USDA proposes lab tests before shipping meat

USDA proposes lab tests before shipping meat    The U.S. Department of Agriculture this week has proposed a new requirement for the meat and poultry industry that it said would reduce the amount of unsafe food that reaches store shelves.
   With the proposed requirement, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) would be able to hold products from commerce until FSIS test results for harmful substances are received, USDA said.
   Currently, when FSIS collects a sample for testing, the sampled products are requested but not required to be held until test results are known. FSIS said the newly proposed requirement will substantially reduce serious recalls for meat and poultry products.
   “Meat and poultry products will be prevented from reaching consumers until our inspectors have the opportunity to thoroughly evaluate test results,' said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, in a statement. 'This approach will help us enhance protection of the food supply, reduce recalls, and ensure that all consumers are getting the safest food possible.”
   FSIS inspects billions of pounds of meat, poultry and processed egg products annually. FSIS believes 44 of the most serious recalls between 2007 and 2009 could have been prevented if this procedure had been in place.
   President Obama’s Food Safety Working Group developed three core principles to help guide U.S. food safety:
   ' Prioritize prevention.
   ' Strengthen surveillance and enforcement.
   ' Improve response and recovery.
   In its overall mission to ensure a safe food supply for the public, and in response to the working group, FSIS developed the test and hold requirement to ensure consumers are getting the safest food possible. ' Chris Gillis