USDA proposes new rules for testing meat

The USDA wants new rules for when this little pig—and chicken and cow—can go to market. They would require that when the agency tests meat, processors hold onto the products until results come back clean. But you need to stay vigilant, since a lot of meat still goes untested and some potentially dangerous pathogens—including campylobacter and salmonella—are allowed in raw poultry.

The USDA currently conducts only about 12,000 tests a year on meat, looking for bacteria and other contaminants. And even when the agency does test, it allows meat processors to bring products to market before the test results are in. While many processors—especially large-scale ones—voluntarily hold onto their products until test results come back negative, some don't. That allows some contaminated meat and poultry products into the marketplace, only to be recalled later when test results come back positive.

"We estimate that if this mandatory test-and-hold policy had been in place for two years starting in 2007, we could have avoided 44 class 1 recalls," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, referring to the most hazardous types of recalls. Of those, 22 involved E. coli O157:H7 and 22 involved listeria, two particularly dangerous bacteria.

Asked why the USDA has taken so long to propose changing its procedures, a spokesman said, "We think that test-and-hold is the right thing to do now. This is good commonsense policy and helps us maintain our focus on prevention."

Bottom line. The proposed new policy is good news, but it's no food safety panacea, since many shipments aren't tested and the USDA doesn't always require that processors test raw meat or poultry for salmonella and certain other common pathogens. As a result, you should still follow the standard rules for safe food preparation. See our tips for how to cut your risk of potentially deadly food-borne illnesses from meat and chicken.

You can also call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline: 888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854). To comment on the USDA's proposal, go to its website and follow instructions for submitting comments to Docket No. FSIS-2005-0044.

Source
USDA Announces Proposed Test and Hold Requirement for Meat and Poultry Products [USDA]

—Joel Keehn