Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) On Friday it proposed sweeping changes to how poultry should be processed to reduce the rush of salmonella infections associated with these products.
The new proposed framework, which officials say has been “shaped by months of information-gathering and discussions with a wide range of stakeholders, researchers and scientists” could mean that meat companies should be broadened in their operations. Will have to make changes.
FSIS, a public health agency of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), works to ensure that meat, poultry and egg products are safe and properly labeled. However, despite years of effort to reduce salmonella contamination in poultry products, the agency says its current approach has “not produced a clear reduction” in infections.
more than one million people in america get sick every year According to a recent report by the Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration, more than 23% of these diseases are caused by the consumption of chicken and turkey.
As part of its plan to address the issue, the agency proposed testing incoming flocks of chickens and turkeys for the bacterial disease, which commonly affects the intestinal tract and kills 1.3 million people annually. with symptoms that may include diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting that may last for a long time. many days.
Officials expect chickens and turkeys to be tested before they enter the slaughterhouse encourage the farmerTo adopt practices that reduce bacterial infection on birds before the meat reaches the point of processing.
Another measure of the framework would include increased monitoring for: Salmonella during processing By adapting the sample to the bacteria in several steps inside the processing facility.
The third major change would be to allow the maximum level of bacterial contamination and possibly limit the three specific types of salmonella that can make people sick. Meat that exceeds the limit or contains banned types of salmonella may be barred from the market.
“We know that there is no single solution to a complex problem like salmonella contamination in poultry, so we need a comprehensive strategy with components that work together. reduce human diseaseFSIS said.
The agency will hold a public hearing on November 3 to get inputs from the poultry industry and others. According to the agency, the goal is to start making rules in 2023 and to finalize any rules by the middle of 2024.