Skip navigation
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

  • Food Safety
    • Recalls & Public Health Alerts
      • Report a Problem with Food
        • Additional Recalls
      • Annual Recall Summaries
        • Summary of Recall Cases in Calendar Year 2012
        • Summary of Recall Cases in Calendar Year 2013
        • Summary of Recall Cases in Calendar Year 2014
        • Summary of Recall Cases in Calendar Year 2015
        • Summary of Recall Cases in Calendar Year 2016
        • Summary of Recall Cases in Calendar Year 2017
        • Summary of Recall Cases in Calendar Year 2018
        • Summary of Recall Cases in Calendar Year 2019
        • Summary of Recall Cases in Calendar Year 2020
        • Summary of Recall Cases in Calendar Year 2021
    • Food Safety Stats
      • Consumer Research
    • Foodborne Illness and Disease
      • Illnesses and Pathogens
        • Campylobacter
          • Campylobacter En Español
        • Clostridium botulinum
        • Escherichia coli O157:H7
        • Parasites and Foodborne Illness
        • Salmonella Questions and Answers
      • Resources for Public Health Partners
        • State Departments of Public Health
      • Outbreaks
        • Outbreak Investigations: Prevention
        • Outbreak Investigations: Response
    • Safe Food Handling and Preparation
      • Food Safety Basics
        • Additives in Meat and Poultry Products
        • Appliance Thermometers
        • Asar a la parrilla y seguridad alimentaria
        • Cleanliness Helps Prevent Foodborne Illness
        • Cooking for Groups
        • Cooking with Microwave Ovens
        • Cutting Boards
        • Deep Fat Frying
        • Doneness Versus Safety
        • Food Allergies
        • Glossary of Packaging Terms
        • Grilling Food Safely
        • Grilling and Food Safety
        • High Altitude Cooking
        • How Temperatures Affect Food
        • How to Find the USDA Establishment Number
        • Importing Meat, Poultry & Egg Products US
        • Inspection for Food Safety: The Basics
        • Irradiation and Food Safety FAQ
        • Keeping "Bag" Lunches Safe
        • Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency
        • Kitchen Thermometers
        • Mail Order Food Safety
        • Meat and Poultry Labeling Terms
        • Meat and Poultry Packaging Materials
        • Natural Flavors on Meat and Poultry Labels
        • Safe Handling of Take-Out Foods
        • Slaughter Inspection 101
        • Slow Cookers and Food Safety
        • Smoking Meat and Poultry
        • Tailgating Food Safety Q & A
        • Understanding FSIS Food Recalls
        • Water in Meat & Poultry
        • Danger Zone 40F - 140F
        • Food Product Dating
        • Freezing and Food Safety
        • Leftovers and Food Safety
        • Molds on Food: Are They Dangerous?
          • Hongos en los Alimentos: ¿Son Peligrosos?
        • Refrigeration
        • Safe Temperature Chart
        • Shelf-Stable Food
        • Steps to Keep Food Safe
        • The Big Thaw — Safe Defrosting Methods
        • The Color of Meat and Poultry
        • Washing Food: Does it Promote Food Safety?
        • Food Safety While Hiking, Camping & Boating
        • Seguridad Alimentaria Durante Caminatas, Campamentos y Paseos en Bote
      • Meat
        • Bacon and Food Safety
        • Bagre de la Granja a la Mesa
        • Beef From Farm To Table
        • Bison from Farm to Table
        • Carne de res ablandada mecánicamente
        • Catfish from Farm to Table
        • Color of Cooked Ground Beef as It Relates to Doneness
        • Corned Beef
        • Door-to-Door Meat Sales
        • Fresh Pork from Farm to Table
        • Goat from Farm to Table
        • Ground Beef and Food Safety
        • Hams and Food Safety
        • Hot Dogs & Food Safety
        • Jerky
        • Lamb From Farm to Table
        • Mechanically Tenderized Beef
        • Rabbit From Farm to Table
        • Roasting Those "Other" Holiday Meats
        • Sausages and Food Safety
        • Veal from Farm to Table
        • Yersiniosis and Chitterlings Tips
      • Poultry
        • Chicken From Farm to Table
        • Chicken Liver
        • Duck and Goose from Farm to Table
        • Hock Locks and Other Accoutrements
        • Is Pink Turkey Meat Safe?
        • Let's Talk Turkey Roasting
        • Poultry Processing: Questions & Answers
        • Poultry: Basting, Brining, and Marinating
        • Stuffing and Food Safety
        • The Poultry Label Says "Fresh"
        • Turduckens Require Safe Food Handling
        • Turkey Basics: Handling Cooked Dinners
        • Turkey Basics: Safe Cooking
        • Turkey Basics: Safe Thawing
        • Turkey Basics: Stuffing
        • Turkey from Farm to Table
        • Turkey: Alternate Routes to the Table
      • Eggs
        • Egg Products and Food Safety
        • Shell Eggs from Farm to Table
      • Emergencies
        • A Consumer's Guide to Food Safety: Severe Storms and Hurricanes
        • Fires and Food Safety
        • Keep Your Food Safe During Emergencies
        • Removing Odors from Refrigerators and Freezers
      • USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline
      • Brochures & Publications
    • Food Defense and Emergency Response
      • Emergency Response
      • Continuity of Operations (COOP)
      • Food Defense
        • Risk Mitigation Tool
        • Food Defense Considerations for Transportation of FSIS-Regulated Products
        • Food Defense Tools, Resources and Training
        • Functional Food Defense Plans
        • International Food Defense
  • Science & Data
    • Research Priorities
    • Data Sets & Visualizations
      • Microbiology
        • Baseline Microbiology Data Reports
        • Microbiological Testing Program for RTE Meat and Poultry Products
          • Tables & Results Microbiological Testing Program for RTE Meat
          • Tables & Results: Microbiological Testing Program Pasteurized Egg Products
          • Aggregate Salmonella Categorization of Raw Chicken Parts, NRTE Comminuted Poultry, Young Chicken Carcass and Young Turkey Carcass Establishments Using Moving Windows
          • Salmonella Initiative Program Criteria
            • Quarterly Sampling Reports on Antimicrobial Resistance
            • Quarterly Sampling Reports on Raw Beef Products
            • Quarterly Sampling Reports on Ready-to-eat Products and Egg Products
            • Quarterly Sampling Reports on Salmonella
            • Salmonella Action Plan: A One and Two Year Update
            • Salmonella Categorization of Individual Establishments for Poultry Products
        • Microbiological Testing Program for Escherichia coli O157:H7 and non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC)
          • Year-to-Date Totals: Testing of Raw Ground Beef Component (RGBC) Samples for E. coli O157:H7 and non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC)
          • Annual Report for STEC in Raw Ground Beef or Veal and Raw Ground Beef or Veal Components
          • Individual E. coli Positive Results for Raw Ground Beef (RGB) and RGB Components 2017
          • Individual E. coli Positive Results for Raw Ground Beef (RGB) and RGB Components 2018
          • Individual E. coli Positive Results for Raw Ground Beef (RGB) and RGB Components 2016
          • Individual E. coli Positive Results for Raw Ground Beef (RGB) and RGB Components 2015
          • Year-to-Date 2018 Totals: Results of Raw Ground Beef Component (RGBC) Samples for E. coli O157:H7 and non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC):
        • National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS)
        • Salmonella Verification Testing Program Monthly Posting
      • Residue Chemistry
      • Humane Handling Data
      • Laboratory Sampling Data
        • Egg Product Testing, Years 1995-2017
      • Inspection Task Data
    • Scientific Reports
      • Public Health Regulations (PHR)
        • FSIS Data Analysis and Reporting: Public Health Regulations FY 2022
        • FSIS Data Analysis and Reporting: Public Health Regulations FY 2021
        • FSIS Data Analysis and Reporting: Public Health Regulations FY 2016
        • FSIS Data Analysis and Reporting: Public Health Regulations FY 2017
        • FSIS Data Analysis and Reporting: Public Health Regulations FY 2018
        • FSIS Data Analysis and Reporting: Public Health Regulations FY 2019
        • FSIS Data Analysis and Reporting: Public Health Regulations FY 2020
        • FSIS Data Analysis and Reporting: Public Health Regulations FY 2023
      • Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration (IFSAC)
    • Laboratories & Procedures
      • Accredited Laboratory Program
        • Key Facts: ISO Accreditation
      • FSIS Laboratories
        • Requesting Bacterial Isolates from FSIS
    • Risk Assessments
    • Sampling Program
      • Raw Pork Products Exploratory Sampling Program
      • Sampling Results for FSIS Regulated Products
    • Journal Publications
  • Policy
    • Food Safety Acts
      • Federal Meat Inspection Act
      • Poultry Products Inspection Act
      • Egg Products Inspection Act
      • Humane Methods of Slaughter Act
    • FSIS Guidelines
    • Directives & Notices
      • FSIS Notices
      • FSIS Directives
    • Petitions
    • Federal Register & Rulemaking
      • Federal Register Notices
      • Federal Register Rules
      • Executive Orders, Small Business Protection Laws & Other Guidance
      • Regulatory Priorities
    • Advisory Committees
      • National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI)
      • National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria For Foods (NACMCF)
        • 2021-2023 National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria For Foods (NACMCF)
        • NACMCF 2022 Subcommittee
        • 2018-2020 National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria For Foods (NACMCF)
  • Inspection
    • Inspection Programs
      • Inspection of Meat Products
        • Humane Handling Ombudsman
        • Modernization of Swine Slaughter Inspection
      • Inspection of Poultry Products
        • Reducing Salmonella in Poultry
          • Pilot Projects: Salmonella Control Strategies
          • Proposed Regulatory Framework to Reduce Salmonella Illnesses Attributable to Poultry
            • Component 1
            • Component 2
            • Component 3
          • Salmonella By the Numbers
          • Salmonella KPI
          • Salmonella Risk Assessments
        • Modernization of Poultry Slaughter Inspection
      • Inspection of Egg Products
      • Inspection of Siluriformes
    • Compliance Guidance
      • Significant Guidance
      • HACCP
        • HACCP-Based-Inspection Models Project
          • New Poultry Inspection System (NPIS)
          • HIMP Redesign Achievement of Performance Standards Young Chicken Plants
          • List of HIMP Participating Plants
        • HACCP Validation
      • PHIS
        • PHIS: Historical Information
      • Retail Guidance
      • Small & Very Small Plant Guidance
        • Appealing Inspection Decisions
        • Food Safety Resources for Small and Very Small Plant Outreach: Order Form
        • Small Plant Help Desk
        • Small Plant Help Desk Form
      • Microbial Risk
        • Listeria Monocytogenes
        • Salmonella
        • Shiga Toxin-Producing E.Coli (STEC) and E. Coli O157:H7
        • Specified Risk Material
          • BSE Rules Being Strictly Enforced
        • Guidance for Controlling Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) in Retail Delicatessens - Best Practice Tips for Deli Operators
      • Specified Risk Material Resources
      • Food Safety Assessments Tools
      • Recall Process
      • Sanitation Performance Standards Compliance Guide
      • Labeling
        • Basics of Labeling
        • Claims Guidance
        • Nonfood Compounds
          • Compounds Used for Construction and Repair in Federally Inspected Meat and Poultry Plants
          • Criteria Used by the Former Compounds and Packaging Branch for Evaluating Nonfood Compounds and Proprietary Substances
        • Ingredients Guidance
        • Label Submission and Approval System (LSAS)
          • Integration of Paper Label Applications into the Label Submission and Approval System (LSAS)
        • Labeling Policies
          • Human Food Made with Cultured Animal Cells
          • Regulations for Package Dating
          • Comprehensive List of Reasons for Label Modifications and Returns
          • Questions and Answers Concerning the Recently Published Generic Labeling Final Rule
        • Labeling Procedures
          • Information Required For Requesting a Temporary Approval
          • 10 Most Common Mistakes And How to Avoid Them
          • Label Submission Checklist
          • Labeling Situations That Can Not Have a Temporary Approval
          • Labeling and Establishment Responsibilities
          • Ten Most Commonly Asked Labeling Questions
          • Trans Fat Declarations in the Nutrition Facts Panel on Product Labeling
      • New Technology
        • Cooperative Agreements FY 2003
        • Cooperative Agreements FY 2004
        • Cooperative Agreements FY 2005
        • Food Safety Technologies FY 2003
        • Food Safety Technologies FY 2004
        • Food Safety Technologies FY 2005
        • NOL for Non-O157 STEC Test Methods
        • New Technology Information Table
      • Humane Handling
    • Import & Export
      • Import & Export Library
        • Eligible Foreign Establishments
        • U.S. Establishments by Country
          • Australia Eligible Establishments
          • Brazil Export Eligible Establishments
          • Egypt Export Eligible Establishments
          • Gibraltar Export Eligible Establishments
          • Israel Export Eligible Establishments
          • Japan (Casings) Export Eligible Establishments
          • Japan (Cold Storage Facilities) Export Eligible Establishments
          • Mexico Export Eligible Establishments
          • Russia (Beef) Export Eligible Establishments
          • Russia (Pork) Export Eligible Establishments
          • Russia (Poultry) Export Eligible Establishments
          • Russia (Prepared Products) Export Eligible Establishments
          • South Africa Eligible Establishments
      • Import Guidance
        • FSIS Import Procedures for Meat, Poultry & Egg Products
        • FSIS Import Reinspection
        • Sourcing Egg Products and Shell Eggs From Foreign Countries
      • Export Guidance
      • Equivalence
      • PHIS Components
      • International Reports
        • Foreign Audit Reports
        • Import and Export Data
    • Regulatory Enforcement
      • Humane Handling Enforcement
      • Quarterly Enforcement Reports
        • Quarterly Enforcement Reports (Narrative, Archived v1)
        • Quarterly Enforcement Reports (Narrative, Archived v2)
        • Quarterly Enforcement Reports (Narrative, Archived v3)
        • Quarterly Enforcement Reports (Narrative, Archived v4)
      • FSIS Policies on Regulatory Decisions
    • Inspection Training & Videos
      • Inspection & Mission Training
      • Meat, Poultry and Egg Product Inspection Videos
      • Regulatory Education Video Seminars
    • Apply for Grant of Inspection
      • Grants & Financial Options
    • State Inspection Programs
      • Cooperative Interstate Shipping Program
        • Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) Establishments
      • Guidance Documents for State and Local Agencies
      • States With and Without Inspection Programs
      • Reviews of State Programs
    • Establishments
      • FSIS Inspected Establishments
      • Meat, Poultry and Egg Product Inspection Directory
    • Inspection Forms
  • About FSIS
    • History
    • Leadership & Organizational Structure
    • Strategic Planning
      • FSIS Enterprise Governance Decision Making Process
    • Core Values
    • Food Safety & Agency Partners
      • Memoranda of Understanding (MOU)
    • Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
      • FSIS Adjudications
      • FSIS FOIA Reading Room
      • Frequently Requested Records
      • Making a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request
    • Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS)
  • Contact Us
    • FSIS Offices
      • Office for Food Safety (OFS)
      • Office of the Administrator (OA)
      • Office of Field Operations (OFO)
      • Office of Investigation, Enforcement, and Audit (OIEA)
      • Office of Public Health Science (OPHS)
      • Office of Policy and Program Development (OPPD)
      • Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO)
      • Office of International Coordination (OIC)
      • Office of Employee Experience and Development (OEED)
      • Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO)
      • Office of Management (OM)
      • Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education (OPACE)
      • Internal Affairs (IA)
      • Office of Planning Analysis Risk Management (OPARM)
      • Civil Rights Staff
    • FSIS Department Emails
    • State Contacts
    • askFSIS
      • Having Trouble with the Webform
    • Pregúntele a Karen
  • Careers
    • Apply for a Job
    • Job Opportunities
    • Who Works for Us
      • Dr. Summer Addo — an Unexpected Career Path
      • Dr. Jeanetta Tankson Shares Her Passion for Science and Food Safety
      • Micheall Myrie - Visual Information Specialist and AAFE Award Winner
      • DDM Jeffery Jacobsen Ensures Meat is Safe and Cooks it, Too!
      • CSI Sherri Rodriguez: Thankful for FSIS and Friends
      • Stephen Whatley Celebrates 50 Years of Federal Service
      • Stevie Hretz Enjoys Putting “Humans First!”
      • Archives
    • Career Profiles
      • Administrative Positions
      • Compliance Investigator Positions
      • Consumer Safety Inspector
      • Food Inspector
      • Professional Positions
      • Public Health Veterinarian (PHV)
      • Scientific Positions
    • Incentives
      • Federal Employee Benefits Summary
    • Employment Programs
    • Food Inspector Apprenticeship Programs
    • Professional with Disabilities
  • News & Events
    • Events & Meetings
      • Officials' Calendar of Meetings
      • Food Safety Education Month
    • News & Press Releases
      • News Feeds & Subscriptions
    • Publications
    • Branding & Toolkits
  • Employees
    • HR Policies & Systems
      • Forms
      • Performance Management
      • Understanding Your Benefits
        • Emergency Backup Dependent Care (EBDC) Program
    • FSIS Safety
      • COVID-19 Pandemic Resources
        • Information about Face Coverings/Masks and Face Shields
      • Workplace Violence
    • Onboarding
      • New Hire Training
    • Agency Awards & Achievements
    • Professional Development Opportunities
      • OFO Workforce Investment Initiative Pilot Program
    • Facilities and Services
    • Employee Bargaining
    • Civil Rights
    • Employee News & Stories
    • FSIS Snapshots
      • January 2023 Snapshots
      • December 2022 Snapshots
      • September 2022 Snapshots
      • August 2022 Snapshots
      • November 2022 Snapshots
      • July 2022 Snapshots
      • October 2022 Snapshots
      • June 2022 Snapshots
      • May 2022 Snapshots
      • April 2022 Snapshots
      • March 2022 Snapshots
      • February 2022 Snapshots
      • January 2022 Snapshots
      • December 2021 Snapshots
      • November 2021 Snapshots
      • October 2021 Snapshots
      • September 2021 Snapshots
      • August 2021 Snapshots
      • July 2021 Snapshots
      • June 2021 Snapshots
    • Submit Your Stories
    • Meet Pickle-Eating Champ, CSI Joe Smith
    • Supervisors Make All the Difference!
    • Disability: Part of the Equity Equation
    • Archives
      • ARCHIVE: National Preparedness Month - Cyber Security for Remote Work
      • ARCHIVE: National Preparedness Month: Occupant Emergency Planning
      • ARCHIVE: Message from Leadership — Women’s Equality Day
      • ARCHIVE: Managing Heat Risk in Hot Weather
      • ARCHIVE: New Netflix Show Features USDA and FSIS
      • ARCHIVE: Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month — Advancing Leaders Through Collaboration
      • ARCHIVE: Thank You for Your Public Service
      • ARCHIVE: World Veterinary Day — Recognizing the Resilience of FSIS Veterinarians
      • ARCHIVE: Two Hero Inspectors Provide Potentially Life-Saving CPR to a Plant Employee
      • ARCHIVE: Hero Inspector Saves a Life While on the Road
      • ARCHIVE: Administrative Professionals Day — Thank You
      • ARCHIVE: Chief Information Security Officer Marvin Lykes Recognized for Operational Excellence
      • ARCHIVE: Women’s History Month: Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope
      • ARCHIVE: Alameda District Awards Petaluma Circuit Inspectors Recognition Coins
      • ARCHIVE: Collaborating in the Caribbean — Bringing Awareness About African Swine Fever
      • ARCHIVE: Message from Leadership — Be an Advocate for Public Health
      • ARCHIVE: Message from Leadership — Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
      • ARCHIVE: In Their Own Words: The 2021 Administrator’s Awards for Excellence Winners Speak Out
      • ARCHIVE: CSI Koffi Hoenou – From Togolese Teacher to U.S. Citizen
      • ARCHIVE: Dearborn, Mich., Circuit Inspectors Receive Collaborative Coins
      • ARCHIVE: Don’t Invite Foodborne Illness to the Party
      • ARCHIVE: Inspection for Ritual Meat and Poultry Slaughter
      • ARCHIVE: Thanksgiving Message from Leadership
      • ARCHIVE: Make a Difference for You and Your Colleagues – Respond to FEVS by Dec. 3
      • ARCHIVE: American Indian/Alaskan Native Heritage Month — Together Towards Tomorrow
      • ARCHIVE: Federal State Audit Staff Twice Honored for Supporting Military Staff
      • ARCHIVE: Veterans Day Messages from FSIS Leadership
      • ARCHIVE: Food Inspector Apprenticeship Programs for Veterans
      • ARCHIVE: Disability Employment Awareness Month — America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion
      • ARCHIVE: Helping Today’s Inspectors Be Tomorrow’s Leaders with Tuition Reimbursement
      • ARCHIVE: Dr. Geraldine Vidal-Covas Embraces Her Hispanic Heritage, Encourages All
      • ARCHIVE: National Preparedness Month – Home Go Kits & Pets
      • ARCHIVE: Mask Requirements Updated for FSIS Employees
      • ARCHIVE: Modernizing Egg Inspection
      • ARCHIVE: FSIS Recognized Twice for 2020 Food Safety Education Efforts
      • ARCHIVE: Four Steps to Good Mental Health
      • ARCHIVE: Building Relationships at Work
      • ARCHIVE: Pride Month and USDA’s Commitment to Inclusion
      • ARCHIVE: Honoring the Dedicated Public Servants of FSIS
      • ARCHIVE: Asian American and Pacific Islander Contributions to Our Nation’s History
      • ARCHIVE: USDA Vaccination Heroes Do Their Part for America
      • ARCHIVE: Remembering Their Sacrifice: Jean Hillery, Tom Quadros and Bill Shaline

Food Safety and Inspection Service

  • About FSIS
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • News & Events
  • Employees
  • Food Safety
  • Science & Data
  • Policy
  • Inspection
  • Recalls
  • Search
  • Full Menu
ALERT: FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for… See more details
Page Hero
  • News & Events
    • Events & Meetings
      • Officials' Calendar of Meetings
      • Food Safety Education Month
    • News & Press Releases
      • News Feeds & Subscriptions
    • Publications
    • Branding & Toolkits
Subscribe for Updates
Speeches and Presentations

2015 North American Meat Institute Conference

Date And Time April 18, 2015 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location

CA
United States

Remarks before 2015 NAMI Conference

Remarks as prepared for delivery by Alfred V. Almanza, Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety, North American Meat Institute, Carlsbad, CA, April 18, 2015

Introduction

Good morning and thanks for having me. It’s great to be here today.

FSIS is committed to protecting food safety, and I know all of you in the industry realize how important safe food is for public health.

In fact, just last week, we celebrated World Health Day and the World Health Organization designated this year’s theme as food safety with the slogan, “from farm to plate, make food safe.”

Well, that’s what all of us here are committed to doing, day in and day out, and I’m glad we can all come together to discuss some of the challenges and opportunities facing food safety today.

This morning, I will provide you with a few highlights of our accomplishments from last year and give you some sense of our priorities for 2015. And then, I’ll be happy to answer questions you may have.

We are continuing in our efforts to modernize our approach to food safety. This involves collaborating and communicating with the public—including our partners in foreign governments, industry, stakeholder groups, state and local government, and academia. 

FSIS’s primary goal is to prevent foodborne illness by reducing pathogens in meat, poultry and egg products.

I know that NAMI is committed to keeping your members informed of food policy issues and also exploring new, science-based methods to modernize food safety.

At FSIS, we are also working hard to build on modernization efforts and I know that our both of our organizations understand the importance of using science-based strategies to solve pathogen issues.

All of us here are working hard to meet that goal. And we all are dedicated daily to modernization and improvement in our methods to protect the nation’s food supply.

I’m glad we can come together today to discuss ways that we will further reduce outbreaks of these pathogens by using improved technology methods which are rooted in science.

Salmonella

As you know, fighting Salmonella is a critical agency priority.

Salmonellosis is the foodborne illness most associated with the products we regulate, with more than 1 million cases of illnesses each year.

Members of Congress and the media are also paying close attention to Salmonella outbreaks in particular.

At the end of February, I was on Capitol Hill for a hearing to talk about our 2016 budget requests.

While there, I was able to tell Congress a bit about our strategies and goals related to Salmonella reduction through our Salmonella Action Plan.

In January, we posted to our website our one-year update report on the plan, which highlights a lot of what I am telling you here today if you want to take a look at that.

And in January we also issued proposed new performance standards for Salmonella and Campylobacter.

These are the first ever standards for chicken parts, and tougher standards for ground and comminuted poultry products.

We estimate that these new standards will lead to 50,000 fewer illnesses per year, putting us on target to meet our Healthy People 2020 goals.

With Salmonella, we’re focusing most of our attention on poultry products. Of the products we regulate, poultry products are responsible for the greatest share of salmonellosis cases.

We know that beef and pork do contribute to the Salmonella numbers and so we’re going to take a closer look at these product classes.

FSIS combined some of our programs for sampling raw beef back in July, so that we can co-analyze Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7.

From this new approach to methods, we’ll be able to evaluate results and determine future performance steps.

The exploratory sampling plan is still being developed. We will publish it in the Federal Register before implementing.

New Poultry Inspection System

Another way we are attacking Salmonella pursuant to the Salmonella Action Plan is through our efforts to modernize our approach to poultry slaughter inspection. 

In 2014, we made a major advance in this effort by publishing a final rule on poultry slaughter inspection and beginning the implementation of the New Poultry Inspection System (NPIS). 

As a result of the final rule, poultry slaughter plants have begun sampling their products at two points on the slaughter line, both before and after the chiller, each day. 

The goal of this testing is to verify that plants are controlling the presence of enteric pathogens like Salmonella and Campylobacter on their products. 

The rule also led to the New Poultry Inspection System that is also designed to reduce the risk posed by Salmonella in poultry.

A risk assessment that was done by FSIS shows that an inspection system that provides for increased off-line inspection activities that are directly related to food safety results in greater compliance with sanitation and HACCP regulations.

In addition, these activities lead to poultry carcasses that have lower levels of visible fecal contamination and equivalent or lower levels of Salmonella and Campylobacter contamination.

The risk assessment has been peer-reviewed and estimates that this new approach to inspection will prevent approximately 5,000 foodborne illnesses each year.

The New Poultry Inspection System is just one example of how we are using science to understand foodborne illness and emerging trends and developing effective policies.

Grinding Logs/Traceback

Another example of our efforts to reduce pathogens early on is the proposed rule we announced in July of 2014, which would require that retail outlets keep clear records on sources for ground beef products.

We are in the process of reviewing the comments received on this rule and developing a document to submit for final approval. We hope to finalize that this year.

These records would identify the source, supplier and names of all materials used in preparation of raw ground beef products.

This would help improve traceback capabilities and prevent foodborne illness.

To build even further on this effort, we announced new expedited traceback and traceforward procedures in August that will allow FSIS to trace contaminated ground beef to its source more quickly, by conducting immediate investigations at businesses whose ground beef tests positive for E. coli O157:H7 during initial testing and at suppliers that provided source materials.

Prior to that we only began investigations at the grinding facility after a presumptive positive test result was confirmed, and then at the supplier facility even later than that, losing valuable time.

We need to be able to remove unsafe product from commerce much faster, and these new procedures allow us to do that.

Mechanically Tenderized Beef

As we look toward the future, we also hope to finalize the proposed mechanically tenderized beef rule, which is currently with OMB.

As you know, we proposed this rule in summer 2013, to identify these products to consumers and add new cooking instructions so consumers and restaurants can prepare these products safely.

We know research shows that the mechanical tenderization process may transfer pathogens from the outside of the meat into the meat, which poses a greater risk to public health than intact beef products. 

It only makes sense that we educate consumers on this so they can cook beef products safely.

Trade

All of these efforts really speak to our goal of ensuring that we do have the safest food supply in the world.

Consumers and countries can have confidence that our products are safe to eat.

Enhanced food safety increases consumer confidence, and safe products create, maintain, and expand markets for U.S. exports, which more and more countries agree are produced within a first-class food safety system. 

That’s good for us, that’s good for trade, and that’s good for business.

We are a regulatory agency, but we certainly do want U.S. companies to have a high export potential and be competitive in a global marketplace.

Last year, the U.S. exported 2.3 trillion dollars of goods and services, an all-time high—including record-breaking performances across the whole economy, from agriculture to manufacturing to services.

Over the past year, Mexico, Uruguay, Ecuador, Hong Kong, and Sri Lanka all lifted longstanding restrictions to provide for full access to safe, wholesome U.S. beef and beef products. 

This is why other nations strive to emulate our system.  Safe food opens new markets from the European Union to Asia to Latin America.

Our strong standards for food safety are the reason for this.

Conclusion

I am proud of FSIS’s commitment to food safety and the high bar that we’ve set with our initiatives.

Food safety is receiving heightened attention and I don’t see that changing.

We have started the year off strong, and together, with your help, I know we can continue to make significant improvements in preventing foodborne illness.

Thanks for the opportunity to speak with you all today, and if there are any questions, I can take those now.

  • USDA.gov
  • USA.gov
  • Whitehouse.gov
  • About Us
  • Our Performance
  • Information Quality & Publishing Schedule
  • Visit OIG
  • FOIA
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Non-Discrimination Statement
  • Plain Writing
  • No FEAR
  • Significant Guidance

Food Safety and Inspection Service

  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • GovDelivery
  • Instagram
  • Flickr
  • YouTube
  • Linked In
  • RSS
.

Start your search

Popular Topics

Recalls Import & Export FSIS Directives FSIS Guidelines Petitions