Issue: 3, 2002

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AUTHOR(S): Patty Lovera , Felicia Nestor
TITLE: Hamburger Hell: The Flip Side of S!"#s Salmo$ella Testi$g Program
ABSTRACT
This report e%ami$es the i$tegrity a$d reliability of the &S& !epartme$t of
"griculture's (S!") Salmo$ella testi$g program& These microbial tests are the
cor$ersto$e of its Ha*ard "$alysis Critical Co$trol Poi$t (H"CCP) program to
moder$i*e food safety a$d tra$sform meat a$d poultry i$spectio$ i$to a public
health program& +icrobial testi$g also serves as the policy ratio$ale for reduci$g
gover$me$t visual i$spectio$ i$ slaughter a$d processi$g pla$ts& +ost visibly, it is
the fou$datio$ for repeated age$cy stateme$ts that Salmo$ella co$tami$atio$ of
gover$me$t,approved meat a$d poultry is droppi$g& -ased o$ a$ e%haustive, five
mo$th revie. of S!"'s o.$ records, obtai$ed u$der the Freedom of /$formatio$
"ct, .e co$clude there is $o factual basis from the testi$g program for S!"'s
reassura$ces that the food supply has become safer for co$sumers of grou$d beef&
0e e%ami$ed results from the start of the Salmo$ella testi$g program i$ 1a$uary
2334 through 5ctober 2, 6772& 0e fou$d that there has bee$ a systematic
breakdo.$ i$ the i$tegrity of the sampli$g program, to the e%te$t that its results
are u$able to support co$clusio$s about cha$ges i$ co$tami$atio$ rates& 0hether
due to systematic i$compete$ce or bad faith, S!"'s 8do$'t look, do$'t fi$d8 policy
mea$s it is fu$dame$tally deceivi$g the public .ith false reassura$ces&
Please $ote that this article .as peer revie.ed but $ot double,bli$d revie.ed&
ARTICLE
"$ e%te$ded versio$ of this article is available at
http:99...&citi*e$&org9docume$ts9salmo$ellareport&P!F

"'Who makes meat safe?' [she] asked. The crowd managed a weak, 'We do.'
'That's right,' Murano replied. 'You do. We [!"#] are $ust there to look o%er &our
shoulder.'
'rom the (ack of the room, a %oice called out, ')an't &ou look awa& once in
awhile?'"*+,
0hile 8do$'t look, do$'t fi$d8 regulatio$ may be a laughi$g matter for i$dustry
i$siders, as this report .ill sho., it is defi$itely $ot a laughi$g matter for
co$sumers& "t ma$y large grou$d beef pla$ts, the S!" is doi$g a poor :ob livi$g
up to its promises about usi$g a $e., scie$tific, microbial testi$g program to
protect co$sumers& The scale of food bor$e ill$ess i$ the &S&, estimated by the
Ce$ters for !isease Co$trol a$d Preve$tio$ to cause ;< millio$ ill$esses, =6>,777
hospitali*atio$s a$d >,777 deaths per year(6), is staggeri$g& " stro$g microbial
testi$g program could serve as a$ importa$t tool for reduci$g food bor$e ill$ess&
-ut a poorly impleme$ted microbial testi$g system does $ot bolster federal food
A Multinational Organisation's
Approach to Multinational
Coporations
/$ rece$t times "m$esty
/$ter$atio$al#s activities have
e%te$ded to i$clude efforts to preve$t
commercial orga$isatio$s from usi$g
their fi$a$cial &&&
Full Story ?
Rigged Rules and Double
Standards: Trade, Globalisation,
and the Fight Against Poert!
Trade is o$e of the most po.erful
forces li$ki$g our lives, a$d a source
of u$precede$ted .ealth& @et millio$s
of the .orld#s poorest people are be &&&
Full Story ?
"thical Consu#eris# $ De#ocrac!
through the %allet
There are ma$y .ays co$sumers ca$
use their spe$di$g po.er to make a
differe$ce to the .orld& This article
discusses the co$cept of ethical
co$sumeris &&&
Full Story ?
&'(C"F: Fro# Post$%ar
"#ergenc! Aid to Child Rights
)eader
5ver the past half ce$tury N/CAF has
evolved from a$ emerge$cy body
created to help childre$ i$ post,.ar
Aurope to a leadi$g child rights
orga$isa &&&
Full Story ?
Shri#p $ The Deastating Delicac!
+a$y co$sumers are u$a.are of the
impacts of shrimp farmi$g o$ both the
people a$d the $atural e$viro$me$ts
.here farmi$g occurs& This article prov
&&&
Full Story ?
Consu#er Actiis# and Corporate
Accountabilit!
Blobal A%cha$ge is a huma$ rights
orga$i*atio$ dedicated to promoti$g
eco$omic, political, a$d social :ustice
arou$d the .orld& Fou$ded i$ 2344, th
&&&
Full Story ?
safety programs& "$d impleme$ti$g a scie$tific program i$ a less tha$ scie$tific
ma$$er is a .aste of ta%payer dollars a$d a$ abuse of the public's trust&

*(STOR+
/$ 233=, -. coli,co$tami$ated hamburger killed four childre$ a$d sicke$ed more
tha$ ;77 people $atio$.ide i$ the 1ack i$ the -o% outbreak(=)& The outbreak
served as a .ake,up call a$d highlighted the severity of the problem of
co$tami$ated food& /t also sparked a $atio$al debate o$ more effective a$d moder$
methods of gover$me$t food i$spectio$& Three years later, i$ 233<, the Cli$to$
"dmi$istratio$ fi$ali*ed the Pathoge$ Ceductio$9H"CCP (Ha*ard "$alysis Critical
Co$trol Poi$t) rule, a modificatio$ of reDuireme$ts for federally i$spected meat a$d
poultry slaughteri$g a$d processi$g establishme$ts&
The primary cha$ge u$der H"CCP .as a shift i$ gover$me$t a$d i$dustry roles
based upo$ the premise that i$troductio$ of microbial testi$g .ould stre$gthe$
meat i$spectio$ by maki$g it more scie$ce,based& $der H"CCP, pla$t ma$agers
must a$aly*e their productio$ system for likely ha*ards, the$ ide$tify critical co$trol
poi$ts .here these ha*ards are likely to occur& Pla$t employees must the$ co$trol
a$d mo$itor the pla$t's process at these poi$ts& 0ith this $e. system, S!" tur$ed
over ma$y i$spectio$ tasks traditio$ally performed by federal i$spectors to pla$t
employees& Bover$me$t i$spectors, o$ce the backbo$e of product safety efforts,
are $o. relegated, primarily, to oversight a$d auditi$g roles& Ceprese$tatives from
some co$sumer orga$i*atio$s vie.ed the trade,off as acceptable because, for the
first time, the S!" i$troduced routi$e gover$me$t microbial testi$g i$ meat
pla$ts& 0he$ impleme$ted, this testi$g program co$sisted of a routi$e gover$me$t
sampli$g program for !almonella*.,&
The stated purpose of the !almonella testi$g program is $ot to preve$t products
co$tami$ated .ith !almonella from leavi$g the pla$t& Cather, its purpose is to use
the prese$ce of the pathoge$ as a$ i$dicatio$ that the pla$t is $ot co$trolli$g food
safety ha*ards i$ their productio$ processes(>)& !almonella .as 8selected Eby the
age$cyF as the target orga$ism because it is the most commo$ cause of food bor$e
ill$ess associated .ith meat a$d poultry products8 a$d because the age$cy believed
that co$trolli$g for !almonella might also result i$ reductio$s of other da$gerous
pathoge$s that may gro. i$ the gut of farm a$imals, such as -. coli /+01231(<)&
These pathoge$s ca$ get i$to the food supply .he$ sloppy ha$dli$g of the hides or
i$testi$es of a$imals at slaughter allo.s fecal co$tami$atio$ of the meat&
The age$cy claimed that !almonella sampli$g .ould more tha$ make up for
dimi$ished fro$tli$e gover$me$t i$spectio$ a$d .ould make food safer by detecti$g
da$gerous microbes that .ere i$visible to i$spectors& The age$cy .ould e$sure
food safety by verifyi$g that pla$t productio$ systems .ere successfully co$trolli$g
ha*ards& The e%plicit strategy .as that .he$ the microbial testi$g program
detected food safety problems at a pla$t, the age$cy .ould ma$date that the pla$t
take immediate corrective actio$s a$d .ould revie. the adeDuacy of those actio$s
i$ a timely ma$$er(;)&
S!" established !almonella performa$ce sta$dards at the begi$$i$g of H"CCP,
a$d a$$ou$ced that these sta$dards .ould become progressively more rigorous,
eve$tually leadi$g to a$ overall decrease i$ the pathoge$s o$ meat a$d poultry
a$d, ultimately, a decrease i$ associated food,bor$e ill$esses& Compa$ies $ot able
to meet the sta$dards .ould face regulatory actio$ ra$gi$g from .ritte$ $otices
reDuiri$g corrective actio$ to .ithdra.al of i$spectio$& /f a pla$t failed three
successive tests, the age$cy .ould suspe$d i$spectio$ services, effectively shutti$g
the pla$t do.$, 8u$til the establishme$t demo$strates its ability to meet the
performa$ce sta$dard&8(4)
Ho.ever, i$ !ecember 6772, a Te%as federal appeals court ruled i$ Supreme -eef
Processors, /$c& v& $ited States !epartme$t of "griculture(3), that the S!"'s
!almonella performa$ce sta$dard is u$la.ful& The court's decisio$ applies o$ly to
Te%as, +ississippi, a$d Louisia$a& "ccordi$g to S!"'s public affairs departme$t,
the age$cy is usi$g the decisio$ to guide its policy $atio$.ide&(27)
Still u$clear is e%actly ho. much of the !almonella testi$g program could be
i$validated by the decisio$ that the sta$dard itself is u$la.ful& The age$cy has
decided $ot to appeal the decisio$ to the Supreme Court(22), a$d has stated that
.hile the decisio$ limited its ability to e$force the sta$dard, it did $ot dimi$ish its
authority to use the performa$ce sta$dard as a diag$ostic tool(26)&
$dersecretary for Food Safety !r& Alsa +ura$o has assured the public that 8Ethe
(ntroduction
Welcome to this special issue of the
4ournal of 5esearch for )onsumers.
For this issue, $o$,profit orga$isatio$s
.ere i$vited to co$ &&&
Full Story ?
*a#burger *ell: The Flip Side o,
&SDA-s Sal#onella Testing
Progra#
This report e%ami$es the i$tegrity a$d
reliability of the &S& !epartme$t of
"griculture's (S!") Salmo$ella
testi$g program& These microbial tests
&&&
Full Story ?
Previous Issues
Issue: 4, 677>
Issue: ;, 677G
Issue: <, 677=
Issue: >, 677=
Issue: G, 6776
Issue: 6, 6772
Issue: 2, 6772
age$cyF .ill co$ti$ue to test for !almonella, si$ce this .ill serve to verify that a
Ecompa$y's food safetyF pla$ is properly co$trolli$g food,bor$e ha*ards to the
greatest e%te$t possible&8 /$ fact, although there are curre$tly a $umber of
proposals i$ Co$gress to give the age$cy i$creased authority to close pla$ts based
o$ failed !almonella tests, !r& +ura$o rece$tly told co$gressio$al leaders that she
.as $ot i$ favor of basi$g e$forceme$t decisio$s solely o$ microbial test results&
/$stead, she believes they fu$ctio$ best to trigger more e%te$sive physical
i$spectio$s(2=)&
+ea$.hile, the age$cy is .aiti$g for pe$di$g recomme$datio$s from the Natio$al
"cademy of Scie$ces a$d the Natio$al "dvisory Committee o$ the +icrobiological
Criteria for Foods o$ ho. microbial sta$dards ca$ best be used for public
protectio$(2G)& The age$cy is also pla$$i$g a series of forums to get public
comme$t o$ this issue&
5bviously, i$ the .ake of the Supreme -eef decisio$, the future of the !almonella
testi$g program is u$clear& 0hether or $ot S!" retai$s authority to take a$y
e$forceme$t actio$ as a result of testi$g is a Duestio$ that must be resolved, most
likely by Co$gress& For the purposes of this report, .e .ill $ot speculate o$ the
ultimate effect of the decisio$& 0hat .e .ill do is e%ami$e the data ge$erated by
the testi$g program from its i$ceptio$ through 5ctober, 6772 , a fe. mo$ths before
the Supreme -eef decisio$ , a$d e%ami$e the program's effective$ess& This is
useful because it ca$ i$form further discussio$s about the future of performa$ce
sta$dard testi$g&

M"T*ODS
5$ 5ctober 2, 6772 .e submitted a Freedom of /$formatio$ "ct (F5/") reDuest to
the S!" reDuesti$g all !almonella testi$g data collected si$ce the begi$$i$g of the
testi$g program i$ 1a$uary 2334& The data .as received o$ C!,C5+ i$ !ecember
6772 a$d covered testi$g from 1a$uary 6<, 2334 through 5ctober 2, 6772&
The grou$d beef data .as the$ separated from the data o$ other product
categories& Brou$d beef testi$g data .as chose$ for a$alysis for the follo.i$g
reaso$s:
A$forci$g !almonella sta$dards i$ grou$d beef pla$ts .as the specific sub:ect of the
rece$t Supreme -eef ruli$g&
Brou$d beef testi$g is the o$ly routi$e scie$tific testi$g do$e at the largest beef
pla$ts that both slaughter cattle a$d gri$d beef(2>)&
-ecause .e .a$ted to evaluate age$cy e$forceme$t actio$s at pla$ts faili$g to
meet the performa$ce sta$dard, .e sorted the data by the $umber of failed
8sample sets8 for each product type& The category .ith the most failed sets .as
grou$d beef(2<), .hich makes it the largest body of data for evaluatio$ of the
age$cy's e$forceme$t actio$s&
!ata from the age$cy's ra$dom -. coli 52>;:H; testi$g program, a program
i$depe$de$t from the !almonella testi$g program, i$dicates that the perce$tage of
grou$d beef samples collected at federally i$spected productio$ facilities that tested
positive for -. coli i$creased from &24H i$ 233; to 2&=H i$ 6777& Ave$ .ith better
testi$g, a$ -. coli 52>;:H; rate e%ceedi$g o$e perce$t i$dicates that compa$y
safety pla$s a$d curre$t age$cy regulatio$s are $ot co$trolli$g food safety ha*ards
i$ a .ay that sufficie$tly protects co$sumers(2;)&
Cece$t research i$dicates that co$sumer dema$d for beef is steadily i$creasi$g(24),
a$d therefore the safety of this product greatly impacts public health&
H"CCP .as impleme$ted i$ stages, accordi$g to pla$t si*e& "s pla$ts came u$der
H"CCP, they simulta$eously became sub:ect to !almonella testi$g& H"CCP .as
impleme$ted i$ large pla$ts (those .ith >77 or more employees) i$ 1a$uary 2334I
i$ small pla$ts (those .ith 27 to G33 employees) i$ 1a$uary 2333I a$d very small
pla$ts (those .ith fe.er tha$ 27 employees or a$$ual sales of less tha$ J6&>
millio$) i$ 1a$uary 6777& /t is very difficult to determi$e ho. large a pla$t is strictly
by the i$itial !almonella testi$g date, ho.ever, because testi$g at some large
pla$ts started late (after 2334) .hile testi$g at some small pla$ts started early
(before 1a$uary 2333)&
The database .e received did $ot list pla$t si*e& Therefore .e first estimated a
pla$t's si*e by the date it started !almonella testi$g& 0e co$firmed the si*e of the
pla$ts .e believed to be large (.hich are the primary focus of this report) usi$g
either the age$cy's .ebsite(23) or i$formatio$ .e received from age$cy officials&
0he$ this i$formatio$ co$flicted, .e relied o$ the .ebsite i$formatio$ because the
age$cy .as freDue$tly $o$,respo$sive to our Duestio$s about pla$t si*e a$d other
i$formatio$ perti$e$t to this report(67)& Co$fusio$ about pla$t si*e may also e$ter
i$ because pla$t si*es are $ot fi%ed(62)& /t is possible that some pla$ts may have
cha$ged category by gai$i$g or losi$g employees&
The bulk of this report deals .ith fi$di$gs i$ the 6< grou$d beef pla$ts .e
determi$ed to be large& -ecause the age$cy impleme$ted H"CCP i$ the large pla$ts
first, it has do$e more testi$g i$ each of these pla$ts tha$ i$ pla$ts that are small
or very small& There are, ho.ever, ma$y more small a$d very small pla$ts, so these
co$tribute the ma:ority of tests i$ later years& Large pla$ts .ill have a sig$ifica$t
impact o$ public health due to the large volume of grou$d beef they produce& There
is $o reliable, publicly available i$formatio$ o$ the perce$tage of grou$d beef
produced by large pla$ts(66), or o$ the total pou$dage produced by large grou$d
beef pla$ts u$der H"CCP& For calculatio$s i$ this report, .e are usi$g a$ estimate
commo$ly accepted by those familiar .ith the grou$d beef i$dustry that large
grou$d beef pla$ts typically produce 2>7,777 pou$ds per shift, t.o shifts per day,
si% days per .eek& -ased o$ this estimate, the 6< large grou$d beef pla$ts
collectively se$d e$ough grou$d beef to market to make $early 27 billio$ Duarter
pou$d hamburgers each year&

PART O'":
T*" SALMONELLA T"ST('G PROGRAM O' PAP"R .S/ (' PRACT(C" T*"
T"ST('G PROGRAM O' PAP"R
The stated purpose of performa$ce sta$dard testi$g is to e$sure that food
co$sumed by the public is as safe as possible& The age$cy uses a sampli$g program
to verify that pla$t systems are co$trolli$g food safety ha*ards& The more freDue$t
the sampli$g, the more rapidly the age$cy should be able to detect problems that
threate$ public health&
FreDue$t testi$g is $ecessary because the $ature of the productio$ systems i$ meat
pla$ts makes them e%tremely vul$erable to problems that freDue$tly occur .ithout
.ar$i$g , a$d as a result, food ca$ Duickly be tur$ed i$to a to%ic product& A%cessive
li$e speeds preve$t li$e employees from detecti$g co$tami$atio$& Amployee
tur$over i$ the large pla$ts ofte$ e%ceeds 277 perce$t per year& Thus, each $e.
group of u$skilled .orkers must be trai$ed ho. to eviscerate a$imals .ithout
spilli$g fecal material o$ the carcass, as .ell as ho. to avoid cross,co$tami$ati$g
meat as it moves do.$ the li$e& ADuipme$t malfu$ctio$ or misha$dli$g ca$ also
i$troduce a$d spread co$tami$atio$ o$ carcasses& Pla$ts that gri$d meats are
vul$erable to problems .ith the ra. products they receive from their suppliers, as
.ell as sa$itatio$ a$d process problems at their o.$ facility&
0he$ the public debate o$ microbial testi$g first bega$, co$sumer group
represe$tatives advocated daily sampli$g at each pla$t& This seemed to be the o$ly
.ay to determi$e that pla$ts .ere co$trolli$g ha*ards co$siste$tly e$ough to
e$sure that the food .as actually safe& Some compa$ies that are kee$ly a.are of
the deadly co$seDue$ces of i$adeDuate procedures use eve$ more freDue$t testi$g&
"fter the 233= tragedy, 1ack,/$,The,-o% i$stituted microbial testi$g i$ its pla$ts
every 2> mi$utes of productio$(6=)&
The S!" regulates meat a$d poultry i$ slaughter a$d processi$g facilities&
8Slaughter8 pla$ts tur$ live a$imals i$to carcasses& "ll further butcheri$g, gri$di$g
a$d processi$g of the carcasses is do$e at processi$g facilities& The age$cy's
curre$t !almonella regulatio$s apply at slaughter pla$ts for cattle, hogs, chicke$
a$d turkeys, a$d processi$g pla$ts that gri$d beef, chicke$ or turkey, but $ot to
other types of processed meats& 0hile the H"CCP Fi$al Cule authori*es the age$cy
to sample carcasses a$d grou$d products at pla$ts that produce both(6G), the
age$cy focuses testi$g efforts o$ grou$d products at these pla$ts because
8!almonella is more likely to be prese$t o$ ra., grou$d or commi$uted products
tha$ o$ the carcasses from .hich they are derived&&&8(6>)&
$der sta$dard protocol the age$cy tells federal i$spectors i$ a give$ pla$t .he$ to
begi$ taki$g samples& For grou$d products, the sample si*e is appro%imately half a
pou$d(6<)& "$ age$cy !irective i$structs the i$spectors to take the sample each
day the pla$t is produci$g the product a$d to se$d the sample to o$e of the S!"
labs for a$alysis(6;)& For each product that S!" tests, it has established the
$umber of samples that comprise a complete sample 8set&8 0he$ the lab has
a$aly*ed the desig$ated $umber of samples, it i$forms the i$spector i$ the pla$t to
stop se$di$g them& The results of the lab tests are se$t to the Food Safety
/$spectio$ Service (FS/S) at S!" headDuarters i$ 0ashi$gto$, !C& 5$ly .he$ the
sample set is complete, do the gover$me$t i$spector i$ the pla$t or pla$t officials
have access to the results&
!almonella sta$dards for each product .ere based o$ $atio$.ide i$dustry baseli$e
testi$g performed before the impleme$tatio$ of H"CCP& -aseli$e prevale$ce rates
.ere calculated usi$g data from large a$d small pla$ts o$ly, because very small
pla$ts co$tribute less tha$ o$e perce$t of products reachi$g the market(64)& For
each product, the age$cy established the $umber of samples that make up a set
a$d the $umber of samples i$ the set that may legally test positive for the prese$ce
of !almonella& The performa$ce sta$dards established by the age$cy .ere chose$
so that there is a$ 8appro%imately 47H probability of passi$g .he$ the
establishme$t is operati$g&&&:ust .ithi$ the performa$ce sta$dard&8(63) The $umber
of allo.able positives a$d the $umber of samples i$ the set vary by product& For
e%ample, a pla$t slaughteri$g steers a$d heifers meets the sta$dard if $o more
tha$ o$e out of 46 samples tests positive for !almonella, .hereas a grou$d turkey
pla$t meets the sta$dard if $o more tha$ 63 out of >= samples tests positive for
!almonella& Brou$d beef pla$ts, covered i$ this report, are co$sidered to be i$
complia$ce if $o more tha$ five out of a set of >= samples test positive for
!almonella(=7)&
/f the pla$t passes the set, it .ill be tested agai$ .he$ever the age$cy schedules it&
Ho.ever, the age$cy has $ever made clear ho. soo$ after passi$g a set the pla$t
.ill be re,tested, thereby $eglecti$g to establish a mi$imum scope or freDue$cy of
testi$g& This leaves the public health fou$datio$ of the testi$g program i$complete&
/f the pla$t fails the set, a$ i$spector i$ the pla$t is i$structed to issue a $o$,
complia$ce report reDuiri$g corrective actio$& The$, the age$cy .ill 8$ormally8
begi$ re,testi$g i$ appro%imately <7 days to verify that the cha$ges impleme$ted
by the pla$t have bee$ effective(=2)& -efore the rece$t Supreme -eef decisio$
prohibited it, age$cy regulatio$s provided that further failures could lead to a shut
do.$ after three successive failed sets,(=6) but $o. these serious lapses i$ food
safety may o$ly trigger a$ 8e%te$sive revie.8 by the age$cy& (See page 2< for more
discussio$ of the revie. process&) /t is importa$t to $ote that by the time a set is
complete, the product that .as tested .ill have left the pla$t, a$d the !almonella
testi$g program has $o ma$date or e%pectatio$ that product from pla$ts faili$g to
meet the sta$dard .ill be recalled&
T*" T"ST('G PROGRAM (' PRACT(C"
There are appro%imately 82,;77 establishme$ts produci$g grou$d beef u$der
ES!"F i$spectio$8(==)& The database received a$d a$aly*ed for this report has
2,2<= complete !almonella testi$g sample sets from ;<7 federally i$spected pla$ts
that produce grou$d beef& T.e$ty,si% of these pla$ts are large, ;=G are small or
very small&
5f the 6< large pla$ts, 2< $ever failed a set (<2&> perce$t)& 5f the 27 that failed
a$y sets:
K 5$e pla$t failed its o$ly set (292)&
K 5$e pla$t failed o$e out of t.o sets (296)&
K Three pla$ts failed o$e out of three sets (29=)&
K 5$e pla$t failed t.o out of three sets (69=)&
K 5$e pla$t failed three out of three sets (=9=)&
K T.o pla$ts failed o$e out of four sets (29G)&
K 5$e pla$t failed t.o out of four sets (69G)&
5f the ;=G small a$d very small pla$ts, <<< $ever failed a set (37&; perce$t)&
5f the <7 small pla$ts that failed a$y sets:
K Seve$ pla$ts failed their o$ly set (292)&
K 2> pla$ts failed o$e out of t.o sets (296)&
K 6= pla$ts failed o$e out of three sets (29=)&
K Four pla$ts failed t.o out of t.o sets (696)&
K Five pla$ts failed t.o out of three sets (69=)&
K Three pla$ts failed t.o out of four sets (69G)&
K 5$e pla$t failed three out of four sets (=9G)&
K 5$e pla$t failed three out of five sets (=9>)&
K 5$e pla$t failed four out of four sets (G9G)&
5f the eight very small pla$ts that failed a$y sets:
K T.o pla$ts failed their o$ly set (292)&
K Five pla$ts failed o$e out of t.o sets (296)&
K 5$e pla$t failed t.o out of t.o sets (696)&
Testing Fre0uenc!
"ge$cy protocol states that a sample is to be collected every day a pla$t produces
grou$d beef u$til >= samples are collected(=G)& To determi$e the e%te$t to .hich
the age$cy actually samples grou$d beef each day that it is bei$g produced, .e
looked o$ly at data from the large pla$ts, because these pla$ts typically produce
grou$d beef five or si% days per .eek& Small a$d very small pla$ts may o$ly
produce the product sporadically& /f samples are take$ daily, the age$cy should
easily complete collectio$ of a grou$d beef sample set at a large pla$t .ithi$ 3 to
26 .eeks&
"ge$cy testi$g .as completed .ithi$ a 26,.eek time frame i$ less tha$ G7H
(=3&;H) of the ;= sets completed i$ the large pla$ts for .hich .e have good
data(=>)& The media$ set le$gth .as 2G&2 .eeks a$d the ra$ge of set le$gths .as
27&= .eeks to 26<&G .eeks i$ large pla$ts& -ecause of the e%treme le$gth of a set
at a $umber of pla$ts, the average le$gth of a sample set at large pla$ts .as 6>&;
.eeks&
The data sho. that prolo$ged sets ofte$ have i$volved e%te$sive lapses .ithi$ the
sample set, rather tha$ co$siste$t, but less freDue$t testi$g& "$y $umber of the
typical tra$sie$t problems i$volvi$g eDuipme$t, supplies or employees could
combi$e to cripple food safety systems duri$g such a lapse, a$d remai$ u$detected
if the pla$t co$ti$ues $ormal productio$ schedules a$d co$ti$ues to se$d product to
the market(=<)&
6n the eight large plants where a set took more than a &ear, all sampling ceased for
periods ranging from nine to nearl& 78 months, completel& precluding the
go%ernment from detecting pro(lems during these lapses.
These lo$g lapses i$ testi$g raise a$other co$cer$& /$ respo$se to our Duestio$s,
the age$cy has repeatedly stated that delays i$ completi$g sample sets are most
ofte$ due to i$dividual circumsta$ces such as sample delivery problems or other
u$foresee$ logistical delays& The data, ho.ever, sho. stro$g patter$s of delay that
call such e%pla$atio$s i$to Duestio$& /$ the eight pla$ts me$tio$ed above, the
age$cy started the sets i$ 2334 a$d sampled $early daily u$til most of the >=
samples .ere collected& The$ all sampli$g ceased u$til the fi$al fe. samples
$ecessary to complete the set .ere collected i$ 2333 or 6777& -ased o$ the
age$cy's respo$ses to our Duestio$s, it is $ot clear if the age$cy k$e. of the lapses
i$ testi$g, or a$y pote$tial patter$ i$ the timi$g of these lapses& Cegardless of the
reaso$ behi$d it, the age$cy's failure to preve$t these lapses i$ testi$g is
i$e%cusable&
Postponing a Finding o, Failure
Si$ce a grou$d beef pla$t fails the sample set if more tha$ five samples test
positive for !almonella, .e refer to the date of the si%th positive sample as the
8actual failure8 date& Ho.ever, as this sectio$ e%plai$s, the age$cy does $ot declare
a set a failure u$til all samples are collected& 0e refer to the date that the age$cy
co$siders a set a failure as the 8official failure8 date&
The age$cy ma$dates that pla$ts take corrective actio$ after faili$g a set(=;), but it
u$$ecessarily postpo$es determi$atio$ of failure a$d thereby prolo$gs co$ditio$s
that could threate$ public health& Ave$ though a grou$d beef pla$t fails if a$y more
tha$ five samples test positive for !almonella, the age$cy does $ot co$sider a set
complete a$d .ill $ot address set failure u$til all >= samples have bee$ collected&
The age$cy does have a$ 8early .ar$i$g8 system, u$der .hich it i$forms pla$ts as
soo$ as they have accumulated more tha$ half the positives $ecessary to fail a
sample set (three for grou$d beef)& -ut the age$cy does $ot reDuire that the pla$t
take a$y actio$ to correct the problem after such a .ar$i$g& "fter this early
.ar$i$g, u$til all >= samples are a$aly*ed, the age$cy .ill $ot:
K i$form the pla$t .he$ it fails the set (.ith the si%th positive sample)I
K reDuire corrective actio$I
K alert the i$spectors i$ the pla$t that the pla$t failed the setI or
K .ar$ the public that the pla$t may be se$di$g u$usually co$tami$ated products to
market&
/$stead, the S!" does $othi$g a$d co$ti$ues to stamp the products 8/$spected
a$d Passed8 a$d the product goes to market&
The delays due to prolo$ged testi$g discussed i$ the previous sectio$ are especially
sig$ifica$t at faili$g pla$ts& 5ut of the 2G faili$g sample sets at large pla$ts, o$ly
four .ere completed i$ 26 .eeks& /$ the other 27 faili$g sets, testi$g took up to 6;
additio$al .eeks& -ecause of the e%cessive time to complete the set, a$d because
$o corrective actio$ is reDuired u$til a set is complete, such delays represe$t a
missed opportu$ity to protect public health&
The ultimate impact of this dela& on consumers is that the agenc& allowed failing
plants to send products to market for a cumulati%e total of nearl& +999 weeks after
actual failures, without informing them of pro(lems or re:uiring them to take
correcti%e action.
"uring the +7+ weeks of dela&s at large plants alone, the agenc& knowingl& allowed
an estimated 7+; million pounds of potentiall& contaminated ground (eef to enter
the market (earing the !"# seal of appro%al (efore it e%en informed plant
managers of the need for correcti%e actions*<;,. *=round (eef was also sent to the
market during the waiting period that followed these sets.,
This u$$ecessary delay .he$ corrective actio$s are $eeded most poses a
treme$dous threat to co$sumers by postpo$i$g elimi$atio$ of public health
ha*ards, especially at pla$ts .here high $umbers of positive samples i$dicate that
food safety systems are seriously compromised&
For e%ample, at Co$"gra -eef Compa$y (Cactus, Te%as), over 2< .eeks passed
after its si%th positive sample .as discovered by the age$cy a$d before corrective
actio$ .as reDuired& "t A%cel Corporatio$ (-oo$eville, "rka$sas), over 23 .eeks
passed after its si%th positive sample .as discovered by the age$cy a$d before
corrective actio$ .as reDuired& -y the time all >= samples .ere collected i$ each
set, the Co$"gra pla$t had 6> samples a$d the A%cel pla$t had 2> samples that had
tested positive for !almonella, demo$strati$g that their food safety co$trols .ere
seriously compromised throughout the u$$ecessary period of age$cy i$actio$&
The %aiting Period 1et2een Sets
0e calculated the le$gth of the period bet.ee$ the e$d of o$e sample set a$d the
begi$$i$g of the $e%t set& 0e refer to this period as a 8.aiti$g period&8
The age$cy does $ot defi$e ho. lo$g the .aiti$g period is after passi$g sets&
Though $o testi$g is bei$g do$e duri$g a .aiti$g period, grou$d beef co$ti$ues to
carry the S!" seal of approval&
There .ere limitatio$s i$ the data that limited our ability to calculate the average
.aiti$g period after passi$g sets& 0e reDuested data from 1a$uary 2334 through
5ctober 6772, but, u$der age$cy policy, o$ly received data from sample sets that
had bee$ completed i$ that timeframe& There .ere $umerous pla$ts .here at least
o$e set .as take$ but .here $o subseDue$t set has bee$ docume$ted si$ce 2333&
0hile it is possible that $o testi$g of grou$d beef has occurred at a particular pla$t
si$ce the$, it is also possible that the age$cy had i$itiated but $ot completed a set
by 5ctober 6772 a$d therefore did $ot release data from these i$complete sets& /t
is also possible that the pla$t has stopped produci$g grou$d beef altogether& There
.ere too ma$y cases like this to be i$dividually i$vestigated&
Bive$ those limitatio$s, ho.ever, .e determi$ed the .aiti$g period after passi$g
sets for pla$ts for .hich .e have records& The .aiti$g period at pla$ts that $ever
failed a set e%hibited variability at both large a$d smaller pla$ts&
# se%en or eight month waiting period for plants that ha%e ne%er failed a set can
still pose a threat to pu(lic health (ecause good performance does not alwa&s
continue. This is illustrated (& the fact that si> of the +9 large plants and +< of the
89 small plants that failed their second or third set, did so after passing their first
set.
Ave$ at pla$ts that pass co$secutive sets, there is $o assura$ce that the co$ditio$s
duri$g the .aiti$g period bet.ee$ sets .ere co$sta$t& 5$e e%ample is the A%cel
pla$t i$ Fort +orga$, Colorado& Numerous food safety problems .ere evide$t at this
pla$t duri$g the test,free .aiti$g period bet.ee$ "pril 2>, 2333 a$d 1uly 24,
6777(=3):
K 5$ September 2=, 2333, S!" fou$d -. coli 9+01321 i$ beef produced at the
pla$t through its ra$dom retail sampli$g programI
K S!" tests fou$d the same pathoge$ t.ice soo$ afterI
K i$spectors cited the pla$t 6< times for fecal co$tami$atio$I
K S!" suspe$ded i$spectio$ at the pla$t for three days a$d threate$ed a seco$d
suspe$sio$I
K sirloi$ tips produced at the pla$t o$ 1u$e 6=, 6777 a$d co$tami$ated .ith the
deadly -. coli /+01321 pathoge$ .ere li$ked to a$ outbreak that sicke$ed over >77
people a$d killed a little girl i$ 0isco$si$&(G7)
Testi$g of the grou$d beef .as the o$ly !almonella testi$g do$e at this e$tire pla$t
, i$ either slaughter or processi$g& !espite the severity of the problems :ust
described that .ere happe$i$g i$ the slaughter sectio$ of the pla$t starti$g i$ "pril
2333, the age$cy did $ot schedule a$other set to evaluate the pla$t's food safety
co$trols u$til 1uly 6777& Lirtually all of the beef used by the pla$t to produce
grou$d beef comes from the slaughter sectio$ of this facility&
0he$ a pla$t fails a sample set, age$cy policy holds that a follo.,up set .ill usually
be i$itiated .ithi$ <7 days (appro%imately 3 .eeks)& "lthough the age$cy does $o
testi$g duri$g this period, it co$ti$ues to place the S!" seal of approval o$
products leavi$g the pla$t&
No$e of the pla$t si*e categories .ere fou$d to have media$ .aiti$g periods less
tha$ the recomme$ded <7 days, moreover the data sho. that large pla$ts have
bee$ give$ more time tha$ small or very small pla$ts after a failed set before the
age$cy resumes testi$g for !almonella& This creates a$d prolo$gs a$ i$terim ho$or
system .he$ S!" should i$stead be i$te$sifyi$g gover$me$t oversight& "gai$,
because of the volume of grou$d beef se$t to market by large pla$ts, it is of
particular co$cer$ for co$sumers .he$ the age$cy delays verificatio$ of pla$t
corrective measures at large pla$ts& $der the !almonella testi$g program, the o$ly
.ay to get such verificatio$ is to complete a passi$g sample set&
The Final Dela!
Cece$tly, S!"'s $dersecretary for Food Safety !r& Alsa +ura$o stated that, i$
respo$se to a lo.er court's decisio$ i$ the Supreme -eef case i$ 2333, the age$cy
cha$ged its protocol for scheduli$g a third sample set(G2)& This cha$ge .as
formali*ed i$ 5ctober 6772, .he$ the age$cy issued a !irective stati$g that after a
pla$t fails t.o co$secutive !almonella performa$ce sta$dard sets, the age$cy .ill
$o lo$ger begi$ a follo.,up set after <7 days& /$stead, it .ill se$d i$ a group of
age$cy officials to assess 8.hether a$ establishme$t is carryi$g out activities that
meet the reDuireme$ts of the Pathoge$ Ceductio$9H"CCP regulatio$&8(G6) The
evaluatio$ is called a$ 8/$,!epth Lerificatio$ (/!L) revie.&8 Products co$ti$ue to
carry the S!" seal of approval to market throughout the revie.&
-ut u$fortu$ately for co$sumers, age$cy policy provides a$ e%cuse for $ot starti$g
the third sample set& "ccordi$g to age$cy policy, if there is 8a$y doubt8 that pla$t
corrective actio$s after a failure have bee$ effective or a$y doubt that the pla$t 8is
likely to pass the third set,8 the third !almonella set .ill $ot begi$& /t is o$ly .he$
there is a 8high level of co$fide$ce that&&&the $e%t sample set .ill succeed&&&EthatF
the third sample set is i$itiated&8(G=) /$ short, u$less the age$cy is sure the pla$t
.ill pass, it .ill $ot begi$ a follo.,up set& The /!L revie. team may eve$ use the
results of !almonella testi$g by the pla$t to determi$e .he$ the pla$t is likely to
pass the set, esse$tially gra$ti$g the pla$t the cha$ce for off,the,record testi$g&
Cepeatedly, i$ a$s.er to our Duestio$s, officials at the Food Safety /$spectio$
Service's Tech$ical Service Ce$ter i$ "mes, /o.a a$d at 0ashi$gto$ headDuarters
said there is $o time limit to i$itiate a$other sample set duri$g a$ /!L& -oth li$e
i$spectors a$d FS/S supervisors .ho are $o. .histleblo.ers have told us that this
process has already go$e o$ for almost a year at some pla$ts& /t is already clear
that /!L revie.s .ill o$ly :ustify more delays i$ taki$g actio$ to preve$t pote$tially
da$gerous products from e$teri$g the marketplace&
The ",,ect o, Multiple Dela!s
Perhaps the .eak$esses of the !almonella testi$g program are best illustrated by
co$sideri$g ho. little testi$g the age$cy does i$ a pla$t .he$ the various delays
:ust described are combi$ed&
0e calculated the time bet.ee$ the first sample of a set a$d the first sample of the
follo.i$g set a$d are calli$g this period the 8testi$g cycle&8 The testi$g cycle
e$compasses the time to complete a full sample set a$d the .aiti$g period after
that set& The testi$g cycle calculatio$ illustrates the cumulative effect of prolo$ged
sample sets a$d .aiti$g periods discussed previously& The media$ testi$g cycle for
sample sets at large grou$d beef pla$ts that have $ever failed a set is >4&>
.eeks(GG), a$d the ra$ge .as 62&< .eeks to 2=<&; .eeks& /$cluded i$ these are
five sets for .hich the testi$g cycles took more tha$ t.o years to complete& (/t is
importa$t to keep i$ mi$d that i$ o$e testi$g cycle for grou$d beef, o$ly >=
samples are take$&) The cumulative effect of such delays is less tha$ .eekly
sampli$g, a sig$ifica$t departure from early FS/S pla$s for daily testi$g&(G>)
0hile it is impossible to li$k lo$g testi$g cycles directly .ith public health effects, a
lo$g testi$g cycle $ecessarily co$tai$s lo$g periods .ith $o sampli$g& /t is $ot safe
to assume that good performa$ce co$ti$ues duri$g test,free periods, .hether
occurri$g duri$g passi$g sets or i$ the follo.i$g .aiti$g period& The data sho. t.o
pla$ts .ith lo$g testi$g cycles .hich passed their first set, but .hose subseDue$t
history illustrates .hy such delays are troubli$g&
!ue to a sig$ifica$t lapse .ithi$ its first set, as .ell as the .aiti$g period after that
set(G<), the /-P pla$t i$ Holcomb, Ma$sas o$ly had eight samples take$ bet.ee$
"ugust 2334 a$d 5ctober 6777& The pla$t .e$t o$ to effectively fail its seco$d set
after o$ly 26 samples .ere a$aly*ed a$d fi$ished that set .ith almost t.ice the
allo.able $umber of positives , 3 (G;)& !ue to a sig$ifica$t lapse .ithi$ its first set,
as .ell as the .aiti$g period after the set(G4), the /-P pla$t i$ Amporia, Ma$sas
had o$ly si% samples take$ bet.ee$ September 2334 a$d 1uly 6777& The pla$t
.e$t o$ to effectively fail its seco$d set after o$ly 24 samples .ere a$aly*ed a$d
fi$ished the set .ith more tha$ t.ice the allo.able $umber of positives (22)&
For both of these pla$ts, the results i$dicate that the food safety systems .ere
severely compromised by the time the age$cy fi$ally bega$ the seco$d setI
ho.ever, it is $o. impossible to determi$e .he$ duri$g the test,free period either
pla$t started posi$g a$ i$ordi$ate risk to public health&
"t faili$g pla$ts, delays ca$ combi$e to create serious public health co$seDue$ces&
" revie. of the sampli$g summaries from t.o large pla$ts that failed multiple sets
demo$strates ho. prolo$ged sets, lo$g lapses bet.ee$ actual a$d official failure,
a$d lo$g .aiti$g periods bet.ee$ sets combi$e to preve$t the !almonella testi$g
program from bei$g used to effectively protect the public&
The age$cy first determi$ed that pla$t systems at a Co$"gra pla$t .ere i$adeDuate
o$ 1u$e, 27 2333& /t the$ took over 2< .eeks to complete the set i$ .hich the
outcome .as already k$o.$, a$d over =G .eeks to start a seco$d set, .hich the
pla$t proceeded to fail .ithi$ four .eeks& -ut as of 5ctober 2, 6772, it had $ot yet
completed a passi$g sample set that could verify that problems had bee$ corrected&
Though this plant had the worst record of an& large ground (eef plant in the
data(ase, !"# has continued to stamp their product "6nspected and ?assed," with
no ma$or interruptions as far as can (e determined.*.@,
/$ the case of a$ A%cel pla$t, the age$cy first determi$ed that pla$t systems .ere
i$adeDuate o$ +ay 6;, 2333& -ut as of 5ctober 2, 6772, it had $ot yet completed a
passi$g sample set that could verify that corrective actio$s .ere effective&
-%er& week that the agenc& allowed *or continues to allow, these two plants to
send ground (eef to market without %erif&ing that the& ha%e successfull& corrected
food safet& pro(lems, it ga%e the !"# seal of appro%al to enough potentiall&
contaminated ground (eef to make o%er +. million :uarterApound ham(urgers.*09,
6f these two plants operated %irtuall& without interruption (etween their failures in
4une +@@@ and /cto(er +, 799+, together, the& introduced enough potentiall&
dangerous ground (eef into the market to make nearl& 7 (illion :uarterApound
ham(urgers, all !"#Aappro%ed.

PART T%O:
A'A)+S(S OF &SDA's SALMONELLA T"ST('G R"PORTS
/$ Part 5$e, !almonella testi$g data .as a$aly*ed to e%ami$e age$cy
impleme$tatio$ of the testi$g program& /$ this sectio$ the data from large grou$d
beef pla$ts .as a$aly*ed to determi$e .hat it i$dicated about improveme$ts i$
food safety co$trols i$ these pla$ts a$d about the accuracy of age$cy reports o$
the program& -ut u$fortu$ately, the data .ere so compromised by biases resulti$g
from the poor impleme$tatio$ a$d desig$ of the program that reliable co$clusio$s
about improveme$ts o$ the basis of the !almonella data ca$$ot be dra.$& The
S!", ho.ever, has used this same data set to claim ma:or improveme$ts i$ food
safety due to impleme$tatio$ of the H"CCP program&
T*" 3&A)(T+ OF AG"'C+ DATA
Bive$ the critical role of the testi$g program i$ evaluati$g H"CCP's effective$ess, it
is reaso$able to e%pect that the program .ould be carefully pla$$ed a$d
admi$istered& From the begi$$i$g of H"CCP impleme$tatio$, the results of the
!almonella testi$g program .ere vie.ed as the primary a$d most reliable i$dicator
for the effective$ess of the age$cy's meat a$d poultry i$spectio$ system&
The age$cy stated that:
"!almonella enforcement strateg& will em(od& an o($ecti%e, uniform s&stems
approach to ensure that it is administered and applied in a fair, e:uita(le, and
commonAsense manner. The #genc& will carefull& monitor and ad$ust its
enforcement program on an ongoing (asis to ensure that its enforcement acti%ities
reflect these principles while ensuring food safet&."*0+,
Part 5$e demo$strated that testi$g .as $ot admi$istered i$ a u$iform .ay,
resulti$g i$ lo$g delays both .ithi$ a$d bet.ee$ sets, a$d docume$ted e$ough
i$co$siste$cies to cast doubt o$ the ra$dom$ess of testi$g results& Ca$dom$ess is
a$ esse$tial compo$e$t of a$y legitimate sampli$g program& The !almonella
program's e%treme i$co$siste$cies could have sig$ifica$tly biased data collectio$
u$der this program, precludi$g reliable a$alysis of a$$ual tre$ds or tre$ds bet.ee$
sample sets&
T*" 3&A)(T+ OF AG"'C+ R"PORTS
The age$cy has a$aly*ed o$,goi$g data from the program o$ at least eight
separate occasio$s(>6)& Aach time it published at least o$e report o$ the fi$di$gs
.ith accompa$yi$g press releases& /$itial age$cy reports stated that results .ere
still co$sidered prelimi$ary a$d some reports suggest cautio$ i$ compari$g data
because of pote$tial bias& !espite this, the age$cy co$siste$tly makes compariso$s
to pre,H"CCP baseli$e data a$d .ith every a$alysis reports co$ti$ui$g
improveme$t i$ the i$dustry as a .hole& The age$cy has ofte$ cited particular
improveme$ts i$ grou$d beef as a result of H"CCP impleme$tatio$, based o$ the
results from the !almonella testi$g program& The validity of these reports is
severely compromised by t.o factors& First, the age$cy did $ot co$trol for pote$tial
biases i$ the data due to poor impleme$tatio$ of the program& Seco$d, the age$cy
used a$alytic methods that i$troduced additio$al bias&
"ge$cy reports do $ot me$tio$ the great disparities i$ sample set le$gth a$d
sampli$g patter$s or the pote$tial departure from a ra$dom sampli$g scheme that
these disparities sig$al& There is $o i$dicatio$ that the age$cy recog$i*ed this
source of bias or co$trolled for it&
The age$cy's a$alytic methods for i$terpreti$g the data add additio$al bias& The
t.o measures of performa$ce co$siste$tly used by the age$cy i$ its reports are
complia$ce a$d prevale$ce rates& The 8complia$ce rate8 i$dicates the perce$tage of
completed sample sets that passed the performa$ce sta$dard duri$g a give$ time
period& The 8prevale$ce rate8 i$dicates the perce$tage of samples that tested
positive for !almonella&
/$ all four reports si$ce 1a$uary 6777, the age$cy has e%cluded results from some
sample sets from most complia$ce rate a$d prevale$ce rate calculatio$s& These
calculatio$s i$clude results o$ly from completed 8"8 sets, defi$ed as a$y set .hich
does $ot follo. a failed set&(>=) (/t should be $oted that e%clusio$ of data from sets
follo.i$g failed sets i$ $o .ay i$dicates that a$y of the meat from the sets is
preve$ted from carryi$g the S!" seal to market&)
0he$ the age$cy i$itially used this method i$ calculatio$s for the report o$ 1a$uary
2334 through 1a$uary 6777 data (herei$after, 8the 2334,6777 report8), it did $ot
me$tio$ it i$ the mai$ report(>G) or its accompa$yi$g press release&(>>)
Complia$ce rates a$d prevale$ce rates .ere prese$ted as if $o data had bee$
e%cluded& The age$cy did describe the e%clusio$s i$ the te%t of the full report but
prese$ted the results of calculatio$s .ith all the data o$ly i$ the "ppe$di% of that
report(><)& The i$clusive (.hich did $ot use the " set method) results are
dramatically differe$t& For grou$d beef, the prevale$ce rates do $ot i$dicate
improveme$t, .hile the e%clusive results .hich are give$ sho. improveme$t& The
baseli$e prevale$ce rate for grou$d beef is ;&>H a$d this figure is used to
demo$strate improveme$ts due to H"CCP& /$ the 2334,6777 report, the large
grou$d beef prevale$ce rate for sample sets completed i$ the seco$d year usi$g "
sets o$ly, .as >&4 perce$t& This .as the figure used i$ all public a$$ou$ceme$ts
about the testi$g program& /$ co$trast, the prevale$ce rate for all sets completed i$
the seco$d year i$ these pla$ts, .hich .as prese$ted o$ly i$ the "ppe$di% of the
report, .as ;&< perce$t& 5$ly by usi$g the " set calculatio$ method could the
age$cy report improveme$ts i$ the prevale$ce rate at large grou$d beef pla$ts i$
the seco$d year of H"CCP&
The age$cy says that it i$cludes results o$ly from " sets because all others
represe$t biased results a$d that " set data 8provides the most direct compariso$
to the baseli$e estimates used to establish the performa$ce sta$dards8&(>;)
Ho.ever, e%cludi$g all but " sets from age$cy calculatio$s is certai$ to bias the
data because a faili$g grou$d beef pla$t .as more tha$ = times (=&66) (>4) as
likely to fail the $e%t set as a passi$g grou$d beef pla$t, i$ the data .e received&
The age$cy has progressively 8purified8 the data by e%cludi$g results from these
pla$ts for its reports& For e%ample, i$ 6777, five of the 6; sets collected i$ large
grou$d beef pla$ts failed the performa$ce sta$dard& This mea$s that results from
the five subseDue$t sets at those pla$ts .ould be e%cluded from subseDue$t
calculatio$s& "ssumi$g that the age$cy used a similar si*e sample frame for the
$e%t set, $early 67H of results (>96; sets) .ould be e%cluded from calculatio$s
i$volvi$g the subseDue$t sets&
There are t.o more areas of co$cer$ .ith the age$cy reports , the sampli$g
program's relatio$ship to volume of productio$ a$d the diluti$g effect of i$cludi$g
large $umbers of results from small pla$ts& $less the perce$tage of samples from
each si*e category used i$ age$cy calculatio$s accurately represe$ts the volume of
grou$d beef those pla$ts co$tribute to the market, the combi$ed prevale$ce rate
.ill $ot reflect the prevale$ce of !almonella i$ grou$d beef o$ the market& /$ its
reports, the age$cy has $ot co$trolled for this pote$tial bias a$d yet claims that the
8EdFata released& & &sho.s that the prevale$ce of !almonella i$ ra. meat a$d
poultry has decreased&&&8(>3)&
/$ grou$d beef calculatio$s, the bias due to this i$accuracy has bee$ co$siderable&
For e%ample, i$ the 2334,6772 report $early =7 perce$t (<7) of samples used for
grou$d beef prevale$ce calculatio$s for the 2334,6772 aggregate figure came from
very small pla$ts although they produce less tha$ o$e perce$t of product o$ the
market&(<2)
+ore importa$tly, because very small pla$ts did so much better tha$ the large
pla$ts i$ terms of !almonella reductio$s(<6), the fact that they co$tributed five
times(<=) the $umber of samples as large pla$ts to the aggregate figure mea$s
that the fi$al prevale$ce rate prese$ted by the age$cy (=&GH) is i$ large part due
to 8dilutio$8 of the poor large pla$t data by the more successful small a$d very
small pla$ts as they .ere added to the program over time&(<G) Had the age$cy
e%cluded the samples from very small pla$ts from the aggregate figure a$d used
the figures for large a$d small pla$ts o$ly, the prevale$ce rate .ould have bee$
=&3H& This result .ould be similarly i$accurate, ho.ever, u$less the perce$tage of
small a$d large pla$t samples accurately reflected the volume of product they
co$tribute to the market&
-ecause of the biases i$troduced by the age$cy's a$alytical methods, the
!almonella results touted by age$cy reports are very u$likely to represe$t the true
co$ditio$ of grou$d beef o$ the market, yet it is the o$ly i$formatio$ available to
the public a$d is eve$ used i$ Co$gressio$al testimo$y& /$ September 6777, the$,
Secretary of "griculture Blickma$ used biased figures i$ his Stateme$t -efore the
Se$ate Committee o$ "griculture, Nutritio$ a$d Forestry&(<>) He testified that
8E.Fith the Pathoge$ Ceductio$ a$d H"CCP rule, the prevale$ce of !almonella o$
ra. products has bee$ substa$tially reduced,8 a$d he reported a >&7H prevale$ce
o$ grou$d beef& This figure .as the result of usi$g o$ly 8"8 sets a$d i$cludi$g
$early 2> times as ma$y samples from small grou$d beef pla$ts as from large
pla$ts&(<<) Neither biasi$g factor .as me$tio$ed to Co$gress&

PART T*R"": CO'C)&S(O'S
5ur a$alysis of the S!"'s !almonella performa$ce sta$dard program led to the
follo.i$g co$clusio$s:
2& 0hile sampli$g is supposed to happe$ o$ a daily basis, it is ofte$ happe$i$g
much less freDue$tly, .ith lo$g test,free periods prolo$gi$g sample sets&
6& The age$cy misses opportu$ities to protect co$sumers due to its policy of
completi$g a sample set before reDuiri$g corrective actio$, eve$ if a pla$t has
already failed a$d eve$ though delays i$ set completio$ are commo$&
=& Lo$g .aiti$g periods bet.ee$ sample sets create additio$al a$d substa$tial test,
free periods&
G& The program .as origi$ally desig$ed as a 8three strikes a$d you're out8
performa$ce sta$dard& -ut the age$cy practice of i$defi$itely postpo$i$g a sample
set after t.o failures creates a$d prolo$gs a$ i$dustry ho$or system at times.
.he$ gover$me$t oversight should i$te$sify&
>& 0he$ combi$ed, all the delays i$ the testi$g program create lo$g periods .he$
$o !almonella testi$g is performed& @et meat is stamped 8/$spected a$d Passed8
throughout, .ith $o i$dicatio$ to co$sumers that a pla$t has $ot met the sta$dard
or has $ot bee$ tested i$ mo$ths&
<& The poor impleme$tatio$ of the program has resulted i$ data that are riddled
.ith problems& The poor data, a$d the Duestio$able a$alytical methods used to
a$aly*e it, call i$to Duestio$ the validity of the age$cy's claims about the program's
success at reduci$g the prevale$ce of !almonella i$ grou$d beef&
Take$ together, these co$clusio$s illustrate that the S!"'s !almonella
performa$ce sta$dard program remai$s a poor a$d u$prove$ replaceme$t for the
loss of co$ti$uous gover$me$t i$spectio$ u$der H"CCP& The i$freDue$t testi$g rate
a$d the age$cy's failure to act .he$ testi$g reveals that pla$t food safety systems
are i$adeDuate, provide little i$ce$tive for grou$d beef producers to improve their
systems&

PART FO&R: R"COMM"'DAT(O'S
0e recomme$d that the !almonella testi$g program be cha$ged by redesig$i$g the
testi$g protocol& " more protective testi$g program .ould i$clude:
K !aily testi$g& This elimi$ates .aiti$g periods bet.ee$ sets a$d /$ !epth
Lerificatio$ revie.s&
K Lolume,based testi$g, .hich .ould take i$to accou$t the amou$t of product se$t
to market by differe$t si*e pla$ts& /$ other .ords, large pla$ts .ould be sub:ect to
more sampli$g tha$ small a$d very small pla$ts&
K Bover$me$t sampli$g for other pathoge$s, at a mi$imum, -. coli&
K " .ar$i$g system to alert age$cy officials .he$ the sampli$g rate falls belo.
daily, .hich .ould prompt a gover$me$t i$spector i$ the pla$t to report .hy daily
sampli$g is $ot happe$i$g& These reports should be made public&
K /mmediate $otificatio$ of compa$ies, i$spectors, a$d the public .he$ a pla$t fails
a set by e%ceedi$g the allo.able $umber of failures&
K " limit o$ the period of time i$ .hich pla$ts may release product .hile
impleme$ti$g corrective actio$s&
K Public release of $ames of pla$ts faili$g to meet the sta$dard& This should i$clude
promi$e$tly displayi$g o$ the S!" .ebsite the results of faili$g sets alo$g .ith
associated data such as dates for sample collectio$ a$d a$y corrective actio$s
take$&
K The prevale$ce rate that serves as the performa$ce sta$dard should get lo.er
over time&
K Publicatio$ of the testi$g protocol, .ith a detailed e%pla$atio$ of ho. sta$dards
.ere chose$&
K " more tra$spare$t e%pla$atio$ of the a$alysis of complia$ce a$d prevale$ce
rates, a$d the use of co$siste$t a$alytical methods from report to report& "ll data
should be i$cluded, .hich .ould elimi$ate the use of 8" sets&8 Ceports should
address a$d correct for pote$tial biases&
K " recalculatio$ of the complia$ce a$d prevale$ce data from the program to date,
usi$g all data (.ithout 8" sets8)& To .hatever e%te$t possible, the age$cy should
correct for a$y bias, a$d at a mi$imum, e%plai$ a$d Dua$tify its effect o$ results&
K "s soo$ as possible, i$corporate rapid testi$g tech$ology i$to daily gover$me$t
i$spectio$ activities&
K Provide .histleblo.er protectio$ for i$dustry employees .hose disclosures are
eve$ more sig$ifica$t i$ the abse$ce of reliable testi$g data&
#cknowledgments
The authors of this report .ould like to tha$k the follo.i$g for their research a$d
editi$g assista$ce: +arti$ Ad.i$ "$derse$ Tom !evi$e Arica Hartma$ Tim Laias
Peter Lurie Caitli$ +iller Natio$al 1oi$t Cou$cil of Food /$spectio$ Locals !o$$a
Cose$baum -ob Sti% -ria$ 0olfma$&

Footnotes
2& 8Live from N+": +ura$o charts $e. fro$tier for food safety&8 !a$ +urphy&
6966976& http:99...&meati$gplace&com
6& 8Stateme$t for the Cecord by Stephe$ +& 5stroff, +&!&, "ssociate !irector for
Apidemiologic Scie$ce, Natio$al Ce$ter for /$fectious !iseases, Ce$ters for !isease
Co$trol a$d Preve$tio$, !epartme$t of Health a$d Huma$ Services, -efore the
"griculture, Nutritio$ a$d Forestry Committee, &S& Se$ate&8 3967977&
http:99...&cdc&gov9.ashi$gto$9legislative973676777&htm
=& 8+oder$ +eat&8 Fro$tli$e& G924976&
http:99...&pbs&org9.gbh9pages9fro$tli$e9sho.s9meat9etc9script&html
G& 3 CFC =27&6>(b)& The other compo$e$t of the microbial testi$g program u$der
H"CCP is a ge$eric A& coli sampli$g program co$ducted by the compa$y a$d
audited by gover$me$t meat i$spectors& /$spectors are o$ly e$titled to see a
summary chart of results a$d compa$ies are allo.ed to do multiple tests a$d o$ly
report passi$g results& 3 CFC =27&6>(a)&
>& 8/ssue Paper: Public Celease of Salmo$ella Testi$g Cesults&8 S!" Food Safety
a$d /$spectio$ Service& 2692>93;& http:99...&fsis&usda&gov95"9haccp9issue72&htm
<& 8Pathoge$ Ceductio$: Ha*ard "$alysis a$d Critical Co$trol Poi$t (H"CCP)
SystemsI Fi$al Cule&8 S!" Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service& ;96>93<&
http:99...&fsis&usda&gov9oa9fr9haccpNrule&htm (p& =44=>)&
;& H"CCP Fi$al Cule p& =44G4,3&
4& H"CCP Fi$al Cule p& =44G3&
3& 6;> F& =d G=6 (>th Cir& 6772)
27& Perso$al commu$icatio$& S!" Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service& >92;976
22& Perso$al commu$icatio$& S!" Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service& >92;976
26& 8S!" To Co$ti$ue Testi$g For Salmo$ella /$ +eat Pla$ts&8 S!" Ne.s Celease
No& 76<;&72& 26924972& http:99...&usda&gov9$e.s9releases96772926976<;&htm
2= 8+ura$o does$'t embrace e%pa$sio$ of S!" authority8 Food Chemical Ne.s
!aily& =92>976& Lol& G, No& 2;<&
2G& The age$cy should have sought out this level of e%pertise .hile it .as desig$i$g
the program&
2>& The S!" categori*es .hat is do$e to meat as either slaughter or processi$g&
8Slaughter8 pla$ts .ork .ith products u$til they are cut do.$ to carcasses& "fter
that poi$t, .hatever is do$e to the product is co$sidered processi$g& The age$cy's
curre$t Salmo$ella regulatio$s apply at slaughter pla$ts for cattle, hogs, chicke$
a$d turkeys, a$d processi$g pla$ts that gri$d beef, chicke$ or turkey, but $ot to
some other types of processed meats& 8-ecause Salmo$ella is more likely to be
prese$t o$ ra., grou$d or commi$uted products tha$ o$ the carcasses from .hich
they are derived, ra., grou$d, or commi$uted product ordi$arily .ill be the focus of
Eage$cyF complia$ce testi$g i$ those establishme$ts that both slaughter a$d
produce ra. grou$d product&8 H"CCP Fi$al Cule p& =44G4&
2<& "ccordi$g to the data .e received, the follo.i$g $umber of pla$ts for each
product failed at least o$e 8sample set8 (a set co$sists of >= samples& See page ;
for more e%pla$atio$ of the testi$g program protocol&): -roilers , G7I Co.s9-ulls ,
4I Steers9Heifers , 2I Turkeys , >I +arket Hogs , 6GI Brou$d Turkey , =I Brou$d
Chicke$ , 7I Brou$d -eef , <6&
2;& S!" a$aly*es grou$d beef samples ra$domly collected at federally i$spected
productio$ facilities, retail stores, a$d import facilities, as .ell as samples collected
by state perso$$el at state,i$spected pla$ts& The i$crease i$ the $umber of samples
testi$g positive from all sources combi$ed rose from &7<H i$ 233; to $early 2H
(&4<H) i$ 6777& 8+icrobiological Cesults for Ca. Brou$d -eef Products "$aly*ed for
-scherichia coli /+01321&8 S!" Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service&
http:99...&fsis&usda&gov95PHS9ecoltest9i$de%&htm
0hile much of this i$crease may be due to the adoptio$ of i$creasi$gly se$sitive
testi$g methods, .e ca$$ot determi$e that this alo$e accou$ts for the i$crease&
24& 8Co$sumer appetite for beef remai$s stro$g, year,e$d data sho.s&8 -rya$
Salvage& 692=976& http:99...&meati$gplace&com
23& http:99...&fsis&usda&gov9ofo9faim9faimmai$&htm&
67& 0e .ere told that that all i$formatio$ give$ to us by a$y departme$t at the
age$cy must first be cleared through the public affairs departme$t&
62& The age$cy ack$o.ledges that this could have happe$ed also bet.ee$ a pre,
H"CCP testi$g phase a$d the begi$$i$g of H"CCP& 8Pathoge$ Ceductio$9H"CCP
Salmo$ella Performa$ce Testi$g&8 S!" Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service&
3964934& http:99...&fsis&usda&gov95PHS9salmstd&htm
66& Perso$al commu$icatio$& S!" Aco$omic Cesearch Service& G92<976&
6=& 8+oder$ +eat8 Fro$tli$e& G924976&
http:99...&pbs&org9.gbh9pages9fro$tli$e9sho.s9meat9etc9script&html
6G& 3 CFC =27&6>(b)(6)
6>& H"CCP Fi$al Cule p& =44G4&
6<& H"CCP Fi$al Cule p& =432;&
6;& 8!irective 27,722&2: A$forceme$t /$structio$s for the Salmo$ella Performa$ce
Sta$dards&8 S!" Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service& 393934&
http:99...&fsis&usda&gov95PP!A9rdad9FS/S!irectives927722,2&pdf ("ttachme$t 2)&
64& Lore$ La$ge, "ssista$t !eputy "dmi$istrator, 5ffice of Public Health a$d
Scie$ce, Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service, prese$tatio$ at FS/S' 8Pathoge$
Ceductio$: " Scie$tific !ialogue&8 >9;976& 0ashi$gto$, !C&
63& H"CCP Fi$al Cule p& =44G;&
=7& 3 CFC =27&6>(b)(2)&
=2& 8!irective 27,722&2: A$forceme$t /$structio$s for the Salmo$ella Performa$ce
Sta$dards&8 S!" Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service& 393934&
http:99...&fsis&usda&gov95PP!A9rdad9FS/S!irectives927722,2&pdf (L/&!&G)& The
le$gth of the .aiti$g period is sub:ect to age$cy discretio$ a$d may be affected by
actio$s take$ by the pla$t&
=6& 8Failure by the establishme$t Eto take appropriate corrective actio$sF, or failure
to meet the sta$dard o$ the third co$secutive series of FS/S,co$ducted tests for
that product & & &.ill cause FS/S to suspe$d i$spectio$ services&8 3CFC =27&6>(b)(=)
(iii)&
==& 8+icrobiological Cesults for Ca. Brou$d -eef Products "$aly*ed for -scherichia
coli /+01321&8 S!" Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service&
http:99...&fsis&usda&gov95PHS9ecoltest9i$de%&htm
=G& 8!irective 27,722&2: A$forceme$t /$structio$s for the Salmo$ella Performa$ce
Sta$dards&8 S!" Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service& 393934&
http:99...&fsis&usda&gov95PP!A9rdad9FS/S!irectives927722,2&pdf
=>& "lthough .e have data for ;< complete sample sets at 6< large grou$d beef
pla$ts, data for three of the first sets .as erro$eous because the e$d date of the
set .as later tha$ the sampli$g dates for subseDue$t sets& !ata from a fe. small
pla$ts had this same problem& /$ February 6776, age$cy officials co$firmed that
these e$d dates must be erro$eous, but did $ot respo$d to repeated calls for
correct sampli$g dates&
=<& 0e asked S!"'s public affairs departme$t if a$y of the large pla$ts .ith delays
lo$ger tha$ $i$e mo$ths had sig$ifica$t breaks i$ productio$ duri$g the time of the
lapses i$ testi$g, a$d .ere told that the Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service does
$ot keep track of this type of i$formatio$& 0e the$ asked gover$me$t i$spectors i$
the appropriate regio$s, .ho reported that they did $ot k$o. of a$y sig$ifica$t
breaks at these pla$ts&
=;& Cegulatio$s reDuire pla$ts to 8take immediate actio$ to meet the sta$dard,8
after the first failure, a$d to 8reassess its H"CCP pla$ for that product a$d take
appropriate corrective actio$s,8 after the seco$d failure& 3 CFC =27&6> (b)(=)(/) a$d
(ii)
=4& 2>7,777 pou$ds9shift % 6 shifts9day % < days9.eek % 262 .eeks O 62;&4 millio$
pou$ds
=3& The age$cy collected samples comparatively freDue$tly a$d co$siste$tly from
+arch 2334 through 1u$e 2334& /t collected the last three samples i$ "pril, 2333 to
complete the first Salmo$ella set& /t bega$ the testi$g for the seco$d set i$ 1uly
6777&
G7& 8"$ 5utbreak 0aiti$g to Happe$: -eef,/$spectio$ Failures Let /$ a !eadly
+icrobe&8 1oby 0arrick& G923972& 0ashi$gto$ Post&
G2& Cemarks at Co$sumer Federatio$ of "merica's 8Natio$al Food Policy
Co$fere$ce&8 G966976& 0ashi$gto$, !C&
G6& 8!irective >>77&2: Co$ducti$g Targeted /$,!epth Lerificatio$ Cevie.s&8 S!"
Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service& 27922972&
http:99...&fsis&usda&gov95PP!A9rdad9FS/S!irectives9>>77&2&pdf
G=& 8!irective >>77&2: Co$ducti$g Targeted /$,!epth Lerificatio$ Cevie.s&8 S!"
Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service& 27922972&
http:99...&fsis&usda&gov95PP!A9rdad9FS/S!irectives9>>77&2&pdf
GG& "lthough there are fe. pla$ts that have had $umerous sets, it appears that the
testi$g cycle le$gth may be i$creasi$g for later sets&
H"CCP Fi$al Cule p&=44=;
G>& !uri$g the 6; mo$th lapse, the age$cy collected eight samples& The age$cy
completed G> samples for the first set by 1uly 4, 2334& To complete the set, it took
three samples i$ November 2333, three samples i$ +ay 6777 a$d t.o samples i$
1u$e 6777& /t started the seco$d set o$ 5ctober 22, 6777&
G<& "dditio$ally, after a co$sumer discovered glass i$ grou$d beef from this pla$t,
27,777 pou$ds of the grou$d beef produced duri$g the test,free period .ere
recalled& 8Cecall /$formatio$ Ce$ter&8 S!" Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service&
http:99...&fsis&usda&gov95"9recalls9recNi$tr&htm
G;& Had there i$stead bee$ i$visible pathoge$s i$ the grou$d beef, the co$sumer
.ould have had $o .ay of k$o.i$g $ot to co$sume the product, perhaps resulti$g
i$ serious co$seDue$ces&
G4& !uri$g the $early 6G,mo$th lapse, the age$cy collected seve$ samples& The
age$cy completed G; samples for the first set by "ugust G, 2334& To complete the
set, it took three samples i$ November 2333, a$d three samples i$ November
2333& /t started the seco$d set o$ 1uly 23, 6777&
G3& "ccordi$g to age$cy Puarterly A$forceme$t Ceports, the age$cy put the pla$t
u$der suspe$sio$ o$ Friday 1u$e 2<, 2333& /t is possible, but age$cy reports do $ot
specify, if this .as because the age$cy collected the si%th positive o$ 1u$e 27,
2333& The age$cy may i$stead have discovered a$d bee$ respo$di$g to a$other
failure of a food safety co$trol& /$ a$y case, the i$terruptio$ .as short,lived
because that suspe$sio$ .as put i$ abeya$ce by +o$day 1u$e 23, 2333, a$d the
pla$t .as back i$ operatio$&
>7& 2>7,777 pou$ds9shift % 6 shifts9day % < days9.eek % 6 pla$ts % G Duarter,
pou$d hamburgers9pou$d O 2G&G millio$ Duarter,pou$d hamburgers&
>2& H"CCP Fi$al Cule p& =44G3&
>6& 8Pathoge$ Ceductio$9H"CCP Salmo$ella Performa$ce Testi$g&8 S!" Food
Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service& 3964934&
http:99...&fsis&usda&gov95PHS9salmstd&htm8Seco$d Progress Ceport o$
Salmo$ella Testi$g for Ca. +eat a$d Poultry Products&8 S!" Food Safety a$d
/$spectio$ Service& 2962933&
http:99...&fsis&usda&gov95"9backgrou$d9salmback&htm
85$e,@ear Progress Ceport o$ Salmo$ella Testi$g for Ca. +eat a$d Poultry
Products&8 S!" Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service& =93933&
http:99...&fsis&usda&gov95"9backgrou$d9salmtest=&htm
8Progress Ceport o$ Salmo$ella Testi$g of Ca. +eat a$d Poultry Products&8 S!"
Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service& 27933&
http:99...&fsis&usda&gov95"9backgrou$d9salmtestG&htm
8Progress Ceport o$ Salmo$ella Testi$g of Ca. +eat a$d Poultry Products&8 S!"
Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service& =977&
http:99...&fsis&usda&gov95"9backgrou$d9salmtest>&htm
8/$terim Progress Ceport o$ Salmo$ella Testi$g of Ca. +eat a$d Poultry Products&8
S!" Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service&
http:99...&fsis&usda&gov95PHS9haccp9salmra.&htm
8Progress Ceport o$ Salmo$ella Testi$g of Ca. +eat a$d Poultry Products, 2334,
6777&8 S!" Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service&
http:99...&fsis&usda&gov9ophs9haccp9salmdata6&htm
8Progress Ceport o$ Salmo$ella Testi$g of Ca. +eat a$d Poultry Products, 2334,
6772&8 S!" Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service&
http:99...&fsis&usda&gov95PHS9haccp9salmGyear&htm
>=& 8Progress Ceport o$ Salmo$ella Testi$g of Ca. +eat a$d Poultry Products,
2334,6772&8 p&2&
>G& 8Progress Ceport o$ Salmo$ella Testi$g of Ca. +eat a$d Poultry Products&8
>>& 8FS/S Ceports Co$ti$ued !ecli$e 5f Salmo$ella&8 S!" Ne.s Celease& =962977&
http:99...&fsis&usda&gov95"9$e.s967779salmrel6&htm
><& 8H"CCP /mpleme$tatio$: Salmo$ella Complia$ce Test Cesults, 1a$uary 6<,
2334 to 1a$uary 6G, 6777&8 S!" Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service&
http:99...&fsis&usda&gov95PHS9haccp9salcomp&pdf
>;& 8/$terim Progress Ceport o$ Salmo$ella Testi$g of Ca. meat a$d Poultry
Products&8
>4& This .as determi$ed by usi$g the formula -9", .here " O the $umber of faili$g
sets that follo.ed a passi$g set (6>)9the $umber of passi$g sets that had a
subseDue$t set (=6<) a$d -O the $umber of faili$g sets that follo.ed a failed set
(23)9the $umber of faili$g sets that had a subseDue$t set (;;)
>3& 8S!" !ata Sho. a Ceductio$ of Salmo$ella i$ Ca. +eat a$d Poultry&8 S!"
Ne.s Celease No& 72>G&76& G924976&
http:99...&usda&gov9$e.s9releases9677697G972>G&htm
<7& 66,673 of the ;G,;>4 samples (63&;H) used for the 2334,6772 aggregate
prevale$ce figure (combi$i$g results from large, small a$d very small grou$d beef
pla$ts) .ere from very small grou$d beef pla$ts& 8Progress Ceport o$ Salmo$ella
Testi$g of Ca. +eat a$d Poultry Products, 2334,6772&8
<2& Lore$ La$ge, "ssista$t !eputy "dmi$istrator, 5ffice of Public Health a$d
Scie$ce, Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service, prese$tatio$ at FS/S' 8Pathoge$
Ceductio$: " Scie$tific !ialogue&8 >9;976& 0ashi$gto$, !C& La$ge stated that very
small pla$ts .ere $ot eve$ i$cluded i$ baseli$e testi$g because they are such a
small perce$tage of productio$&
<6& The very small grou$d beef pla$ts had a much lo.er prevale$ce rate (6&GH for
2334,6772) tha$ the large pla$ts (>&6H for 2334,6772)& 8Progress Ceport& & &
2334,6772&8 http:99...&fsis&usda&gov95PHS9haccp9salmGyear&htm&
<=& Large pla$ts co$tributed =,3>G samples compared to the 66,673 samples
co$tributed by the very small pla$ts& 8Progress Ceport o$ Salmo$ella Testi$g of Ca.
+eat a$d Poultry Products, 2334,6772&8
<G& /$ co$trast, amo$g broiler pla$ts, it is the large pla$ts that co$siste$tly have
lo.er prevale$ce rates& For the 2334,6772 aggregate figures, the prevale$ce rate
for Salmo$ella .as much higher for the very small pla$ts (=G&;H) tha$ for small
(2=&;H) or large (3&6H) pla$ts& /t is .orth $oti$g that, i$ broilers, .here the very
small pla$ts did so poorly, they .ere $ot over,represe$ted by the perce$tage of
samples from their class used for aggregate results , o$ly 2&GH of the samples for
the 2334,6772 aggregate prevale$ce rate for broilers came from very small pla$ts&
<>& http:99...&fsis&usda&gov9oa9co$gress9testNglickma$&htm
<<& >4= samples .ere i$cluded from large pla$ts, .ith a prevale$ce rate of 3&2H&
There .ere 4G6; total samples&
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