. Department of Agriculture show that the introduction of hazard analysis critical control point programs in the nation's meat and poultry processing plants has reduced incidences of salmonella over baseline studies conducted prior to implementation. Broilers exhibited one of the greatest drops of pathogen prevalence: They averaged 10.7% in 2001 under HACCP, vs. 20% before the new processing regulations. Likewise, ground chicken dropped from 44.6% to 15.7% during the same period, USDA officials said. HACCP for processors became mandatory in 1998, requiring them to develop plans to prevent hazards and reduce pathogens in products.
WASHINGTON -- The Fluid Milk Strategic Thinking Initiative announced plans to conduct an extensive 12-15 week, multichannel vending study this summer to follow up research, conducted in 2001, that concluded milk vending is a viable and promising business opportunity. The study will take place in the Southwest, Northeast and Midwest and will test vending machines in supermarkets and malls; businesses; colleges and universities; and sports stadiums and arenas. Among the goals outlined for this phase of the study are determining ideal packaging sizes; best machine locations and types of vending machines; the ideal number of vending machines; and the impact milk vending has on retail sales. Results of the test are expected in late 2002, according to officials.