Source:  Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 9/14/10

USDA’s new Under Secretary for Food Safety Elisabeth Hagen recently outlined her four priorities in a meeting with industry association leaders, according to North American Meat Processors Association Executive Director Phil Kimball.

In a newsletter to NAMP members, Kimball said Hagen’s major priorities include:

1.    Working with other agencies and stakeholders to develop ideas on how to move forward on pre-harvest food safety.
2.    Communicating with stakeholders, including the industry, consumers, FSIS employees, and other partners.
3.    Working with inspectors and other FSIS employees to look at the FSIS workforce and the best way to move forward to protect public health.
4.    Reviewing FSIS regulations, as well as legislation that impacts FSIS.

On pre-harvest interventions, Kimball said Hagen indicated she wants FSIS to support the Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS) and other USDA agencies that have responsibility for this.

On non-O157:H7 STEC’s, Hagen said FSIS will focus on the top six identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145) and will make the testing methodology it develops public.  

Kimball said industry leaders at the meeting encouraged Hagen to also focus on food safety inspection processes for imports, “because trading partners think they do not get the respect from FSIS on issues important to them.”