Pew Submits Comments on Food Safety and Inspection Service Proposal

Recently, Pew’s safe food project submitted comments on a proposal by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to revise its Salmonella and Campylobacter Verification Testing Program for poultry products.

The safe food project highlighted weaknesses in the agency’s oversight and included a recommendation to update the performance standards for these bacteria. Infections by Salmonella and Campylobacter cause approximately 1.9 million foodborne illnesses in the U.S. each year, resulting in an estimated 28,000 hospitalizations and nearly 500 deaths. Contaminated poultry accounts for up to 35 percent of Salmonella infections and causes 10 to 72 percent of Campylobacter-related illnesses.