FSIS Posts After-Action Review Report for Foodborne Listeria monocytogenes Outbreak

FSIS has posted on its website an after-action review report for the investigation of a 2017–2018 outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes illnesses associated with ready-to-eat, country-cured ham. During April–November 2018, public health officials from Virginia, North Carolina, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and FSIS investigated an outbreak of four reported L. monocytogenes illnesses linked to ready-to-eat country-cured ham manufactured at an FSIS-regulated establishment.

This was the first reported multistate outbreak of listeriosis associated with an FSIS-regulated product since 2005. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was instrumental in detecting this outbreak and determining its source. The investigation revealed that production practices may have led to cross-contamination and that the cooking of the product may have been insufficient to address L. monocytogenes.

In response to this outbreak, FSIS plans to update Directive 10,240.4, Verification Activities for the Listeria monocytogenes Regulation and the Ready-to-Eat (RTE) Sampling Program. Additionally, FSIS added a related study to its Food Safety Research Priorities on the FSIS website and plans to update its “Appendix A” cooking guidance in 2020.

The purpose of FSIS after-action review reports is to share lessons learned with industry and public health partners from outbreak investigations to help prevent illness and improve response.

To view the full report, please go here.

View additional reports and learn more about outcomes of FSIS outbreak investigations.

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

On May 20, 2020, FSIS will update the individual establishment Salmonella performance standard category information for raw poultry carcasses, raw chicken parts and comminuted poultry products.

Additionally, FSIS will post the aggregate sampling results showing the number of establishments in categories 1, 2, or 3 for establishments producing young chicken or turkey carcasses, raw chicken parts or not ready-to-eat (NRTE) comminuted poultry products.

FSIS Posts Updated Dataset on Import Refusals

On May 15, 2020, FSIS updated the publicly posted dataset on import refusals for products that the agency regulates. Federal law requires every commercial shipment of imported meat, poultry, and egg products to be re-inspected prior to product entering U.S. commerce. FSIS re-inspects 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).

This dataset is updated around the 15th of each month and contains each shipment with product that was refused entry. To access these datasets or view more information about them, please visit the FSIS Datasets page.

FSIS Posts Next Set of Establishment-Specific Datasets

FSIS is preparing to publish the next set of establishment-specific datasets as announced in the Federal Register on July 14, 2016 (Docket No. FSIS-2014-0032). Prior to publishing these datasets, FSIS is making sample datasets available. The next sample dataset and corresponding data documentation is for raw Siluriformes sampling results for Salmonella, which can be found on the Establishment-Specific Datasets: Laboratory Sampling Data web page.

Please visit https://www.regulations.gov/ and follow the online instructions at that site for submitting comments to Docket FSIS-2014-0032 for this sample dataset and data documentation by June 26, 2020. FSIS intends to publish the final dataset on July 10, 2020. Additional details can be found in the FSIS Establishment-Specific Data Release Strategic Plan.

Policy Updates

FSIS notices and directives on public health and regulatory issues are available at their respective libraries. The following policy updates were recently issued:

FSIS Notice 28-20 - Annual Notice to High-Mileage Drivers

FSIS Notice 27-20 - FSIS Availability of Cloth Face Coverings, Disposable Masks, and Face Shields

FSIS Notice 26-20 - Availability of Hand Sanitizer

FSIS Directive 8021.1 Rev. 2 - Investigative Methodology For Conducting Misconduct, Office of Inspector General Hotline, And Other Investigations

FSIS Directive 9900.8 Rev. 1 - Meat Poultry and Egg Products Refused Entry into the United States

Export Requirements Update

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

• China, People's Republic of 
• Mexico 
• New Caledonia
• Saudi Arabia