Postharvest Pathogen Interventions for Meat and Poultry

Although progress has been made in regard to pathogen reduction technologies, the incidence and retardation of pathogens in the meat supply remains a high priority. As examples, on October 7, 2002, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a notice in the Federal Register mandating HACCP reassessments for E. coli O157:H7 and indicated that testing exemptions would furthermore be revoked. As promised, and due to the “E. coli summer season,” on April 18, 2003, the FSIS issued Notice 11-03 indicating that the FSIS will begin sampling raw ground products for E. coli O157:H7 at all grinding facilities, regardless if an establishment was previously exempt from routine sampling, in effect removing all exemptions. To this end, inplant inspectors will receive sampling request forms and draw samples regardless of the plants own testing program.