Salmonella and the USDA Action Plan
By
Laurie Greene, Associate Editor
The
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service
(FSIS) released its Salmonella
Action Plan midweek that outlines the steps it will take to
address the most pressing problem it faces—Salmonella in meat and poultry
products.
An
estimated 1.3 million illnesses can be attributed to Salmonella every year and
it is the
leading cause of hospitalizations and deaths from foodborne disease. Because of
the major public health role of Salmonella infections, the US Department of
Health and Human Services has made decreasing the nationwide incidence of these
infections by 25% a Healthy People 2020
national goal.
 |
| CDC National Surveillance Data, updated 1/14/13 |
In
2011, in California alone, there were 20 Salmonella outbreaks, including the 7
multistate outbreaks in which CA had cases, according to CDC’s Foodborne Outbreak Online Database (FOOD).
Salmonella
infections in California between 1998 and 2011 have remained between the range
of 3000 and 5400.
Among
the 2013 sources of Salmonella in the U.S. are chicken, poultry, tahini paste,
cucumbers, and beef.
Note:
Although outbreak data provide one of the only direct connections between food
sources and infection, outbreak investigations are frequently unable to confirm
the single contaminated food vehicle, limiting the ability to detect major
changes over time.
“Far
too many Americans are sickened by Salmonella every year. The aggressive and
comprehensive steps detailed in the Salmonella Action Plan will protect
consumers by making meat and poultry products safer,” said Under Secretary for
Food Safety Elisabeth Hagen.
Modernizing
the outdated poultry slaughter inspection system and focusing inspectors’
duties solely on food safety could prevent at least 5,000 illnesses prevented
each year.
