Almost 20 years ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) introduced a food safety program called Pathogen Reduction/Hazards Analysis and Critical Control Points (PR/HACCP) aimed at verifying the effectiveness of the food safety systems at meat and poultry facilities. That program, however, has at least two ongoing problems, according to a new report released today by the Consumer Federation of America, with support from the Pew Charitable Trusts. First, plants have too often failed to develop effective food safety plans, and USDA has failed to adequately identify problems in those plants, the report says. Second, plants do not face severe enough consequences for reoccurring food safety violations. The report includes six recommendations for FSIS:
Develop a better way to evaluate plants’ HACCP plans.
Require plants to identify pathogens most commonly associated with particular meat and poultry products and address them in their HACCP plans.
Establish clear procedures and repercussions for reoccurring violations.
Frequently and routinely update performance standards that are based on improving public health.
Seek authority from Congress to set and enforce performance standards for pathogen reduction.
Improve sampling programs to target riskiest facilities and products.
The News Desk team at Food Safety News covers breaking developments, regulatory updates, recalls, and key topics shaping food safety today. These articles are produced collaboratively by our editorial staff.
A New Jersey cheese manufacturer today admitted to introducing adulterated queso fresco into interstate commerce, according to U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer.
Abuelito Cheese Inc. a/k/a “El Abuelito
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has produced a guide to support the analysis of four aspects of national food systems, including food safety.
The Scan Guide covers food safety, food
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has suspended the license of a Quebec frozen dessert company because of violations of food safety laws.
The agency’s move against Abe’s Frozen
SKS Copack of Cerritos, CA is recalling various specialty beverages, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
The recalled products were distributed in the states of CA,
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LAC DPH) is investigating a cluster of Brucella melitensis (brucellosis) infections among adults residing in South Los Angeles County.
Each confirmed case
A New Jersey cheese manufacturer today admitted to introducing adulterated queso fresco into interstate commerce, according to U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer.
Abuelito Cheese Inc. a/k/a “El Abuelito
Les Fermes Lufa brand broccoli microgreens are being recalled in Canada because of pathogenic E. Coli.
The implicated product was distributed online and in Ontario and Quebec, according to the
