Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 4/26/2011

If new salmonella reduction standards that go into effect in July had been in effect last year, about 87 percent of young chicken and 94 percent of young turkey slaughter establishments would have met the new standards, according to USDA.

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service recently counted completed sample sets that started no later than Dec. 31, 2010, and completed no later than March 31, 2011, to reflect a baseline of where industry performance is today against the new standards, the North American Meat Processors Association reported in its weekly Newsline report.

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