January 6, 2014
US releases compliance guidelines to control salmonella in hog facilities
The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that the new compliance guidelines for controlling salmonella in hog slaughter facilities will be published in the Federal Register today (Jan 6).
In a press release, the agency stated that the guidance provides information on best practices that may be applied at hog slaughter facilities to prevent, eliminate or reduce levels of salmonella on hogs at all stages of slaughter and dressing. FSIS is seeking public comment on the guidance, which is said to represent the agency's current thinking on preventing salmonella contamination at hog slaughter facilities.
According to the press release, FSIS is issuing the guidance because pork has recently been implicated in a number of salmonella outbreaks. The plan lists a number of actions FSIS intends to take to reduce salmonella-related illnesses from FSIS regulated products, pursuant to the agency's Salmonella Action Plan.
