Source: Michael Fielding, 8/18/11

Listeria prevalence in all ready-to-eat (RTE) products dropped to 0.28 percent positive in 2010 from 0.37 percent a year earlier — and 81 percent since 2000, according to data released by USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Monday.

In 2010 FSIS analyzed 3,153 and 8,704 samples for listeria in its ALLRTE and RTE001 sampling projects, respectively. The ALLRTE project turned up 10 positive samples (0.32 percent), and 24 positive samples were found in the in RTE001 samples (0.28 percent positive).

FSIS also analyzed the same number of samples for salmonella in its ALLRTE and RTE001 sampling projects. Of the 11,856 samples analyzed, there were four positive samples (one from ALLRTE and three from RTE001), resulting in a 0.03 percent positive rate compared to a slightly higher o.04 percent positive rate in 2009.

FSIS has conducted a regulatory microbiological testing program on RTE meat and poultry products since 1983.
For the full report, click here. 

For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.