Risk-Based Sampling of Beef Manufacturing Trimmings for Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7, 23761-23765 [2015-09957]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 82 (Wednesday, April 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23761-23765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-09957]


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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 82 / Wednesday, April 29, 2015 / 
Notices

[[Page 23761]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2012-0020]


Risk-Based Sampling of Beef Manufacturing Trimmings for 
Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice: Response to comments.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is responding to 
comments on the September 19, 2012, Federal Register notice, ``Risk-
Based Sampling of Beef Manufacturing Trimmings for Escherichia coli 
O157:H7 and Plans for Beef Baseline'' and providing updates on how it 
is scheduling sampling for beef manufacturing trimmings. Additionally, 
the Agency is announcing that it is changing its existing algorithms 
for sampling of bench trim and raw ground beef components other than 
trim to make them more risk-based. Finally, the Agency is making 
available the following report: ``Effective Implementation of Beef 
Manufacturing Trimmings Sampling Redesign (MT60).''

DATES: On July 28, 2015, FSIS will implement design changes in bench 
trim and other ground beef components besides trimmings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Engeljohn, Assistant 
Administrator, Office of Policy and Program Development, Food Safety 
and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, (202) 205-0495.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On September 19, 2012, FSIS published a Federal Register notice (77 
FR 58091) announcing its intention to redesign its E. coli O157:H7 
verification testing program for trimmings to make the program more 
risk-based and to enable the Agency to calculate on-going statistical 
prevalence estimates for E. coli O157:H7 in raw trimmings (https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/15e75329-978f-43f0-b8fe-101845d898f0/Redesign_Beef_Trim_Sampling_Methodology.pdf?MOD=AJPERES). FSIS also 
announced additional changes to the trimmings sampling program to 
increase collection rates and the likelihood of finding positive E. 
coli O157:H7 sample results. FSIS discussed its plans to conduct a beef 
carcass baseline. Finally, FSIS explained it was planning to conduct a 
survey, using its employees that are assigned to beef slaughter and 
processing establishments, to gather information on establishment 
controls for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STECs) in beef. 
Results of the survey are available at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/fe95af5f-3271-41af-b92b-68490fa87cab/beef-operations-summary-results.pdf?MOD=AJPERES, which FSIS previously announced in the 
Federal Register notice announcing the availability of its analysis of 
the costs and benefits associated with FSIS's non-O157 STEC testing on 
November 19, 2014 (79 FR 68843) at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/ce564342-fa9c-44f4-a98a-a4a6b6797646/2010-0023.pdf?MOD=AJPERES.
    In June 2012, FSIS implemented the risk-based design and other 
changes discussed in the 2012 Federal Register notice. FSIS conducted 
analyses of the trimmings sampling program twelve months after 
implementation of the new risk-based design. Analyses show that the new 
design was successful at increasing the number of E. coli O157:H7 
positives detected and also significantly increased the collection 
rate. In the first twelve months of implementation, FSIS analysis of 
routine sampling of trimmings detected 1.8 times more E. coli O157:H7 
positives than FSIS had previously detected in this product. In the 
Federal Register notice FSIS estimated that the probability of 
obtaining E. coli O157:H7 results in trimmings during FSIS verification 
testing would increase by a factor of about 2.5. Possibilities for why 
FSIS did not detect an approximate 2.5 times as many E. coli O157:H7 
positives are numerous and include changes to the data systems and the 
frame available during analysis and modeling, changes to the laboratory 
tests implemented at about the same time as the new statistical design, 
and positives being collected under follow-up sampling rather than 
routine sampling. The new statistical design and overscheduling to 
adjust for nonresponse solved the historically low response rates 
associated with trimmings. The report is posted at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/31575c98-2c22-4e9c-a19d-b3511d106082/Analysis-Beef-Trim-Redesign.pdf?MOD=AJPERES.
    Therefore, FSIS has concluded that its change in sampling was 
effective. However, FSIS has not been able to estimate STEC prevalence 
in trimmings because it has not obtained a sufficient number of sample 
results. To address this issue, FSIS has increased the number of trim 
samples scheduled to be collected by inspectors for each month to that 
of the number of samples it had previously scheduled to be collected 
during months in the high prevalence season, effective November 2014. 
FSIS made this change to obtain the number of samples needed to allow 
on-going prevalence determinations to be made from the data collected.
    FSIS started conducting the Beef-Veal carcass baseline on August 1, 
2014, and will complete the survey July 31, 2015. As stated in the 
previous Federal Register notice discussed above, FSIS plans to use the 
results of the Beef-Veal carcass baseline and the results of the 
Pathogen Controls in Beef Operations survey data to conduct risk 
analyses to determine the relative impact of various establishment 
factors on the probability of E. coli O157:H7 contamination and 
subsequent illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths. FSIS will post the 
survey results. In addition, now that FSIS also is analyzing beef 
samples for both STEC and Salmonella (79 FR 32436), FSIS is able to 
make statistically-based determinations about the on-going prevalence 
of these pathogens in beef samples at least on an annual basis.
    FSIS conducted a statistical analysis of the results from its 
sampling of bench trim program and its sampling of other ground beef 
components besides trimmings to identify factors that would lead to a 
higher probability of detecting E. coli O157:H7. FSIS did not find a 
higher probability of finding E. coli O157:H7 in particular 
establishments when it looked at the factors considered for these 
products. Because

[[Page 23762]]

establishments make different volumes of product, FSIS is changing its 
existing sampling algorithms for bench trim and other ground beef 
components besides trim to sample establishments proportional to 
production volume. Additionally, FSIS intends to overschedule to adjust 
for nonresponse under the redesigned programs, similar to how FSIS 
implemented changes to the trimmings program.

Comments and Responses

    FSIS received comments from seven industry and consumer 
organizations in response to the September 2012 notice. Both industry 
and consumer organizations supported the Agency's use of statistically 
significant data to make scientifically supported decisions regarding 
its sampling programs. Following is a discussion of these comments and 
FSIS's responses.

Sampling Programs

    Comment: Two consumer organizations requested that more funding be 
provided to maintain FSIS's sampling in the low prevalence season of 
the year in addition to maintaining the increased sampling during the 
high prevalence season.
    Response: As is stated above, the Agency has increased the number 
of trim samples. FSIS is now maintaining the high prevalence level of 
sampling throughout the entire year.
    Comment: One consumer group questioned the statistical validity of 
using an N-60 collection method for trimmings that the Agency has 
reported on its Web site and cited the findings of the 2012 OIG audit 
report.
    Response: FSIS's sampling and testing for E. coli O157:H7 is just 
one of the activities that FSIS conducts to verify that an 
establishment's food safety systems effectively address STEC. FSIS 
sampling of beef trim works along with other inspection and 
verification activities, including FSIS sampling of ground beef and 
other ground beef components and its review of establishment testing 
results, to detect and reduce E. coli O157:H7 in beef products.
    As FSIS explained in response to the Office of the Inspector 
General's report on the Agency's sampling protocol for testing beef 
trim for E. coli O157:H7,\1\ FSIS does not view a single N-60 sampling 
result apart from other verification activities. Note that along with 
sampling and carcass-by-carcass inspection, FSIS inspection personnel 
performed more than 839,000 inspection procedures in CY-2014 at roughly 
635 slaughter establishments that would also be subject to trim 
sampling. These inspection procedures, performed daily at slaughter 
establishments, play an important role in ensuring that establishments 
are producing safe and wholesome products.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ OIG Audit Report 24601-9-KC ``FSIS Sampling Protocol for 
Testing Beef Trim for E. coli O157:H7'' p. 31
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    While a single N-60 sample result may not indicate definitively the 
success or failure of an establishment's process controls for beef 
trim, it can be an important part of the establishment's verification 
program, especially if the establishment or FSIS takes multiple N-60 
samples over time.
    FSIS' mission is not to screen the food supply through testing but 
to ensure the production of safe and wholesome food through inspection.
    Comment: One industry organization suggested that the Agency 
consider market class of animal, size of the establishment, and the 
historical rate of E. coli O157:H7 detection at the establishment in 
Agency testing when making risk-based sampling program decisions.
    Response: When considering the redesign of its trimmings sampling 
program, the Agency did consider establishment size in average pounds 
produced per day and historical positive sampling results over time. 
The Agency chose to consider the volume of product that an 
establishment produced to focus the Agency's resources on actual 
product produced.
    As explained in the 2012 Federal Register notice (77 FR 58091), 
FSIS redesigned the sampling algorithm to collect more samples from 
establishments in establishment size categories with the highest 
probability of producing trimmings contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. 
As a result, the Agency is focusing on small establishments that 
produce between 1001 and 50,000 pounds per day.
    At this time, FSIS does not have the means to collect different 
types of market class information other than to differentiate between 
beef and veal. FSIS will continue to report veal results separately 
from other beef results https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/data-collection-and-reports/microbiology/ec/positive-results-current-cy/positive-results-current-cy. In addition, FSIS will consider 
assessing the differences between veal and beef results and issuing 
necessary guidance and instructions to the field based on these results 
when appropriate. For example, based on its analysis of results, FSIS 
issued instructions, in 2011-2012, for inspectors to verify that 
establishments applied antimicrobial interventions to veal carcasses 
correctly, and that they maintained procedures to minimize cross-
contamination among veal carcasses.
    Comment: One industry organization encouraged FSIS to conduct risk-
based sampling for ground beef as well.
    Response: An FSIS risk assessment, presented in a public meeting on 
October 28, 1998, and updated thereafter, found that volume of 
production is a better determinant of risk for E. coli O157:H7 in 
ground beef than size of the establishment. Beginning on January 1, 
2008, FSIS initiated an enhanced risk-based sampling and testing 
program for E. coli O157:H7 in raw ground beef. The risk-based sampling 
program took into account establishment volume, and whether the 
establishment had any FSIS or Agriculture Marketing Service positive 
results within the past 120 days. The current sampling is proportional 
to ground beef production volume. Consequently, the program supports 
on-going prevalence estimates from the data.
    Comment: One industry organization commented that the Agency 
concluded that the rate of sanitary dressing procedure noncompliance 
reports could not be used to identify establishments that have a higher 
probability of E. coli O157:H7 positive tests result. The industry 
organization requested that FSIS determine whether the revised cattle 
sanitary dressing directive improved sanitary dressing procedures, and 
whether there is a correlation between sanitary dressing procedures and 
positive E. coli O157:H7 test results. The commenter stated that 
establishment size and animal market class should also be addressed in 
this review of sanitary dressing procedures.
    Response: When FSIS did the analysis for the statistical redesign, 
it found that there is no predictive relationship between higher 
sanitary dressing noncompliances and the probability of E. coli O157:H7 
positive sample results. Under the Public Health Inspection System 
(PHIS), the Agency tracks the inspection activities inspection 
personnel use to verify whether an establishment's food safety system 
meets regulatory requirements. The inspection activities tracked 
include the procedures used to verify whether establishments maintain 
effective sanitary dressing procedures. The Agency analyzes the PHIS 
data on inspection activities on a biannual basis.
    FSIS reviewed the data for the relevant inspection tasks performed 
and FSIS positive results at establishments sampled under the trimmings 
(MT50)

[[Page 23763]]

sampling program. FSIS did not find a correlation between sanitary 
dressing or sanitation NRs and MT50 percent positive in trimmings.
    Comment: One consumer organization recommended that FSIS take 
additional steps to improve the representativeness of the samples 
collected by eliminating FSIS's procedure of pre-notification of 
testing. The commenter stated that this notification allows 
establishments to adjust their operations before the sample is taken. 
The consumer group also recognized that FSIS mailed test kits to 
establishments before field personnel collected samples for chain of 
evidence reasons. The commenter stated that the arrival of a sample box 
would signal that a test is imminent and serves as a pre-notification. 
The consumer organization suggested that sample boxes be kept stocked 
by in-plant personnel.
    Response: FSIS requires establishments to hold product tested for 
an adulterant such as E. coli O157:H7 pending the results of FSIS 
testing. Establishment management needs sufficient pre-notification of 
sampling in order to hold production lots in a manner such that they 
are microbiologically independent. Otherwise, FSIS would be collecting 
samples from production lots that may already be distributed in 
commerce, resulting in preventable product recalls. FSIS has issued 
instructions to field personnel to notify establishment that FSIS will 
be collecting a sample, but that the notification should only provide 
enough time for the establishment to be able to hold all affected 
product.
    The Agency has a finite number of resources which makes stocking 
multiple sample boxes at establishments cost prohibitive. Additionally, 
some USDA offices in establishments are small and do not allow for 
storage of multiple sample boxes. If establishments change their food 
safety system on the days that FSIS collects samples in a manner to 
influence the sample result, FSIS has instructed inspection program 
personnel to notify their supervisory chain so that a determination can 
be made as to how to address this concern. In such circumstances, FSIS 
may decide to conduct additional sampling at the establishment or to 
conduct a Food Safety Assessment (which includes in-depth verification 
that the establishment meets regulatory requirements related to food 
safety).
    Comment: One consumer organization questioned whether the results 
for FSIS's sampling programs can be used to develop reliable prevalence 
estimates.
    Response: As noted above, FSIS has increased the number of trimming 
samples collected to achieve the number of samples needed to allow STEC 
on-going prevalence determinations to be made from the data collected. 
FSIS will make E. coli O157:H7 prevalence estimates for ground beef 
available in the near future. FSIS will make STEC prevalence (E. coli 
O157:H7 and other STEC) estimates for trim available in the first 
quarter of FY 2016.

Industry Survey

    Comment: One industry organization had several suggestions 
regarding the beef survey that FSIS announced in the 2012 Federal 
Register notice (77 FR 58091). The commenter stated that the survey 
should: (1) have clear goals and deliverables, (2) not put an economic 
burden on industry, (3) have questions based on data that pertain to 
the problem of E. coli O157:H7 contamination, (4) collect data on the 
volume of source material produced by establishments that test for E. 
coli O157:H7, and (5) present results as volume-based to address the 
results from the survey.
    Response: Through the survey described above, inspectors provided 
information on processing practices that establishments employ to 
reduce the likelihood of contamination of intact and non-intact raw 
beef products with STEC. FSIS did have clear goals when it put forth 
the survey. This survey was designed to gather information not 
collected in the Public Health Information System. FSIS is using the 
survey results to update the economic analysis to support the full 
implementation of its non-O157 STEC policy. Data from the 2013 Pathogen 
Controls in Beef Operations Survey (conducted in May-July 2013) allowed 
FSIS to estimate the number of non-O157 STEC tests conducted by the 
industry for a 12-month period. FSIS is also analyzing the survey 
results to develop targeted approaches for its risk-based verification 
testing program and to assist it in prioritizing the scheduling of Food 
Safety Assessments (FSA) by Enforcement, Investigations, and Analysis 
Officers (EIAO). FSIS did not collect production volume information in 
the survey and is not presenting the results as volume based. 
Establishment profiles contain production volume information in the 
Public Health Information System.
    FSIS has used the numbers obtained in the survey to estimate 
sampling numbers for industry testing as part of the economic analysis 
for STEC sampling in all of the Agency's raw beef microbiological 
sampling programs. The economic analysis is available at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/52afacbc-4780-4fba-a7ab-cde987ea1d45/STEC-cost-benefit-analysis.pdf?MOD=AJPERES. Additionally, FSIS plans to 
conduct risk analyses, as appropriate, to determine the relative impact 
of various establishment factors on the probability of E. coli O157:H7 
contamination and subsequent illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths. 
FSIS intends to use the data generated by the actions listed above to 
assess and evaluate its trimmings sampling program and to make risk-
based changes as appropriate.
    FSIS implemented the survey in such a way as to not cause an undue 
economic burden on industry.
    Comment: One consumer group commented that FSIS should make plans 
to routinely repeat the survey to inform sampling decisions made by the 
Agency.
    Response: Conducting the survey is very time intensive for field 
personnel. FSIS must weigh the time spent completing a survey against 
the time spent conducting regular inspection duties. FSIS will conduct 
future surveys as necessary.

Carcass Baseline

    Comment: An industry organization commented that the beef carcass 
baseline should include the whole beef trimmings production process, 
and that it should also include veal.
    Response: The Beef-Veal carcass baseline began August 1, 2014. FSIS 
is including steers, heifers, cows, bulls, stag, dairy cows, and veal 
carcasses in the Beef-Veal carcass baseline. FSIS is collecting samples 
at two points in the process, immediately after hide removal (pre-
evisceration) and at pre-chill (after all antimicrobial interventions).
    Comment: An industry organization suggested that because FSIS is 
only testing for pathogenic organisms that are adulterants, the Agency 
should consider alternative baseline testing locations within the 
production supply chain. The commenter suggested that FSIS collect a 
post-hide removal sample to address the hide removal process, where 
cross-contamination is more likely to occur; a second sample site after 
antimicrobial interventions; and trim testing for E. coli O157:H7 for 
products that will be used in ground beef or veal production.
    Response: The Agency is obtaining samples at two points in the 
slaughter process for the baseline study: immediately after hide 
removal but before evisceration, and at pre-chill before the carcasses 
enter the chillers and after all antimicrobial applications.

[[Page 23764]]

This study addresses three distinct objectives: to estimate the 
prevalence and quantitative levels of selected foodborne 
microorganisms, to obtain data for use in the development of Agency 
programs, and to obtain data for informing industry guidance related to 
process control. The sample design and the resulting sample size are 
limited for this survey by practical constraints such as finite 
personnel and financial resources, and the problems with implementing 
scientific studies in real-world production settings. Considering these 
constraints, FSIS expects that the Beef-Veal carcass baseline study 
will achieve the stated objectives because FSIS will collect and 
analyze as many samples as possible to ensure an appropriate level of 
statistical confidence.
    With the two points that the Agency chose to use for sampling for 
the baseline carcass study, FSIS requires the establishment to hold or 
control the movement of sampled carcasses at pre-chill until the 
establishment is notified of STEC results. FSIS verifies that the 
establishment does not treat the sampled carcasses any differently than 
any of the other carcasses it is processing. In the event that a 
sampled carcass is treated differently, FSIS will randomly select 
another carcass during the same processing time and collect samples 
from that carcass.
    The results from samples collected during the baseline carcass 
study become available after all analyses for STEC and Salmonella are 
complete. Baseline sample results usually are reported in two to six 
days but may take longer depending on individual circumstances. Post-
hide/pre-evisceration and pre-chill sample results are reported through 
Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) Direct.
    FSIS is not issuing noncompliance records (NRs) for STEC positive 
results during the baseline. In response to a positive result from the 
pre-chill sample only, field personnel perform a directed Slaughter 
HACCP Verification task to verify that the establishment has adequate 
slaughter controls (including antimicrobial intervention 
implementation) for the specific production lot represented by the 
positive STEC carcass result. Field personnel also verify that the 
establishment implements corrective actions that meet the applicable 
requirements in 9 CFR 417.3. Field personnel do not verify corrective 
actions in response to a positive STEC result from the post-hide/pre-
evisceration sample. Rather, FSIS verifies that establishments ensure 
that carcasses found positive for STECs during the pre-chill sampling 
and testing are not processed into raw non-intact product. The presence 
of STEC on a pre-chill carcass intended for use as raw non-intact 
product would adulterate the carcass. The presence of STEC on a carcass 
intended for use as raw intact product would not adulterate the carcass 
if the entire carcass is going for intact product. In the event that a 
carcass tests positive for STEC, establishments may take action to 
ensure that all products from the carcass go for cooking, or they may 
take action to recondition the carcass and ensure that the carcass goes 
for intact use only.
    In the event of a STEC positive on a post-hide removal/pre-
evisceration sample without a corresponding pre-chill sample on a 
carcass intended for raw non-intact use, the carcass would not be 
considered adulterated. The carcass presumably will undergo further 
interventions after post-hide removal/pre-evisceration. In the event of 
a STEC positive from a pre-chill test result on a carcass intended for 
raw non-intact use, the carcass is considered adulterated. The 
establishment is required to take corrective action.
    Comment: One industry organization recommended that FSIS conduct a 
``shakedown'' period at establishments representative of the industry 
in order to assess the logistics of sampling. The commenter stated that 
this shakedown should be done to provide a safe sampling environment 
for inspection personnel and to ensure that sampling will not interfere 
with the routine slaughter process.
    Response: FSIS agrees with the comment. The Agency did conduct a 
shakedown training period before the actual baseline and confirmed that 
baseline sampling will not interfere with the routine slaughter 
process.
    Comment: One industry organization commented that while the Agency 
is developing the baseline, the timeframe for the publication of study 
results should be outlined.
    Response: FSIS posted the study design and sampling plan on the 
FSIS Web site at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/5057f4ef-f924-422c-bafe-771b1ead78e4/Beef-Veal-Carcass-Baseline-Study-Design.pdf?MOD=AJPERES. FSIS will publish a final report with the 
national prevalence calculations after the completion of the survey.
    Comment: One industry organization commented that sampling 
immediately after de-hiding may not provide the most meaningful 
information as to the presence of the various organisms in the 
slaughter process. The commenter stated that although the sample may be 
taken before any on-line interventions, the condition of the carcass, 
in terms of potential microbial load, is not comparable across 
establishments. The commenter explained that some establishments have 
interventions and other practices that occur before de-hiding, such as 
bacteriophage sprays or hide washes. Likewise, the commenter stated 
that the effectiveness of hide removal in minimizing contamination of 
the carcass varies among establishments. If FSIS is seeking to use this 
baseline to assist establishments in assessing ``incoming'' 
contamination levels before on-line interventions, the commenter stated 
that not taking into account the steps that come before this sampling 
point at each establishment would likely limit the usability of the 
results.
    Response: FSIS agrees that the incoming microbial load may vary 
from establishment to establishment depending on whether establishments 
use bacteriophage sprays or hide washes, and that the effectiveness of 
establishments in preventing cross-contamination in hide removal may 
also vary. Nevertheless, FSIS expects that the Beef-Veal carcass 
baseline study will achieve the stated objectives by collecting and 
analyzing as many samples as possible to ensure an appropriate level of 
statistical confidence.
    Comment: Two commenters stated that carcass sampling immediately 
after de-hiding could pose a safety risk to inspection program 
personnel, as well as to establishment employees. According to the 
commenters, this location is in the middle of the harvest line, so 
taking a sample at this juncture will require inspection program 
personnel to enter an area of the process where hazards, such as 
dangerous equipment, are present and space is limited. Taking samples 
at this point could, in turn, also put establishment employees at risk.
    Response: FSIS discussed with establishment management before 
collecting samples for the shakedown the following: (1) Where 
supervisory personnel could safely collect post-hide removal/pre-
evisceration and pre-chill samples, (2) establishment safety 
requirements and protocols that supervisory field personnel must follow 
during sample collection, and (3) the potential need for line stoppages 
for supervisory field personnel to safely and properly collect the 
samples. FSIS also issued instructions to inspection program personnel 
for conducting sampling from a safe vantage point, especially when 
collecting the posterior

[[Page 23765]]

samples from the post-hide/pre-evisceration and pre-chill locations; 
following the same safety procedures provided for employees at that 
establishment which may require the use of a harness; slowing or 
stopping production lines; and acquiring needed tools to safely collect 
samples. Information on the Beef-Veal carcass baseline can be found at 
the following link https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/5d3552e7-9b81-4b2c-aa20-cfaeef77f251/36-14.pdf?MOD=AJPERES.
    Comment: One industry organization asked what type of carcass 
sampling the Agency will use for the carcass baseline study.
    Response: As was done during the shakedown, FSIS is obtaining 
samples following the procedures described in the United States 
Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service Meat Animal 
Research Center Carcass Sampling Protocol \2\ available at the 
following link: https://www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/54380530/protocols/USMARC%20Carcass%20Sampling%20Protocol.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) Carcass Sampling 
Protocol.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comment: One consumer organization stated that FSIS should conduct 
a baseline study to estimate the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in beef 
manufacturing trimmings and ground beef in order to improve the 
confidence in FSIS's efforts to detect contaminated product and 
effectively verify process controls.
    Response: FSIS decided to focus on sampling carcasses for this 
baseline and not trimmings and ground beef because of resource 
limitations. The Beef-Veal carcass baseline survey will provide FSIS 
the necessary data on percent positives and quantitative levels of 
select foodborne bacterial pathogens (e.g., Salmonella, STEC, and 
certain indicator organisms). FSIS will use the data from the Beef-Veal 
carcass baseline survey to estimate the national prevalence of select 
microorganisms in carcasses, not trimmings and ground beef; to develop 
industry performance guidelines; to assess process control across the 
industry; and to inform additional policy considerations. Results of 
this study will be used to estimate volume-weighted prevalence and 
bacterial loads immediately after hide removal and at pre-chill. 
Moreover, FSIS has made changes to both the trimmings and ground beef 
verification testing programs to be able to obtain on-going prevalence 
of both E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella (79 FR 32437).

Other Topics

    The following comment topics that were received are outside the 
scope of this notice: disappearing schedule dates from PHIS, returned 
FedEx sample boxes, FSIS training materials, and purge studies.

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Web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader, more 
diverse audience. In addition, FSIS offers an email subscription 
service which provides automatic and customized access to selected food 
safety news and information. This service is available at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe. Options range from recalls to export 
information, regulations, directives, and notices. Customers can add or 
delete subscriptions themselves, and have the option to password 
protect their accounts.

Done, at Washington, DC.

    Dated: April 23, 2015.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015-09957 Filed 4-28-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P