FSIS to Implement New Ground Beef Sampling Procedures
The Food Safety and Inspection Service is going forward with its plan to end its “HC01” salmonella testing procedures for raw beef products, and replace it with testing for salmonella in samples it already collects for E. coli analysis, it said. Beginning June 29, FSIS will stop HC01 testing in ground beef, except for “Category 3” establishments that exceeded agency standards in recent testing, said FSIS. In its place, the agency will begin analyzing for salmonella all raw beef samples that it collects for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) analysis, including ground beef, trim, and other raw ground beef components FSIS samples at import establishments. It will also increase its sample portion from 25 grams to 325 grams.
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As part of the new plan, FSIS says it intends to use the results from its verification sampling program to estimate Salmonella prevalence in raw ground beef and beef manufacturing trimmings and develop a new Salmonella performance standard for ground beef. FSIS will allow for comments on any new standard before implementation, it said. FSIS also intends to do a risk assessment and develop Salmonella performance standards for comminuted poultry and poultry parts in fiscal year 2014. It may begin sampling programs for hog carcasses and pork products next year, “if needed,” it said.
(Federal Register 06/05/14)