FSIS Expands Salmonella Sampling for Young Chicken Carcasses

FSIS is expanding young chicken carcass sampling at establishments currently subject to the Salmonella young chicken carcass performance standard. The Young Chicken Exploratory Sampling Program described in Notice 21-22, will generate microbial data to inform the agency’s efforts to reduce Salmonella illnesses attributable to poultry.

In addition to the FSIS verification sample already collected at the end of the slaughter process (post chill step), FSIS personnel will collect a second carcass sample earlier in the slaughter process (rehang step) from the same flock. FSIS is also aligning National Antibiotic Residue Monitoring Program (NARMS) sampling so that regularly scheduled NARMS cecal samples will be collected from the same flock as the two carcass samples. There will be no increase in scheduled NARMS cecal samples. The expanded sampling will allow FSIS to monitor Salmonella at up to three points in the slaughter process.

FSIS personnel will also complete a questionnaire during each sampling event to collect data on pre-harvest and slaughter interventions applied to the sampled flocks. FSIS intends to use the results from the questionnaire to inform future Salmonella control policies.

There are no changes to the laboratory methods or result reporting for the post chill verification samples. FSIS will continue to publish establishment Salmonella categories for each eligible product using the Salmonella result from the post chill verification sample. FSIS will not categorize establishments based on rehang results and will advise the public if it intends to post establishment-specific exploratory sample results.

NARMS Releases 2019 Interagency Report

On April 19, 2022, the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) published the 2019 Integrated Report Summary. The 2019 report describes antimicrobial resistance trends in Salmonella, Campylobacter, generic E. coli, and Enterococcus. In addition to Salmonella, the summary also provides genomic information for Campylobacter and E. coli in retail meat and food producing animals. This national surveillance helps the NARMS public health partners identify new types and patterns of resistance and changes over time. NARMS also aids in understanding the impact of interventions designed to limit the spread of resistance.

NARMS is a collaboration between state and local public health departments and federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and Agricultural Research Service (ARS). Traditionally NARMS has tracked changes in antimicrobial susceptibility of select foodborne enteric bacteria found in ill people (CDC), retail meats (FDA), and food animals (USDA). The food animal sampling at FSIS focuses on testing food products and intestinal (cecal) contents. Future reports will include information on bacterial resistance from other animal sources, commodities, pets, and the environment.

FSIS and the CDC use NARMS information on a case-by-case basis to investigate foodborne illnesses and outbreaks. FDA routinely uses NARMS data in its regulatory review and approval of new animal antimicrobial drugs, and to develop and update policies on the judicious use of antimicrobial in animals. NARMS findings help public health partners continually assess the nature and magnitude of bacterial antibiotic resistance at different points along the farm-to-fork continuum.

FSIS Posts Two AAR Reports for Foodborne Outbreak Investigations

FSIS has posted two after-action review (AAR) reports for outbreak investigations. Please visit the FSIS website to view additional reports and learn more about FSIS outbreak investigations.

AAR for Lm Outbreak Linked to Ready-to Eat Chicken

This Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) outbreak investigation was conducted in collaboration with public health officials in multiple states and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of isolates identified through routine FSIS sampling provided investigators with key data to guide the investigation, highlighting the importance of routine sampling and WGS analyses to inform outbreak investigations. The report identifies close communication and coordination between FSIS, CDC, and state public health partners as an important factor that facilitated the rapid response to this outbreak.

AAR for Salmonella Outbreaks Linked to Italian-Style Meats

This investigation was conducted in collaboration with public health officials in multiple states and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Both outbreaks were linked to ready-to-eat, Italian-style meat products that were produced using multiple interventions (e.g., fermentation and drying) to control Salmonella and other bacteria that can make people sick.

FSIS conducted assessments at the establishments where the products associated with these outbreaks were produced and identified factors that may have contributed to the outbreaks, including the use of a reduced salt formulation and lack of validated scientific support to achieve a 5-log reduction in Salmonella. FSIS is working with research partners to fill data gaps and better identify support for the safety of these products. These outbreaks highlight timely and effective outbreak response activities, including public communications, retailers’ voluntary removal of implicated products from shelves, and collaboration between retailers and public health officials to obtain food purchase history.

FSIS Posts Updated Quarterly Humane Handling Datasets

FSIS has updated the quarterly humane handling inspection datasets on its website. The posting contains the most recent four quarters of data by district, HACCP size, and quarter.