Meat & Poultry -- January 2014 - 60

FOOD SAFETY OUTLOOK

lemonade stand. But a plan laid out in

to concentrate on the dangers of Sal-

called a little awkwardly the Office

writing puts people, and in this case

monella, as well. It will make sure es-

of Public Health Science, will be work-

the government, on record as to what

tablishments producing comminut-

ing this year to improve understand-

they'd like to do. Whether they accom-

ed poultry are effectively addressing

ing of the hazards and risks associ-

plish it or not is another issue entirely.

the pathogen in Hazard Analysis and

ated with products regulated by the

For example, the FSIS Office of

Critical Control Point (HACCP) pro-

agency, so there will be less exposure

Field Operations, which is in charge

grams, explore how verification test-

to these hazards and risks by Ameri-

of inspection, feels it is very important

ing for Salmonella can be improved,

can consumers. This will be done by

to reduce the American public's ex-

and whether existing Salmonella poli-

using illness-reduction targets iden-

posure to Salmonella in poultry. It will

cies are being implemented effectively.

tified in the Healthy People 2020 re-

do this by concentrating on raw com-

The FSIS policy office will also

port. FSIS wants to develop Salmonella

minuted poultry in at least 75 percent

work to reduce illnesses from raw

and Campylobacter performance stan-

of all eligible slaughtering/processing

ground beef and other products by as-

dards, including a baseline for beef,

operations, and 25 percent of process-

sessing whether the agency's verifica-

veal and comminuted poultry and

ing operations, using its 2013 Salmo-

tion instructions for both E. coli O157

chicken parts.

nella Action Plan. Reducing exposure

and non-O157 STEC are being effec-

Whether FSIS accomplishes every-

to Campylobacter is also a priority. The

tively implemented. FSIS will make

thing in what's a truly immense collec-

office will also be working with coun-

changes, depending on what it fi nds.

tion of goals remains to be seen. The

tries exporting products to the US to

It will develop new regulations that

negative aspect may be that what is left

fi x non-compliance and other prob-

will help modernize beef and poultry

undone is out there for all the world

lems, before FSIS is forced to delist an

slaughter operations, reduce adulter-

to see. The positive side is that those

exporting country or countries. One

ants, and strengthen verification re-

who are interested enough to look at

way it will do this is by monitoring

lated to imported products. FSIS also

the plan will see the important priori-

port-of-entry violations and watching

hopes to finalize validation guidance,

ties that exist and the steps needed to

for repeat-violator countries.

issue assistance to retail delis to help

be taken to make America's meat and
poultry as safe as possible. ■

USDA's Office of Policy and Pro-

ize poultry slaughter regulations, and

agency policy and regulations into

issue instructions to implement them.

programs carried out at plants, plans

60

prevent Listeria monocytogenes, fi nal-

gram Development, which translates

The agency's science arm, now

* Meat&Poultry * January 2014 * www.MeatPoultry.com

Bernard Shire is Meat&Poultry's Washington
correspondent. He also works as a consultant
and writer for Shire & Associates LLC.
http://www.MeatPoultry.com
Meat & Poultry -- January 2014

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