AMI Supports Preventative Approach to Food Safety

WASHINGTONThe American Meat Institute (AMI) has joined other industry associations urging USDAs Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Agriculture Research Service (ARS) to support a preventive approach to assure food safety that includes additional scientific documents, or safe harbors," for the meat and poultry industry.

The organizations are asking ARS and FSIS to develop additional scientific documents similar to the FSISs 1999 Appendix A-Compliance Guidelines for Meeting Lethality Performance Standards for Certain Meat and Poultry Products and Appendix B-Compliance Guidelines for Cooling Heat-Treated Meat and Poultry Products (Stabilization). Appendices A and B have provided food safety guidance to the meat and poultry industry.

In a Jan. 10, 2011, letter to the agencies, AMI said the following:

These new documents should be developed for a variety of meat and poultry products and take into consideration differences in product composition like fat, protein and sodium levels, which may affect time-temperature lethality relationships. This type of research is appropriate for ARS and FSIS as it fits under both agencies missions and addresses the prevention principle as outlined by the White House Food Safety Working Group.

We believe a collaborative effort between ARS and FSIS to develop additional scientific food safety documents will greatly improve the safety of meat and poultry products. The undersigned organizations are willing to work with the agencies to identify the greatest research needs as it is important that the research topics have broad application to food safety efforts within the meat and poultry industry," the letter concluded.

Click here to view the entire letter.