USDA Increases Testing of Canadian Meat and Poultry
News Date November 14, 2007
USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has instituted additional import requirements for meat and poultry products from Canada. The action stems from a recent finding by FSIS that a Canadian plant was the likely source of the multi-state outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections linked to the Topps Meat Company.
FSIS will increase testing for salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and E. coli O157:H7 and will require that shipments be held until testing is complete and products are confirmed negative for these pathogens. In addition, Canadian meat and poultry products will receive increased levels of re-inspection by FSIS to confirm they are eligible to enter commerce when presented at the U.S. border. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)