FSIS Posts After-Action Review Report for Salmonella Reading Outbreak Linked to Turkey

FSIS has posted an after-action review report for the investigation of a 2017–2019 outbreak of Salmonella Reading illnesses associated with turkey. Public health officials in multiple states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FSIS, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and the National Turkey Federation (NTF) investigated an outbreak of 356 reported Salmonella Reading illnesses linked to turkey. 

In contrast to many other foodborne outbreaks that are associated with a specific brand or source of product, evidence suggested that this outbreak was linked to multiple producers of turkey products and that the outbreak strain was spread throughout the turkey industry. This outbreak response, in which government and industry worked together toward their shared goal to protect consumers, has been used as a model for government-industry collaboration in subsequent outbreak investigations. In response to this outbreak, NTF published best practices for reducing Salmonella in turkeys and turkey products.

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

To view the full report, visit https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

To view additional reports and learn more about outcomes of FSIS outbreak investigations, visit https://www.fsis.usda.gov/OutbreakOutcomes.

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

On October 20, 2020, FSIS will update the individual establishment Salmonella performance standard category information for raw poultry carcasses, raw chicken parts and comminuted poultry products at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/science-data/data-sets-visualizations/microbiology.

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 at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/science-data/data-sets-visualizations/microbiology.

Comment Period for Consumer Education Public Meeting Reopened 

FSIS has reopened the public comment period for the recent public meeting “Food Safety: Consumer Outreach and Education Today and for the Future,” which was held on October 6, 2020. Additional public comments can be made through October 31, 2020 at https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=FSIS-2020-0026. The slide deck presentation from the meeting is available at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/news-events/events-meetings.

Policy Updates

FSIS notices and directives on public health and regulatory issues are available at:https://www.fsis.usda.gov/policy. The following policy updates were recently issued:

FSIS Notice 54-20 - Change in Travel Management Center

FSIS Notice 55-20 - Leave Bank Program 2020 Open Enrollment Period

FSIS Notice 56-20 - Imported Raw Poultry Products Sampled for Salmonella and Campylobacter Analysis

FSIS Notice 57-20 - 2020 USDA Travel Charge Card Training

Export Requirements Update

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

• Japan 
• Jordan 
• Kazakhstan 
• Korea, Republic of
• Mexico Plant List
• New Caledonia 
• New Zealand 
• Qatar 
• Singapore

Complete information can be found at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/inspection/import-export.