In early 2011, Congress passed the Food Safety Modernization Act (“FSMA”). The new legislation, which was signed into law quickly, was designed to improve the overall safety of FDA-regulated products. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and the state of Montana have finalized a Cooperative Interstate Shipment agreement, which provides an opportunity for selected state-inspected meat and poultry processors to ship their products across state lines.

The fiscal 2022 appropriations bill signed into law March 15 by President Joe Biden updates U.S. Department of Agriculture statutes to allow workplace flexibilities for Food Safety Inspection Service in-plant inspection personnel. 

Phosphates have been a fundamental ingredient in cleaning and sanitation chemicals for years.

Carcass chilling temperatures affect meat tenderness, juiciness, and taste.

Consumers utilize visual appearance to assess the wholesomeness and freshness of muscle foods.

The year 2007 is often non-affectionately referred to as “The Year of the Recall.”

I am of the hope that, sooner rather than later, we can stop proclaiming each year “crazy” or “unusual” or some other superlative. What I wouldn’t give for a normal, easy, and successful year in food safety, where challenges weren’t so mountainous and issues weren’t new. 

Once again, the meat industry deserves to be congratulated for another great year! With fewer than 50 recalls at the time of this writing, 2021 will go down in history as one of the safest years for the meat industry in the last two decades.

Food safety is typically top of mind when processors spray antimicrobials on meat and poultry, but protecting workers also is essential.