ARLINGTON, Va. – Stringent new performance standards proposed by the US Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service are aimed at reducingSalmonellaandCampylobacteris resulting in the US poultry industry reaction. The agencies’ new goal is to significantly reduce the positive rate for
Salmonella, and to start testing forCampylobacter.

To help the industry, the North American Meat Processors Association, the National Chicken Council, the US Poultry & Egg Association, and Auburn University have organized a Salmonella and Campylobacter Reduction Conference during the International Poultry Exposition, Jan. 26-28, 2011, in Atlanta, Ga. The conference will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center from 8:30 a.m. until noon on Jan. 26 and Jan. 27.

Dr. Dan Engeljohn, assistant administrator of the FSIS Office of Policy and Program Development, will be the lead-off speaker the first day. For more information about the other speakers, schedule, and to register online, visit www.IPE11.org.

NAMP, NCC, USPOULTRY and Auburn University are also partnering on the premiere industry survey of poultry-processing plants to determine what they are using in first and second processing to reduce or eliminate these pathogens. The survey is underway now and results will be released at the conference.