The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service’s responses to the poultry industry’s recommendations on the new young chicken and turkey Salmonella and Campylobacter performance standards are disappointing. The agency’s positions are in the March 21 Federal Register (Docket Number FSIS–2010–0029), and this FR notice details the agency’s new young chicken and turkey Salmonella and Campylobacter performance standards scheduled for implementation in July. 

Answers are needed before action on Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) policy. Supporting a new Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) monitoring program for multiplier breeding flocks puts the chicken industry in position to have a say in future FSIS policy. Delegates to the 40th Biennial Conference of the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) voted to adopt the U.S. SE Monitored program for multiplier meat-type breeder chickens. The program’s goal is to determine the relative prevalence of SE in parent breeder flocks and establish a framework by which the broiler industry might subsequently begin to collectively address this potential food safety concern. FSIS continues to express concern that while the overall prevalence of Salmonella spp. associated with broilers has been declining over the past several years, SE prevalence in young chickens and human illnesses caused by SE have been on the rise.

Where is the SIP? The poultry industry is – after a year and a half – still awaiting publication of the next SIP FR Notice. Alling Yancy Alling H. Yancy, DVM, vice president, food safety and production programs, U.S. Poultry & Egg Association; E-mail ayancy@poultryegg.org USDA

Policymakers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) say that consumers have a right to know information concerning the safety of America's food supply.