FSIS has developed a new risk metric to support international equivalence reviews for countries that implement alternative measures as part of their food safety inspection system. The quantitative risk metric bolsters FSIS’ data-driven approach to food safety and enhances FSIS’ robust process for evaluating the equivalence of a country’s alternative measures.

FSIS permits countries with inspection procedures that differ from FSIS’ inspection system to export products to the United States if they can show that their inspection system provides an equivalent level of public health protection to FSIS’ inspection system. Countries may choose to submit pathogen testing data as evidence of the comparative safety of their food products. The quantitative risk metric supplements FSIS’ existing process for evaluating alternative measures with a consistent and objective approach to evaluating pathogen testing data a country may submit.

To further transparency of FSIS’ process for evaluating alternative measures, the methodology for the risk metric has been published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology.

FSIS Releases FY 2018 Dioxin Report

FSIS has published the Dioxin FY 2018 Survey: Dioxins and Dioxin-Like Compounds in the U.S. Domestic Meat and Poultry Supply on the FSIS website. FSIS in collaboration with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency conducts periodic surveys for dioxins in meat and poultry.

In comparison to previous surveys, dioxin and dioxin-like compounds were 30% lower in young chickens and young turkeys, 16% lower in market hogs, and 26% higher in steers/heifers.

Although there was an increase in dioxin contamination level in steers/heifers, the change in residue levels in the 2018–2019 survey as compared to 2012–2013, were not considered significant. Steers and heifers generally have the widest range of values. This finding is expected given that cattle in the U.S. graze on a wide variety of pastureland across the country, whereas poultry and market hog production is typically confined and integrated with large feed suppliers.

FSIS and the collaborating agencies will continue to monitor and report the dioxin levels in meat and poultry products to inform future activities related to dioxins. More information on the process of sampling meat, poultry, and egg products for chemical contaminants is available on the FSIS website.

FSIS Releases Five-Year Review of Siluriformes Fish Testing

Today, FSIS posted a new report, Data Summary of Siluriformes Fish Testing: A Five-Year Review, FY 2016-2020, on the FSIS website.

The report describes the decline in Salmonella and chemical residues (veterinary drugs, dyes, pesticides, and metals) in Siluriformes fish over the past five years. This analysis affirms FSIS’ commitment to review and utilize the information collected by the agency and provide data-driven recommendations for future FSIS sampling activities related to raw Siluriformes fish products.