USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service released a report that found the interim final rule to reduce Listeria in ready-to-eat meat and poultry products is having a positive effect. The overall safety of these products has improved because establishments have strengthened their control procedures, increased testing, and taken additional steps to eliminate the pathogen, FSIS said.
“Under the Listeria rule, ready-to-eat meat and poultry products are safer and public health is being better protected,” Agriculture Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Elsa Murano said. “If progress continues at the current rate, we should achieve the Healthy People 2010 goal of lowering the incidence of listeriosis to 0.25 cases per 100,000 people.”
The report was prepared by a 28-member FSIS assessment team that measured the effectiveness of all aspects of the interim rule and its effect on public health. The report is online at www.fsis.usda.gov/Oppde/rdad/frpubs/97-013F/LM_Assessment_Report_2004.pdf. FSIS will take comments on the report until Jan. 31.