USDA's Plan to Bolster Meat and Poultry Safety

This is Tim Hammerich of the Ag Information Network with your Farm of the Future Report.

Food safety is a critical concern for all involved in agriculture, especially for susceptible products like meat and poultry. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins recently announced USDA’s five point food safety plan focused on meat and poultry products and food safety inspections.

Rollins… “ First, we are enhancing microbiological testing and oversight. Number two, equipping our inspectors with advanced tools and training, including new data collection on listeria risk factors and empowering inspectors to spot emerging problems early and preventing outbreaks. We're also enhancing our training at USDA for these inspectors. Number three, we're implementing a common sense strategy to reduce salmonella. We've instructed FSIS to launch a new practical approach to salmonella control that focuses on effective and achievable strategies to truly reduce those illnesses. Number four, strengthening state and local partnerships. And finally, number five, empowering inspectors across the USDA to enforce compliance with confidence. We will deter repeat violators and ensure establishments maintain rigorous food safety procedures.”

That was Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins last week at the opening of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new, modernized Midwestern Food Safety Laboratory,