Source: USDA FSIS, 9/21/18

On Jan. 25, 2016, FSIS launched a multi-year nationwide pilot project to assess whether retail establishments are using the recommendations in the FSIS Best Practices Guidance for Controlling Lm in Retail Delicatessens (FSIS Retail Lm Guidance), issued in June 2015.  Since January 2016, FSIS has assessed annually approximately 1,700 to 1,800 retailers that have delis to determine the adoption rate of the recommendations. FSIS continues to track progress for this pilot project in its Fiscal Year 2018 Annual Plan and the FSIS Strategic Plan, FY 2017-2021.

As of fiscal year (FY) 2018, third quarter (Q3), FSIS is on track to exceed its FY 2018 annual plan target with retailers following 92% of the 33 recommendations (target 91%). From FY 2016, second quarter (Q2) to FY 2018 Q3, the percentage of recommendations followed showed an increased trend in all four categories identified (facility and equipment controls, employee practices, product handling, and cleaning and sanitizing). Specifically, facility and equipment controls increased from 96% to 99%, employee practices from 95% to 97%, product handling from 85% to 88%, and cleaning and sanitizing from 80% to 85%.

Under its strategic plan, FSIS is also tracking whether retailers are following all of the top eight recommendations identified in the FSIS retail Lm guidance. The top eight recommendations can be found on pages 1-2 on the FSIS Directive 10.310.1- Pilot Project: Control of Listeria Monocytogenes in Retail Delicatessens.

As of FY 2018 Q3, FSIS is on track to exceed its FY 2018 strategic plan target with 67% of retailers following these eight recommendations (target 61%). These targets were set from baseline information showing that 59% of retailers surveilled between January 1 and April 30, 2016 were following all eight of these recommended actions.

Retailers can refer questions regarding the Lm pilot project to FSIS through askFSIS or by telephone at 1-800-233-3935. When submitting a question, retailers should use the 'Submit a Question tab’ and enter “Retail Lm” in the subject field, select “General Inspection Policy” for the product field, the category “Sampling” and the policy arena “Domestic (U.S.) Only.”