USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has updated FSIS’ notice 31-11 to incorporate instructions for submitting samples through the Public Health Inspection System (PHIS). FSIS has also updated the notice to reflect that these performance standards have now been in place since July 2011. Under this FSIS testing program, each sample collected in a set is analyzed for both Salmonella and Campylobacter. If FSIS finds more than the acceptable number of samples positive for passing either of the standards at an establishment, FSIS will immediately schedule another set and expects the establishment to take steps to gain better process control of these enteric pathogens. In the follow-up sample set, FSIS will analyze all samples for both organisms.
To continue to implement the standards for Campylobacter, FSIS has moved all young chicken and turkey slaughter establishments to the highest priority for scheduling sample sets. Additionally, the notice listed details for changes in the sample collection procedures for both young chickens and turkeys and includes complete sampling instructions and details for changes in FSIS’ performance standards and notes that the End of Set (EOS) Letter provided by the agency to establishments upon completion of a verification sample set includes a report of Campylobacter results. FSIS notice 54-12 can be viewed here.
