The Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a directive approving three new antimicrobial treatments this week for the production of meat, poultry, and egg products. FSIS directives instruct inspection program personnel (IPP) on practices, procedures, and substances that are acceptable in meat and poultry production and processing.
The newly approved antimicrobial treatments include cetylpyridinium chloride for use as a fine mist or in dip tanks, nisin, and potassium sorbate. The treatments will be added to the Table of Safe and Suitable Ingredients found in 9 CFR 424.21, which identifies food grade additives and generally recognized as safe (GRAS) substances.
The directive notes that the treatments do not apply to the use of substances in on-line reprocessing (OLR) and off-line reprocessing (OFLR) antimicrobial systems. Substances used in these systems are contained in the List of Approved OLR and OFLR Antimicrobial Systems.
The complete FSIS Directive is available here.
