USDA Food Safety & Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 59-12 informing inspection program personnel (IPP) that a revised FSIS Compliance Guideline: "Controlling Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) in Post-lethality Exposed Ready-to-Eat (RTE) Meat and Poultry Products" is available. The revised compliance guideline replaces previous versions of the guidance which was last updated in 2006. It provides specific recommendations that establishments producing post-lethality exposed RTE meat and poultry products may follow to meet the requirements of 9 CFR part 430, Requirements for Specific Classes of Products (The Listeria Rule). The document also provides information on sanitation, testing for Lm, and prevention of cross contamination of post-lethality exposed RTE meat and poultry products.

FSIS is seeking comments on the guidance document as part of its efforts to continuously assess and improve the effectiveness of policy documents. Comments are due within 60 days.

The Guideline is available here: www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Controlling_LM_RTE_guideline_0912.pdf.

Source: AMI