WASHINGTON — Notice 18-09: Changes in Sampling Frequency for E. coli O157:H7 Testing in Raw Ground Beef, has been issued by the Food Safety and Inspection Service.

According to the American Meat Institute, the notice states that inspection program personnel may receive F.S.I.S. Form 10,210-3, Requested Sample Programs, for E. coli O157:H7 sampling and testing of raw ground beef products (MT43) at the following monthly rates:

• Up to four times within a 30-day window for establishments with ground beef product production volumes of more than 250,000 lbs. per day
• Up to three times within a 30-day window for establishments with ground beef product production volumes of 50,000 to 250,000 lbs. per day
• Up to two times within a 30-day window for establishments with ground beef product production volumes of 1,000 to 50,000 lbs. per day
• Generally, no more than once within a 30-day window for establishments with ground beef product production volumes of less than 1,000 lbs. per day. F.S.I.S., however, will ensure that at these establishments at least one sample is collected quarterly.

To view this notice, click here:

To post your comments on this story, click here: