Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 4/7/14


USDA Acting Under Secretary for Food Safety Brian Ronholm last week defended USDA’s record on food safety, proposed new rules on poultry plant inspection and efforts to decrease salmonella in animal proteins without declaring it an adulterant. 

In testimony prepared for the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA and Related Agencies, Ronholm said USDA’s All-Illness Measure shows a foodborne illness reduction of about 52,000 to 427,171 in fiscal 2013 from fiscal 2012.  He also said FSIS met or exceeded 81 percent of its fiscal 2013 performance measures, which included launching a salmonella action plant.

“However, while these accomplishments are significant, our most recent Annual Performance Report for FY 2013 demonstrates that there is much work to do, especially in reducing the incidence of salmonella,” he noted. “We share the frustration expressed by many with the recent outbreaks of salmonellosis over the past year and want to emphasize that combating salmonella is the agency’s top priority.”

Chicken parts
Ronholm said the agency’s experiences with the salmonella outbreak associated with Foster Farms this past year “reinforce the need to control this pathogen on chicken parts.”  Noting a recently completed baseline survey found the national average of salmonella on chicken parts to be about 24 percent.

“FSIS believes setting a performance standard for chicken parts will help reduce consumer exposure to salmonella,” he said.

An FSIS spokeswoman told Meatingplace the agency is on track to complete the performance standards for chicken parts by the end of this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.

Noting salmonella is a pathogen, but not an adulterant, Ronholm said, “We must work within the law and legal precedent as we deal with salmonella, but we will not cease to be creative in combating this pathogen in order to protect the public health. We know that in order to reduce cases of foodborne illness, we must reduce the amount of Salmonella in the food supply.”

New poultry inspection rules
“One way we are attacking salmonella is through our efforts to modernize our approach to poultry slaughter inspection,” said Ronholm of controversial new proposed rules that would reassign some line inspectors to other tasks and allow for increased line speeds. “This new inspection system is designed to be a critical piece of our aggressive agenda to control Salmonella in poultry.”

He repeated USDA’s often-quoted projection that the agency’s peer-reviewed risk assessment estimates the new inspection approach would prevent approximately 5,000 foodborne illnesses each year.

Chairman support
The proposed poultry inspection rules, based on USDA’s 15-year pilot program on HACCP-based inspection model project (HIMP), have come under attack from consumer groups, the union that represents federal inspectors and some legislators.

A bipartisan coalition of 68 members of Congress in March signed a letter asking the agency to withdraw the plan.  

However, Subcommittee Chairman Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) appeared to defended USDA’s proposed rules.
“Without a doubt there is likely to be lively debate about your agency’s poultry modernization rule,” he said in his opening remarks. “The Administration has assured us that this particular regulation will demonstrate positive health results and cost less to implement. As we discuss various FSIS rules and regulations, let’s be clear about one thing: America is blessed with the safest food supply in the world. When false accusations and misinformation enters the media and public domain, it is a disservice to America’s farmers, ranchers and consumers. Sound science should always guide food safety decisions.”

The new rules have yet to be approved by the White House Office of Management and Budget.

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