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“Indeed, publicly available data show the prevalence of Salmonella on raw meat and poultry products has been significantly reduced since the standards were implemented, but the incidence of salmonellosis in the human population show no quantifiable improvement during the same time period,” A.M.I.’s comments state. “The agency’s belief that implementing stricter performance standards will decrease human illnesses is theoretical. The lack of improvement in human illness since the performance standards were fully implemented in 2000 does not support the agency’s theory.”
A.M.I. urged F.S.I.S. to conduct a comprehensive scientific and technical review of the new performance standards for Salmonella and Campylobacter in young chickens and turkey to determine the impact of the revised standards on public health before they are implemented in federal establishments.
The association also encouraged the agency to examine why the Salmonella performance standards have not been successful in having a significant and quantifiable improvement of public health.
“A.M.I. supports achievable performance standards based on sound science that significantly improve public health through quantifiable metrics. Standards that do not meet these criteria could place unnecessary hardships on businesses and may not be the best focus and application of food-safety resources. The agency should understand the possible improvement and impact on food safety as measured by the H.H.S.’s Healthy People goals before proposing changes to the Salmonella performance standards and in the development of the Campylobacter performance standards,” A.M.I. concluded.
To read A.M.I.’s comments, visit: http://www.meatami.com/ht/a/GetDocumentAction/i/60991.
