WASHINGTON (FNS) -- The U.S. Department Of Agriculture has scheduled a series of briefings around the country to explain its new proposal to reduce microbial contamination in meat and poultry products.
or establishing certain permissible levels for contamination and a process by which USDA can readily test meat for the presence of pathogens.
The proposal, however, makes no mention of a new USDA inspection program of ground meat sold at retail stores. The supermarket industry was unsuccessful in its attempt to block the program in federal court. Industry officials had hoped the USDA's new proposed master plan to reduce pathogens in meat would lead agency officials to view the in-store testing program as counterproductive since current scientific theories about pathogen reduction focuses on preventing contamination at the producer level, not at retail.
The briefings are designed for USDA officials to answer technical questions from the public, to assist people who want to submit public comments on the proposal by the June 5 deadline. The meetings will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. on the following dates at these locations:
