For use beginning 11/1/2013
A. This directive provides Enforcement, Investigation, and Analysis Officers (EIAOs) with instructions for collecting samples as part of the IVT sampling program. The IVT sampling program includes the collection of product, food contact surface, and environmental (non-food contact surface) samples for testing for Lm or Salmonella. In addition, this directive provides instructions for scheduling IVT sampling.
B. FSIS is revising this directive to include instructions to EIAOs for performing IVT sampling in response to Salmonella positive verification testing results in ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products. Previous versions of the directive only included sampling instructions for Lm. It also provides EIAOs with instructions for performing IVT sampling in establishments that temporarily alter their routine practices. In addition, this directive provides EIAOs with instruction to increase the number of IVT product samples they collect from 3 to 5 samples per unit, consistent with changes FSIS made in January 2013. This directive also provides EIAOs with instructions for verifying that establishments hold or control RTE products that FSIS has tested for pathogens, or that have passed over direct food contact surfaces that FSIS has tested for pathogens, pending the results of FSIS testing. In addition, this directive provides new instructions for submitting samples when interventions such as high-pressure processing (HPP) are applied. KEY POINTS: EIAO sampling procedures in the IVT Sampling Program Actions in establishments that temporarily alter routine practices during sampling
A. This directive provides Enforcement, Investigation, and Analysis Officers (EIAOs) with instructions for collecting samples as part of the IVT sampling program. The IVT sampling program includes the collection of product, food contact surface, and environmental (non-food contact surface) samples for testing for Lm or Salmonella. In addition, this directive provides instructions for scheduling IVT sampling.
B. FSIS is revising this directive to include instructions to EIAOs for performing IVT sampling in response to Salmonella positive verification testing results in ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products. Previous versions of the directive only included sampling instructions for Lm. It also provides EIAOs with instructions for performing IVT sampling in establishments that temporarily alter their routine practices. In addition, this directive provides EIAOs with instruction to increase the number of IVT product samples they collect from 3 to 5 samples per unit, consistent with changes FSIS made in January 2013. This directive also provides EIAOs with instructions for verifying that establishments hold or control RTE products that FSIS has tested for pathogens, or that have passed over direct food contact surfaces that FSIS has tested for pathogens, pending the results of FSIS testing. In addition, this directive provides new instructions for submitting samples when interventions such as high-pressure processing (HPP) are applied. KEY POINTS: EIAO sampling procedures in the IVT Sampling Program Actions in establishments that temporarily alter routine practices during sampling
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