Meat test rule change would prevent most E.coli, Listeria recalls
This was the verdict of American Meat Institute (AMI) as it said it was once again calling on the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to compel suppliers and processor not to release meat product on to the market until after the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) had reported back with the results of tests on the presence of bacteria.
In a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, AMI president J Patrick Boyle said the industry association had consistently recommended that firms adopt the practice of controlling sampled product to prevent the need for a recall in the event of a positive result.
In 2005, the body said it had liaised with the FSIS, among others, to send every small and very small federally inspected establishment a best practices document encouraging them to adopt this practice.
“Enhancing food safety is the Institute’s top priority,” said Boyle in the letter. “We hope you will join the industry in supporting a policy that product tested by FSIS, subject to company lotting and control procedures, not be allowed to enter, or be used in product that would enter, commerce until the test results become available.”
The AMI chief stressed that companies rather than government agencies should be responsible for retaining meat while waiting for test sample feedback.
“Such a policy should not consist of agency retention of any FSIS tested product, but rather require a company to utilize its own, effective control measures that ensure the product is not used or distributed for sale before the test results are known,” said Boyle.
The issue of E.coli-tainted meat reaching consumers has become a national talking point in the US over recent weeks. The AMI recently rejected moves by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for legislation to make E.coli testing of ground beef mandatory both before and after it is mixed for use in hamburgers. The New York politician hit back saying a new law was needed as the meat industry had shown a lack of corporate responsibility on the matter.
