FSIS Changes Date to Implement the Allergen Verification Sampling Program for Ready-To-Eat (RTE) Products and Releases Directives and Laboratory Method

FSIS is changing the date to implement the new allergen verification sampling program from August 1 to September 1, 2024. The agency also issued two new directives related to the new sampling program.

The first, Directive 7000.6, provides instructions to inspection program personnel (IPP) for collecting samples in the allergen verification sampling program. This program targets establishments producing ready-to-eat (RTE) products with labeling claims related to at least one of the 14 food allergens or gluten.

The second, Directive 7000.5, instructs IPP on labeling claims verification sampling at establishments producing products in consumer-ready packaging that bear certain labeling claims or a nutrition facts panel, based on specific eligibility criteria.

FSIS laboratories have implemented a new method entitled, “Screening and Confirmation of Allergens by XMAP® Food Allergen Detection Assay” (CLG-ALG1) to support this sampling program. The method is applicable to screen and confirm soy, crustacean shellfish, eggs, peanuts, milk, and nine tree nuts (almond, Brazil nut, cashew, coconut, hazelnut, macadamia, pine nut, pistachio, and walnut), as well as gluten allergens, in RTE products. The method is available on the Chemistry Laboratory Guidebook page of the FSIS website.

FSIS announced the new allergen verification sampling program in the July 19, 2024, Constituent Update.

Please use AskFSIS if you have questions about specific aspects of any laboratory method or directive found on the FSIS website.

FSIS to Onboard Mexico in PHIS Export Component

Starting November 4, 2024, all FSIS meat and poultry product export certificates for products exported to Mexico will be generated, issued and officially maintained in FSIS’ Public Health Information System (PHIS). This change excludes certificates for casings and egg products. FSIS plans to make the Mexico PHIS Industry Test Environment (ITE) available for testing on August 2, 2024.

All export certificates (FSIS Form 9060-5 series) generated through PHIS will be digitally signed by FSIS and will be printed on plain paper by industry personnel with PHIS access. These plain paper forms must include the PHIS-generated watermark. Any attestations for Mexico, as documented in the FSIS Export Library, will be captured in the FSIS Form 9060-5 remarks section or the FSIS Form 9060-5B (continuation sheet). The digitally signed FSIS Form 9060-5 series printed on plain watermarked paper and available for validation in PHIS will replace all letterhead certificates for meat and poultry exported to Mexico. Beginning November 4, 2024, no wet-signed 9060-5 series export certificates, including letterhead certificates, will be issued for meat and poultry products for export to Mexico.

When FSIS makes the ITE available on August 2, 2024, industry is strongly encouraged to use the ITE to test application submittals for export to Mexico. FSIS will provide testing instructions for industry on the FSIS website, PHIS Components page, under Information for Industry, on or before August 2, 2024. Please note that an electronic identification account with identity verification steps is required for all persons who will access PHIS, for both the test environment and the live production environment. User accounts are disabled for those who have not used PHIS in 60 days. For those new to the PHIS export component, please register with Login.gov to initiate, update, or complete the electronic identification account and the PHIS enrollment process. Instructions can be found in the PHIS Industry User Guide, section 2 (Overview of PHIS).

As noted in previous Constituent Updates, industry is strongly encouraged to ensure establishment information in PHIS is aligned with Mexico’s approved establishment list. Misaligned information risks held or rejected shipments upon Mexico’s implementation in PHIS. 

For further guidance on PHIS export and enrollment, please refer to the following user guides:

• PHIS Industry User Guide
• Editing 9060 Records Quick Reference Guide
• PHIS Quick Reference Guide for Corporate and Establishment Management

Please contact internationalcoordination@usda.gov with questions regarding these changes. Technical questions can be directed to PHISTechnicalQA@usda.gov.

Reminder: FSIS Discontinues Quarterly Establishment Information Letters

As announced in the April 5, 2024, Constituent Update,  FSIS has discontinued issuing quarterly establishment information letters that were sent to meat and poultry establishments. These letters provided comprehensive results for products sampled by FSIS at an establishment within the past 12 months. 

FSIS continues to expand data products available in the Public Health Information System (PHIS) reports and online data postings and all data available in the letters is available in PHIS reports and FSIS public data postings.

Guidance explaining how establishments can access the data is available on the FSIS Laboratory Sampling Website under the section titled, “User Guide to Find Data Included in the Past Quarterly Establishment Information Letters.” Further details about PHIS, including guides to access the system, are available on the FSIS website.

FSIS Posts Quarterly Sampling Data

FSIS has updated the following quarterly sampling data sets:

• Quarterly Sampling Results: The quarterly sampling reports were updated to include results through the third quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2024. Quarterly, FSIS calculates prevalence, volume weighted percent positive, or percent positive calculations for microbial pathogens in FSIS regulated products that are currently sampled through existing sampling projects using the prior 12 months of sampling data. This posting includes sampling results for raw beef, raw pork, raw chicken, raw turkey, processed eggs, and ready-to-eat products.
• Quarterly Sampling Reports on Antimicrobial Resistance Profile: The quarterly sampling reports for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Profile data were updated to include results through the second quarter of FY 2024. This data release includes the sampling projects and pathogens reported under the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS). It also includes the antimicrobial resistance data on pathogens Salmonella, Campylobacter, Enterococcus, and Escherichia coli isolate counts and resistance profile by FSIS cecal project.
• Quarterly Sampling Reports for Salmonella Serotype Information: The quarterly sampling reports for Salmonella serotype information were updated to include results through the second quarter of FY 2024. This post includes quarterly Salmonella serotype data for Salmonella isolates collected from FSIS product categories.
• Quarterly U.S. National Residue Sampling Report: Residue sampling data is available for the third quarter of FY 2024. The report covers domestic (scheduled and inspector-generated) and import sampling programs.
• Percent Positive Sampling Report: Sampling results for Salmonella and Campylobacter, Escherichia Coli in raw beef products, and Listeria monocytogenes in Ready-to-eat Products and Egg Products have been updated. These reports now include 12 months of data instead of one quarter of data, meaning this release covers the period of July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024. Reports will be updated on a quarterly basis.

FSIS Posts Updated Quarterly Humane Handling Datasets

Today, the quarterly humane handling inspection datasets were updated on the FSIS website. The datasets include: (1) the number of administrative enforcement actions taken, (2) the number of humane handling verification tasks performed, (3) the number of humane handling verification tasks that resulted in a noncompliance record (NR), and (4) the number of hours spent observing and verifying the humane treatment of livestock. This posting contains the most recent four quarters of data by district, size, and quarter.

FSIS Posts Individual Category Status and Aggregate Results for Poultry Carcasses, Chicken Parts, and Comminuted Poultry Tested for Salmonella

On July 19, 2024, FSIS updated the individual establishment Salmonella performance standard category information for raw poultry carcasses, raw chicken parts, and comminuted poultry products on the Salmonella Verification Testing Program Monthly Posting page on the FSIS website. Additionally, FSIS posted the aggregate sampling results showing the number of establishments in categories 1, 2, or 3 for establishments producing young poultry carcasses, raw chicken parts, or not ready-to-eat comminuted poultry products at the location linked above.

Make the Honor Roll in Food Safety and Allergen Awareness

Parents and caregivers play a crucial role in safeguarding their children’s health by ensuring lunches are safe from foodborne illness and allergens for those with dietary restrictions.

Safe and wholesome school lunches begin with four simple safe food handling practices that everyone should always follow to avoid foodborne illness and minimize the risk of cross-contact with food allergens.

Check out our press release on back-to-school food safety tips and information on common allergens and follow FSIS on X in English or Spanish.

For more food safety information, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854), email MPHotline@usda.gov, or chat with a food safety specialist live at www.ask.usda.gov from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.

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 August 20, 2024: Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection: Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigation Survey for FSIS Public Health Partners
• Until August 26, 2024: Availability of Guidance for Residue Prevention
• Until September 20, 2024: Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection: Petitions for Rulemaking

Export Requirements Update

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

• Singapore
• North Macedonia
• Japan
• China
• Mauritius
• Morocco
• Turkey
• Azerbaijan
• Western Samoa (Samoa)
• Vietnam
• India
• Egypt
• Philippines
• Canada
• Honduras
• Ukraine
• Kuwait

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