01.08.2014

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced yesterday the launch of controversial changes in its poultry inspection system that will shift some inspection duties from government to industry employees, and the agency simultaneously set new requirements designed to control Salmonella and Campylobacter in poultry.
The new rules would better train inspectors to find hazards in the plant and would require all companies to do additional testing for pathogens.
The final rule keep the speed limit for chicken production lines the same, at 140 birds per minute, but allow the speed of turkey production lines to increase from 51 to 55 birds per minute.
All facilities will be required to document actions they take to control Salmonella, Campylobacter, and other pathogens, and must use microbiologic testing to show that the actions are working.