FSIS intends to announce in the Federal Register, changes it will make in its procedures for Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) product sampling programs in ready-to-eat meat and poultry products.
The agency intends to increase the number of product samples it collects under its routine Risk-based Lm (RLm) sampling program and its intensified verification testing protocol from 3 to 5 samples per sampling unit. In addition, FSIS intends to announce that its laboratories will composite the five 25-g product samples from the RLm sampling program, which will increase the sample size of the analyzed test portion from 25 g to 125 g. Increasing the number of samples collected and compositing the samples will make the agency's sampling procedures more consistent with international practices and conserve laboratory resources.
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In addition, these changes will increase the potential that FSIS will find positive results and help keep contaminated product from reaching the marketplace, thereby improving public health.
September 7, 2012 - FSIS, USDA