Review of the Methodology Proposed by the Food Safety and Inspection Service for Followup Surveillance of In-Commerce Businesses: A Letter Report (2009)

The Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture is the federal agency responsible for enforcing the regulatory statutes applicable to meat, poultry, and egg products. The goal of the regulations is to ensure that the products are wholesome and safe for human consumption. This letter report, produced at the request of the Food Safety and Inspection Service, reviews new methods the agency has proposed to organize regulation and inspection of commercial facilities. The report concludes that a risk-based approach for surveillance activities is appropriate and commends the Food Safety Inspection Service for its efforts. The report contains several recommendations for the agency to consider for improving surveillance.