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| Food Safety: Meat and Poultry Inspection & Other FSIS Programs |
What is the Meat and Poultry Hotline
and what type of questions does it handle?
USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline is a toll-free telephone service that
helps consumers prevent foodborne illness, specifically by answering
their questions about safe storage, handling, and preparation of meat
and poultry products. The Hotline may be reached by calling 1-888-MPHotline
(1-888-674-6854 - voice) or 1-800-256-7072 (TDD/TTY).
Callers may speak with a food safety specialist from 10:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, weekdays. Recorded messages are available
at all times.
(For More Information: USDA
Meat and Poultry Hotline)
Is all meat and poultry inspected?
American consumers can be confident that the Food Safety and Inspection
Service (FSIS), the public health agency in the USDA, ensures that
meat and poultry products are safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled
and packaged.
Under the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection
Act, FSIS inspects all raw meat and poultry sold in interstate and
foreign commerce, including imported products. The Agency monitors
meat and poultry products after they leave federally inspected plants.
In addition, FSIS monitors state inspection programs, which inspect
meat and poultry products sold only within the state in which they
were produced. The 1967 Wholesome Meat Act and the 1968 Wholesome
Poultry Products Act require state inspection programs to be "at least
equal to" the Federal inspection program. If states choose to end
their inspection program or cannot maintain this standard, FSIS must
assume responsibility for inspection within that state.
(Source: Inspection
& Grading of Meat and Poultry: What Are the Differences?)
Is all meat and poultry graded?
The inspection and grading of meat and poultry are two separate programs
within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Inspection for wholesomeness
is mandatory and is paid for out of tax dollars.
Grading for quality is voluntary, and the service
is requested and paid for by meat and poultry producers/processors.
After the meat and poultry are inspected for wholesomeness, producers
and processors may request to have the products graded for quality
by a Federal grader. The USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service is
the agency responsible for grading meat and poultry. Those who request
grading must pay for the service. Grading for quality means evaluation
of traits related to tenderness, juiciness, and flavor of meat; and,
for poultry, a normal shape that is fully fleshed and meaty and free
of defects.
USDA grades are based on nationally uniform Federal standards of quality.
So that no matter where or when a consumer purchases graded meat or
poultry, it must have met the same grade criteria. The grade is stamped
on the carcass or side of beef and is usually not visible on retail
cuts. However, retail packages of beef, as well as poultry, will show
the grade mark if they have been graded.
The grade symbol and wording are no longer copyrighted; however, according
to the Truth in Labeling Law, it is illegal to mislead or misrepresent
the shield or wording.
(Source: Inspection
& Grading of Meat and Poultry: What Are the Differences?)
Who inspects egg products?
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA) inspects and regulates meat and poultry products.
FSIS is responsible for ensuring that these products are safe, wholesome,
and accurately labeled. FSIS also inspects pasteurized egg products
(eggs that have been removed from their shells for further processing)
produced in Federally inspected plants. All other food products, other
than those regulated by FSIS, fall under the regulatory authority
of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Note: Many government agencies cooperate to ensure the safety of shell
eggs from farm to table. See Shell Eggs from Farm to Table.
(Source: FSIS
Food Recalls. See also Egg
Products and Food Safety.) |
Last Modified:
August 22, 2008 |
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