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FSIS Posts First Quarter Salmonella and
Campylobacter Report
Today, the agency posted on its website the first quarterly
progress report of calendar year (CY) 2012 on Salmonella and
Campylobacter testing of selected raw meat and poultry
products.
This report provides preliminary data from January to March
2012 on all establishments eligible for Salmonella testing
that have completed at least two sampling verification sets
since June 2006.
As of March 2012, of all establishments in all product
classes, 83.7 percent are in category 1, which illustrates a
decrease from fourth quarter CY11. From 168 broiler
establishments, 1,688 samples were analyzed with a 3.8
percent positive rate, representing a decrease from the 4.3
percent positive rate for fourth quarter CY11. This table
lists percentages of broiler establishments by category as
of March 2012.
Plant
Category |
Category
1 |
Category
2T |
Category
2 |
Category
3 |
Percentage
of Broiler
Establish-
ments |
85 |
4 |
9 |
2 |
FSIS continues to post monthly the names of broiler
establishments demonstrating variable or inconsistent
process control. The agency highlights performance for the
broiler class because of its negative impact on foodborne
illness. Since April 2008, FSIS has been posting category 3
broiler carcass establishment names.
FSIS will continue to post monthly the names of poultry
establishments demonstrating variable or inconsistent
process control. The complete report and program details are
at www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/Quarterly_Salmonella_Results/
index.asp.
Note: This is also the third quarter to include
Campylobacter sampling results for young chicken and turkey
carcasses. As more data becomes available, additional
information will be published in future issues of the
Constituent Update.
FSIS Conducts Food Defense Plan Survey
FSIS is conducting its 7th annual Food Defense Plan Survey through Aug. 10, 2012, to determine how many FSIS-regulated
processed egg products plants, meat and poultry slaughter and processing establishments, and official import
inspection establishments have voluntarily adopted a functional food defense plan.
Results from the July 2011 survey indicated that approximately 75 percent of all plants have adopted plans.
While this represents an increase from prior years, FSIS has established an agency performance goal for 2015 to have
at least 90 percent of establishments with a functional plan.
This year is the first year FSIS will have the ability to conduct the survey through PHIS. Inspection personnel at
domestic and import establishments will be able to schedule the questionnaire as a task on their calendar, which
will help them plan their time.
For guidance and documents related to food defense, go to
www.fsis.usda.gov/Food_Defense_&_Emergency_Response/
index.asp.
For questions and additional assistance, contact the Small Plant Help Desk at (877) FSIS-HELP, (877-374-7435).
Any policy-related questions can also be addressed through the Policy Development Division at
https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20120921165735/http://askfsis.custhelp.com or (800) 233-3935.
Export Requirement Updates
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements for the following countries:
Complete information can be found at
https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20120921165735/http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Export_Information/index.asp.
Food Safety Discovery Zone!
Visit the USDA Food Safety Discovery Zone. Watch for
announcements of upcoming events. For dates, times and more
information, go to www.fsis.usda.gov/Food_Safety_
Education/Mobile_Events_by_Date/index.asp.
Comment Period Extended for HACCP Systems Validation
FSIS extended the comment period until Aug. 9 for the Federal Register notice that clarifies requirements for
validation and for the guidance document to assist establishments in meeting the validation requirements.
The agency extended the comment period in response to a request from an industry association that stated small
businesses with multiple HACCP processing categories need additional time to evaluate the draft guidance document.
Comments may be submitted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov
or by mail to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, FSIS, Docket Clerk, Patriots Plaza III, 355 E St. S.W., 8-163A,
Mailstop 3782, Washington, DC 20250-3700. All items submitted must include docket number FSIS-2009-0019.
Faces of Food Safety: Meet Nonnie Holliman
Since the launch of Faces of Food Safety, we've come to meet
veterinarians, investigators, administrative assistants and
scientists. Our latest spotlight is on Consumer Safety
Inspector Nonnie Holliman, a 42-year employee of FSIS.
A lot has changed since Holliman began his career on the
inspection line in the early 1970s. Some good, he said. And
some even better than he could have predicted. “We are doing
a better job and finding problems early.”
To read more about Holliman's story, visit www.fsis.usda.gov/About_FSIS/
Faces_Food_Safety/index.asp.
Get Answers at askFSIS
AskFSIS is a web-based technology and policy question-and-answer forum on topics such as exporting,
labeling, inspection, programs and procedures. In addition, askFSIS offers Really Simple Syndication
(RSS) feeds that link back to the Q&As. Visit https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20120921165735/http://askfsis.custhelp.com/
to view recently posted topics.
Updates on FSIS Testing for E. coli
FSIS posts bi-weekly updates for the agency’s raw ground
beef E. coli sampling program. Included are testing
results of raw ground beef component samples for E. coli
O157:H7 and STECs from FSIS routine and follow-up sampling
programs. Also featured is data for non-O157 STECs by each
non-O157 STEC serogroup.
To review testing results, go to www.fsis.usda.gov/
Science/
Ground_Beef_E.Coli_Testing_Results/index.asp.
FSIS Policy Update
FSIS issues notices and directives to protect public health.
All notices and directives are available at
www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&
_Policies/index.asp. The
following policy update was recently issued:
Notice 46-12, Notification of Availability of Revised Jerky
Guidelines |
Last Modified:
July 27, 2012 |
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