USDA’s Food Safety & Inspection Service (FSIS) has released a notice detailing the implementation of its new performance standards for Salmonella and Campylobacter on chicken and turkey carcasses, taking effect today. The notice can be accessed at:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISNotices/31-11.pdf

For an establishment to pass the updated Salmonella standards, FSIS must find five or fewer positives in a 51-sample set for young chickens, and four or fewer positives in a 56-sample set for turkeys.  For Campylobacter, FSIS must find eight or fewer positives in a 51-sample set for young chickens and three or fewer positives in a 56-sample set for turkeys.

If the establishment fails either standard, FSIS will collect and analyze follow-up samples for both Salmonella and Campylobacter.  In implementing the Campylobacter standards, FSIS will move all young chicken and turkey slaughter establishments to the highest priority for scheduling sampling. These standards will take effect with samples begun on or after July 1.

Noteworthy details include the fact that “end of set” letters will include category 1, 2, or 3 ratings (consistent, variable, or highly variable process control, respectively) for both Salmonella and Campylobacter, and initially, establishments receiving a category 3 rating for Campylobacter will not be posted to the FSIS Web site.  FSIS will reevaluate that policy after completing two sets of sampling for 90 percent of establishments.