WASHINGTON – The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued Notice 40-08: Nationwide Young Turkey Microbiological Baseline Data Collection Program-Update.

According to the American Meat Institute Web site, the notice announces that the Food Safety and Inspection Service’s (FSIS) Nationwide Young Turkey Microbiological Baseline Data Collection Program (YTBS) is beginning, and that the 90-day training (“shake down”) period referred to in FSIS Notice 55-07, “Nationwide Young Turkey Microbiological Baseline Data Collection Program” has ended.

The site reported that the notice cancels FSIS Notice 55-07, dated 8/31/07; provides new sampling code numbers to be used for the baseline study; provides revised questions that will appear in Block 28 of FSIS Form 10,210-3, “Requested Sample Programs” (the sampling request form); and answers some of the questions which FSIS received during the “shake down” period.

Upon receipt of the notice, the Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) is to have an awareness meeting with plant management to inform them that the establishment will be part of the FSIS Nationwide Young Turkey Microbiological Baseline Data Collection Program and explain the program, the AMI said.