November 1, 2006

Food groups applaud USDA's move towards risk-based inspections
 

The American Meat Institute (AMI) and the Food Products Association (FPA) have expressed strong support of a USDA shift to risk-based meat inspection (RBI).

The RBI system is being developed by USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and would subject companies processing products with the highest risk of causing human illness to more intense inspection.

However, they suggested that FSIS in future consider plans to expand RBI to cover others in the supply chain, including farms and retail establishments.

Currently, the proposal is focused on risk-based application of resources in meat and poultry processing establishments. The agency is only just beginning to consider how to apply RBI to slaughter operations.