FSIS Updates for Small Plants - August 7, 2024

USDA Proposes New Policy to Reduce Salmonella in Raw Poultry Products

FSIS issued a comprehensive proposed rule and determination to more effectively reduce Salmonella contamination and illnesses associated with raw poultry products. This is the culmination of FSIS' three-year effort to reevaluate their strategy for controlling Salmonella rates in poultry and protect American consumers from foodborne illness linked to consumption of poultry products.

Salmonella bacteria cause over 1 million human infections in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Food is the leading source of Salmonella infections and poultry is among the leading sources of foodborne Salmonella illnesses. FSIS estimates that there are 125,000 chicken-associated and almost 43,000 turkey-associated foodborne Salmonella illnesses per year. Despite FSIS data indicating that Salmonella contamination in poultry products has been decreasing, there has not been an observed reduction in Salmonella illnesses.

The proposal would establish final product standards to prevent raw chicken carcasses, chicken parts, ground chicken, and ground turkey products that contain any type of Salmonella at or above 10 colony forming units (CFU) per gram/ml and any detectable level of at least one of the Salmonella serotypes of public health significance from entering commerce. The proposed Salmonella serotypes of public health significance identified for raw chicken carcasses, chicken parts, and ground chicken are Enteritidis, Typhimurium, and I,4,[5],12:I:- ; and for raw comminuted turkey are Hadar, Typhimurium, and Muenchen. The proposal would also require poultry establishments to develop a microbial monitoring program to prevent pathogen contamination throughout the slaughter system.

FSIS to Publish Updated Product Laboratory Sampling Datasets

FSIS will update the product establishment-specific laboratory sampling datasets to increase transparency by adding additional variables and publishing in a format that is easier to use, model, and visualize starting in October 2024. The existing product laboratory sampling datasets are published at the FormID level, with each row consisting of a unique FormID. Each new commodity dataset will be broken up into two datasets, and instructions for joining the datasets will be provided in the data documentation.

Prior to publishing the updated datasets, FSIS is seeking comments on a sample dataset until September 13, 2024.

FSIS Changes Date to Implement the Allergen Verification Sampling Program for Ready-To-Eat (RTE) Products and Releases Directives and Laboratory Method

FSIS is changing the date to implement the new allergen verification sampling program from August 1 to September 1, 2024. The agency also issued two new directives related to the new sampling program.

The first, Directive 7000.6, provides instructions to inspection program personnel (IPP) for collecting samples in the allergen verification sampling program. This program targets establishments producing ready-to-eat (RTE) products with labeling claims related to at least one of the 14 food allergens or gluten.

The second, Directive 7000.5, instructs IPP on labeling claims verification sampling at establishments producing products in consumer-ready packaging that bear certain labeling claims or a nutrition facts panel, based on specific eligibility criteria.

FSIS to Onboard Mexico in PHIS Export Component

Starting November 4, 2024, all FSIS meat and poultry product export certificates for products exported to Mexico will be generated, issued and officially maintained in FSIS' Public Health Information System (PHIS). This change excludes certificates for casings and egg products. FSIS made the Mexico PHIS Industry Test Environment (ITE) available for testing on August 2, 2024.

Reminder: FSIS Discontinues Quarterly Establishment Information Letters

As announced in the April 5, 2024, Constituent Update, FSIS has discontinued issuing quarterly establishment information letters that were sent to meat and poultry establishments. These letters provided comprehensive results for products sampled by FSIS at an establishment within the past 12 months.

FSIS continues to expand data products available in the Public Health Information System (PHIS) reports and online data postings and all data available in the letters is available in PHIS reports and FSIS public data postings.

FSIS Posts Quarterly Sampling Data and Quarterly Humane Handling Datasets

FSIS has updated the following quarterly sampling data sets:

• Quarterly Sampling Results: The quarterly sampling reports were updated to include results through the third quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2024.
• Quarterly Sampling Reports on Antimicrobial Resistance Profile: The quarterly sampling reports for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Profile data were updated to include results through the second quarter of FY 2024.
• Quarterly Sampling Reports for Salmonella Serotype Information: The quarterly sampling reports for Salmonella serotype information were updated to include results through the second quarter of FY 2024.
• Quarterly U.S. National Residue Sampling Report: Residue sampling data is available for the third quarter of FY 2024.
• Percent Positive Sampling Report: Sampling results for Salmonella and Campylobacter, Escherichia Coli, and Listeria monocytogenes have been updated.

In addition, the quarterly humane handling inspection datasets were updated on the FSIS website. The datasets include: (1) the number of administrative enforcement actions taken, (2) the number of humane handling verification tasks performed, (3) the number of humane handling verification tasks that resulted in a noncompliance record (NR), and (4) the number of hours spent observing and verifying the humane treatment of livestock. This posting contains the most recent four quarters of data by district, size, and quarter.

FSIS Held National Roundtable Meeting for Small and Very Small Plants in Texas; Next Roundtables in California on August 20th and 22nd

FSIS held a national roundtable meeting for small and very small plants on July 26, 2024, with remarks from Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Emilio Esteban and presentations from FSIS Administrator Paul Kiecker, Agricultural Marketing Service, and FSIS offices about policy and labeling. Approximately 300 people in-person and virtually had an opportunity to ask questions and receive relevant updates at the roundtable, held in conjunction with the Southwest Meat Association annual convention in Round Rock, Texas. We hope small and very small plants will be able to join us at the next roundtables in California in Pomona on August 20 and in Fresno on August 22.

PHIS Q&A

Question: Following the July 1 update that enables digital signatures for China export approvals, how can I ensure all the necessary information is included in the certificate?

Answer: To ensure all necessary information is included, industry should closely review the Documentation Requirements section in the China Export Library. Note the order of statements as indicated in the Documentation Requirements section.

Visit PHIS Help for Industry for additional resources.

Knowledge Article
askFSIS Public Q&A: What if the company doesn't want the modifications that were made to a label?

The company can resubmit the label with other modifications that will fix the non-compliance issue that Labeling and Program Delivery Staff (LPDS) staff identified. If the company is not certain why the modifications were made, they should call LPDS and speak to the technical policy staff member that made the modifications and determine whether other modifications would be acceptable. Lastly, the company can appeal the decision through the label appeal process. More detailed information is explained on the LPDS web site.

While there are often many ways of modifying labeling to bring it into conformance with the federal regulations and policies, LPDS is likely to choose the most common and obvious changes to make the label correct. If you do not wish to have modifications made to labels, we suggest you specify that prominently in the label submission along with a name of a contact person and telephone number. LPDS staff will try to contact that person directly to discuss the labeling issues. Keep in mind that, because of time constraints, LPDS staff may make some modifications to labels or return the label unapproved if it can not contact the company quickly regarding the matter.

Questions? Please submit them through askFSISby filling out the web form on the FSIS website.

Visit AskUSDA.gov and include "askFSIS" in your search terms for more knowledge articles on this and other topics.

SMALL PLANT ROUNDTABLE
August 20, 2024 - Pomona, CA
August 22, 2024 - Fresno, CA
[email protected]

ESTABLISHMENT TOWN HALL
August 21, 2024
4 PM Eastern
[email protected]

To sign up for the CONSTITUENT UPDATE, go to our website or email us at:
[email protected]

Last Updated: Aug 07, 2024