REVISED BEEF TRIMMING SAMPLING PROCEDURES

On September 19, 2012 FSIS announced its intent to redesign its ongoing verification testing program of beef manufacturing trimming in order to make the program more risk-based and to enable the Agency to calculate on-going statistical prevalence estimates for E. coli O157:H7. Additionally, Docket 2012-0020, “Risk-based Sampling of Beef Manufacturing Trimmings for Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 and Plans for Beef Baseline”  describes FSIS plans to perform beef carcass baselines.  The notice, issued in response to a 2011 Office of Inspector General (OIG) audit, describes how the new program will increase both the sample size and the likelihood that FSIS will find positive samples.  FSIS seeks public comments which must be submitted by November 19, 2012.