FSIS: MHBS – program to provide data on selected foodborne pathogens

14-06-2010 | Home | News

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 28-10: Nationwide Market Hogs Microbiological Baseline Data Collection Program (MHBS) – Update. The notice announces the start of MHBS, which will continue for a minimum of 12 months.

The MHBS will provide data concerning the percent positives and quantitative levels of selected foodborne pathogens and microorganisms as indicators of process control (e.g., Salmonella, generic Escherichia coli, Enterobacteriaceae, coliforms, and aerobic plate counts).

The notice confirms that the 90-day Shakedown training period referred to in FSIS Notice 03-09, “Nationwide Market Hogs Microbiological Baseline Data Collection Program” ended in the third quarter of 2009. ©The notice also provides new baseline project identification codes, updates to the sample questions and answers to questions that FSIS received during the Shakedown period.

Only market hogs are eligible for testing in the MHBS. Boar or stag swine, feral swine, roaster swine, and sows are excluded from this study. MHBS is designed to collect sponge samples from the belly, ham and jowl portion of certain hog carcasses.

To view this notice in its entirety, click here (PDF)

Source: American Meat Institute (AMI)