WASHINGTON -- Meat processors who manufacture certain ready-to-eat products like deli meats and hot dogs are officially operating under a new rule that took effect Oct. 4, requiring them to use one of three alternatives to prevent contamination of food products with Listeria monocytogenes. Most of the efforts focus on production and post-production measures designed to control the deadly pathogen. The option preferred most by government regulators employs both a post-lethality treatment and a growth inhibitor. Those choosing lessor controls will be subject to increased inspection and testing by the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, FSIS officials said.
