"This new policy will reduce foodborne illnesses and the number of recalls by preventing contaminated products from reaching consumers," USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Elisabeth Hagen said.
The World Trade Organization has ruled that the United States must bring its country-of-origin labeling rules into compliance with an earlier WTO ruling by May 23, 2013.
It provides specific recommendations that establishments producing post-lethality exposed RTE meat and poultry products may follow to meet the requirements of 9 CFR part 430, Requirements for Specific Classes of Products (The Listeria Rule).
The agency will increase the number of product samples it collects under its routine Risk-based Lm (RLm) sampling program and its intensified verification testing protocol from 3 to 5 samples per sampling unit.
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced that Ohio will be the first state to participate in USDA's Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program.
Later this summer, the Department will launch a new approach to its testing to protect the public from exposure to harmful levels of chemical residues in meat, poultry, and egg products.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited American Foods Group LLC with seven safety violations – including one repeat – at the company's Sharonville, OH, meat processing facility.
A leading Ohio meat supplier has partnered with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by joining the agency's employment compliance program IMAGE, or "ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers."