The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) has released its Salmonella Action Plan to address the estimated 1.3 million illnesses caused by the pathogen each year. “Far too many Americans are sickened by Salmonella every year,” said Under Secretary for Food Safety Elisabeth Hagen. “The aggressive and comprehensive steps detailed in the Salmonella Action Plan will protect consumers by making meat and poultry products safer.” The plan identifies modernizing the outdated poultry slaughter inspection system as a top priority and states that the move “is likely to result in a reduction of at least 4,286 Salmonella illnesses per year in the United States.” It proceeds to lay out the goals of enhancing sampling programs, training for inspection staff, and education and outreach. The action plan notes that there is evidence from outbreak data that pork products contribute to Salmonella illnesses, stating, “Decreasing sanitary dressing problems in hog slaughter establishments, particularly related to removing the skin, could decrease a source of Salmonella on carcasses.” So FSIS plans to publish a directive of instructions for inspectors on the verification activities related to sanitary dressing procedures in hog slaughter operations. FSIS also stated that the agency needs to develop new enforcement strategies, could modify how it posts Salmonella categories, and will explore how lymph nodes contribute to Salmonella poisoning.
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As part of its enforcement activities, the Food and Drug Administration sends warning letters to entities under its jurisdiction. Some letters are not posted for public view until weeks or
The Food and Drug Administration uses import alerts to enforce U.S. food safety regulations for food from foreign countries. The agency updates and modifies the alerts as needed.
Recent
7-Eleven brand sandwiches, subs and wraps are being recalled in Canada because of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
The products were distributed to 7-Eleven stores in Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.
Liquid Blenz Corp. of Rockville Center, NY, is recalling all codes of Good Brain Tonic because of Botulism potential.
The Good Brain Tonic was distributed nationwide in retail stores and
Fish has been connected to two separate outbreaks in the Philippines and Vanuatu.
Media reports on the number of sick people in the Philippines range from 20 to 51.
The
Soo brand Mala Spicy Flavoured Beef Jerky and Pork Jerky are being recalled in Canada because of mold on the products.
The recalled jerky was distributed in Alberta and British
