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USDA changes ground beef process

USDA is implementing a faster way to trace contaminated ground beef back to the source.  Typically the Food Safety and Inspection Service would sample beef as it is being ground at a plant.  If an initial test came up positive, FSIS would wait two days for a lab to confirm the contamination before taking action.  Since most initial positives turn out to be confirmed, FSIS is now going to take action immediately with an initial positive.

FSIS will also move immediately to scrutinize the supplier of the contaminated beef rather than wait 30 days to do a Food Safety Assessment.  FSIS personnel will work to determine how unsafe product was produced, and whether the supplier sent unsafe product to other grinding facilities.

The agency estimates it could have requested as many as 29 additional recalls during a recent two year period had these procedures been in place.

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