FSIS Names Food Safety Fellows for FY2024

FSIS has selected two Food Safety Fellows through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) program. The Fellows are students currently working towards their Ph.D. and have an interest in improving food safety and public health. During their fellowship, in collaboration with FSIS scientists, they will apply their scientific and technical knowledge to inform FSIS decision making and improve the safety of the food supply.

The two fellows are:

Mr. Trushenkumar Shah, University of Connecticut. Trushenkumar is investigating the use of ultra-fine bubbles filled with an antimicrobial gas (e.g., ozone) to reduce survival of Salmonella and Campylobacter jejuni on poultry carcasses. Ultra-fine bubbles are small, gas-filled cavities that are stable for about 2 weeks. The impact on the carcass quality will also be investigated, including the color and taste profile. This could result in improving the safety of poultry products and protecting public health.

Ms. Bhaswati Chowdhury, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Bhaswati is developing a method to extract and characterize Salmonella surface proteins, with a goal of developing a broad-spectrum Salmonella vaccine. Vaccination against Salmonella may be an effective control strategy in poultry and a broad-spectrum vaccine has the potential for improving our current vaccines.

FSIS to Post Updated Datasets on Import Refusals and Import Volume

On January 16, 2024, FSIS will update the publicly posted datasets on import refusals and country-level import volume for products that the agency regulates. Federal law requires every commercial shipment of imported meat, poultry, and egg products to be reinspected prior to product entering U.S. commerce. FSIS reinspects each shipment to verify labeling, proper certification, general condition, and any signs of tampering and to identify product adulterated by transportation damage. FSIS also performs additional activities on a random and/or for-cause basis, such as physical product examination and laboratory sampling for pathogens and chemical residues.

Any product that does not meet FSIS requirements is refused entry, and the importer has up to 45 days (30 days for egg products) to have the product destroyed for use as human food, re-exported/returned to the foreign country, converted to animal food, or brought into compliance with FSIS requirements, if applicable (e.g., relabeled, remarked, or issued a replacement certificate). 

The current Import Refusals dataset is updated around the 15th of each month and the archived Import Refusals dataset is updated around the 15th of the first month of each quarter. The datasets contain each shipment with product that was refused entry.

Both the current and archived Import Volume datasets are updated around the 15th of the first month of each quarter. These data represent the volume of imported meat, poultry, and egg products presented for reinspection to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) at port of entry.

To access these datasets or view more information about them, please visit the Import and Export Data page.

Available for Public Comment

FSIS seeks public comments on proposed rules and notices, which are viewable on the FSIS Federal Register & Rulemaking webpage. FSIS is currently seeking comments on the following:

• Until February 13, 2024: Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Web-Based Surveys

Export Requirements Update

The Library of Export Requirements has been updated for products for the following:

• Azerbaijan
• Colombia
• Kiribati
• Japan
• Myanmar
• Curacao
• Korea
• Mexico
• Canada
• Cuba
• India
• French Polynesia (Tahiti)
• Jordan
• Chile
• Hong Kong
• Vietnam
• New Zealand
• Jamaica
• Solomon Islands
• Cayman Islands
• European Union
• Dominica
• Guatemala
• Singapore

Complete information can be found at the FSIS Import & Export Library.