of process control in such establishments and withdrawn inspection based on HACCP and other relevant violations.

In conjunction with the NAS study, the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) conducted a study on performance standards, which published in October of 2002.  The NACMCF found that performance standards are valuable tools for verifying process control at slaughter and ground beef establishments, and stated the need for baseline studies and research on intervention strategies from farm to table. 

 USDA is committed to continuously improving our food safety systems. The recommendations contained in this report will assist USDA in enhancing systems to improve public health. 

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