WASHINGTON – A science-based and data-driven plan to decrease Salmonella, known as “The Roadmap to Reducing Salmonella: Driving Change through Science-Based Policy, was published by the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Sept. 18, 2020. Focused on proven programs and regulations to produce safe meat, poultry and egg products, the plan is also intended to promote continued innovations targeting Salmonella control.

“This roadmap represents FSIS’ commitment to lead with science and data in all that we do. It puts us on a course to aggressively target Salmonella and other foodborne pathogens,” said USDA’s Undersecretary for Food Safety, Mindy Brashears, PhD. “I look forward to continued partnership with the food safety community in driving a science-based approach to protecting public health.”

Officials from the USDA’s Office of Food Safety and FSIS will discuss the Salmonella roadmap at a virtual public meeting Sept. 22, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. Participants in the event will also include representatives from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The virtual public meeting is part Brashears’ commitment to maximizing relationships to initiate behavior change, with a backdrop of sound science to improve food safety. The goal of the meeting is to promote regulatory transparency and share data and science-based strategies and initiatives with stakeholders.

Participation in the public meeting and written comments on the Salmonella Roadmap can be submitted written comments on or before Sept. 25, 2020 at http://www.regulations.gov. Virtually attending the  meeting is free and available by registering at: https://ems8.intellor.com?do=register&t=1&p=831058.