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# FSIS Releases Comprehensive Strategy to Reduce Salmonella
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/comprehensive_strategy_to_reduce_salmonella_1204130536/
- Published: 2013-12-04T18:35:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-15T14:04:21.000Z
- Description: FSIS released a Salmonella Action Plan for meat and poultry, which it ties to an estimated 1.3 million illnesses a year. Its top priority is modernizing poultry slaughter inspection, which the agency says could prevent at least 5,000 illnesses annually, plus expanded sampling.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Law & Regulations, Politics, #vivvo-import

Congressional and Public Affairs   
Adam Tarr   
(202) 720-9113

*The Salmonella Action Plan presents a number of aggressive steps the agency will take to prevent Salmonella-related illnesses*

**WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 2013** – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) today released its *Salmonella* Action Plan 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.

“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.

The *Salmonella* Action Plan is the agency’s strategy to best address the threat of *Salmonella* in meat and poultry products. The plan identifies modernizing the outdated poultry slaughter inspection system as a top priority. By focusing inspectors’ duties solely on food safety, at least 5,000 illnesses can be prevented each year. 

Enhancing *Salmonella* sampling and testing programs is also part of this comprehensive effort, ensuring that these programs factor in the latest scientific information available and account for emerging trends in foodborne illness. Inspectors will also be empowered with the tools necessary to expeditiously pinpoint problems. With more information about a plant’s performance history and with better methods for assessing in-plant conditions, inspectors will be better positioned to detect *Salmonella* earlier, before it can cause an outbreak*.*

In addition, the plan outlines several actions FSIS will take to drive innovations that will lower *Salmonella* contamination rates, including establishing new performance standards; developing new strategies for inspection and throughout the full farm-to-table continuum; addressing all potential sources of *Salmonella;* and focusing the Agency’s education and outreach tools on *Salmonella*.

These efforts will build upon the work that USDA has done over the past several years. In 2011, USDA strengthened the performance standards for *Salmonella* in poultry with a goal of significantly reducing illnesses by 20,000 per year. And through the *Salmonella*Initiative Program, plants are now using processing techniques designed to directly reduce *Salmonella* in raw meat and poultry. Thanks to these innovative technologies and tough policies, *Salmonella* rates in young chickens have dropped over 75 percent since 2006.

Learn more about the [*Salmonella* ](http://www.fsis.usda.gov/salmonella?ref=foodconsumer.org)[Action Plan](http://www.fsis.usda.gov/salmonella?ref=foodconsumer.org).

*Last Modified Dec 04, 2013*