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AUTHOR(S): Patty Lovera, Felicia Nestor

TITLE:Hamburger Hell: The Flip Side of S!"#s Salmo$ella Testi$g Program

ABSTRACTThis report e%ami$es the i$tegrity a$d reliability of the &S& !epartme$t of

"griculture's (S!") Salmo$ella testi$g program& These microbial tests are the

or$ersto$e of its Ha*ard "$alysis Critical Co$trol Poi$t (H"CCP) program to

moder$i*e food safety a$d tra$sform meat a$d poultry i$spectio$ i$to a public

ealth program& +icrobial testi$g also serves as the policy ratio$ale for reduci$g

over$me$t visual i$spectio$ i$ slaughter a$d processi$g pla$ts& +ost visibly, it is

he fou$datio$ for repeated age$cy stateme$ts that Salmo$ella co$tami$atio$ of

over$me$tapproved meat a$d poultry is droppi$g& -ased o$ a$ e%haustive, five

mo$th revie. of S!"'s o.$ records, obtai$ed u$der the Freedom of /$formatio$

"ct, .e co$clude there is $o factual basis from the testi$g program for S!"'s

eassura$ces that the food supply has become safer for co$sumers of grou$d beef&

0e e%ami$ed results from the start of the Salmo$ella testi$g program i$ 1a$uary

334 through 5ctober 2, 6772& 0e fou$d that there has bee$ a systematic

reakdo.$ i$ the i$tegrity of the sampli$g program, to the e%te$t that its resultsre u$able to support co$clusio$s about cha$ges i$ co$tami$atio$ rates& 0hether

ue to systematic i$compete$ce or bad faith, S!"'s 8do$'t look, do$'t fi$d8 policy

mea$s it is fu$dame$tally deceivi$g the public .ith false reassura$ces&

lease $ote that this article .as peer revie.ed but $ot doublebli$d revie.ed&

ARTICLE

"$ e%te$ded versio$ of this article is available at

ttp:99...&citi*e$&org9docume$ts9salmo$ellareport&P!F

"'Who makes meat safe?' [she] asked. The crowd managed a weak, 'We do.'

'That's right,' Murano replied. 'You do. We [!#] are $ust there to look o%er &our

shoulder.'

rom the (ack of the room, a %oice called out, ')an't &ou look awa& once in

awhile?'"*+

0hile 8do$'t look, do$'t fi$d8 regulatio$ may be a laughi$g matter for i$dustry

$siders, as this report .ill sho., it is defi$itely $ot a laughi$g matter for

o$sumers& "t ma$y large grou$d beef pla$ts, the S!" is doi$g a poor ob livi$g

p to its promises about usi$g a $e., scie$tific, microbial testi$g program to

rotect co$sumers& The scale of food bor$e ill$ess i$ the &S&, estimated by the

Ce$ters for !isease Co$trol a$d Preve$tio$ to cause ;< millio$ ill$esses, =6>,777

ospitali*atio$s a$d >,777 deaths per year(6), is staggeri$g& " stro$g microbialesti$g program could serve as a$ importa$t tool for reduci$g food bor$e ill$ess&

-ut a poorly impleme$ted microbial testi$g system does $ot bolster federal food

A Multinational Organisation's

Approach to Multinational

Coporations

/$ rece$t times "m$esty

/$ter$atio$al#s activities have

e%te$ded to i$clude efforts to preve$t

commercial orga$isatio$s from usi$g

their fi$a$cial &&&

Full Story ?

Rigged Rules and Double

Standards: Trade, Globalisation,and the Fight Against Poert!

Trade is o$e of the most po.erful

forces li$ki$g our lives, a$d a source

of u$precede$ted .ealth& @et millio$s

of the .orld#s poorest people are be &&&

Full Story ?

"thical Consu#eris# $ De#ocrac!

through the %allet

There are ma$y .ays co$sumers ca$

use their spe$di$g po.er to make a

differe$ce to the .orld& This article

discusses the co$cept of ethical

co$sumeris &&&Full Story ?

&(C"F: Fro# Post$%ar

"#ergenc! Aid to Child Rights

)eader

5ver the past half ce$tury N/CAF has

evolved from a$ emerge$cy body

created to help childre$ i$ post.ar

Aurope to a leadi$g child rights

orga$isa &&&

Full Story ?

Shri#p $ The Deastating Delicac!

+a$y co$sumers are u$a.are of the

impacts of shrimp farmi$g o$ both the

people a$d the $atural e$viro$me$ts

.here farmi$g occurs& This article prov

&&&

Full Story ?

Consu#er Actiis# and Corporate

Accountabilit!

Blobal A%cha$ge is a huma$ rights

orga$i*atio$ dedicated to promoti$g

eco$omic, political, a$d social ustice

arou$d the .orld& Fou$ded i$ 2344, th

&&&Full Story ?
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2/16

afety programs& "$d impleme$ti$g a scie$tific program i$ a less tha$ scie$tific

ma$$er is a .aste of ta%payer dollars a$d a$ abuse of the public's trust&

*(STOR+

$ 233=, -. colico$tami$ated hamburger killed four childre$ a$d sicke$ed more

ha$ ;77 people $atio$.ide i$ the 1ack i$ the -o% outbreak(=)& The outbreak

erved as a .akeup call a$d highlighted the severity of the problem ofo$tami$ated food& /t also sparked a $atio$al debate o$ more effective a$d moder$

methods of gover$me$t food i$spectio$& Three years later, i$ 233


3/16

ge$cy .ill co$ti$ue to test for !almonella, si$ce this .ill serve to verify that a

compa$y's food safety pla$ is properly co$trolli$g foodbor$e ha*ards to the

reatest e%te$t possible&8 /$ fact, although there are curre$tly a $umber of

roposals i$ Co$gress to give the age$cy i$creased authority to close pla$ts based

$ failed !almonellatests, !r& +ura$o rece$tly told co$gressio$al leaders that she

.as $ot i$ favor of basi$g e$forceme$t decisio$s solely o$ microbial test results&

$stead, she believes they fu$ctio$ best to trigger more e%te$sive physical

$spectio$s(2=)&

+ea$.hile, the age$cy is .aiti$g for pe$di$g recomme$datio$s from the Natio$al

"cademy of Scie$ces a$d the Natio$al "dvisory Committee o$ the +icrobiological

Criteria for Foods o$ ho. microbial sta$dards ca$ best be used for public

rotectio$(2G)& The age$cy is also pla$$i$g a series of forums to get public

omme$t o$ this issue&

5bviously, i$ the .ake of the Supreme -eef decisio$, the future of the !almonella

esti$g program is u$clear& 0hether or $ot S!" retai$s authority to take a$y

$forceme$t actio$ as a result of testi$g is a Duestio$ that must be resolved, most

kely by Co$gress& For the purposes of this report, .e .ill $ot speculate o$ the

ltimate effect of the decisio$& 0hat .e .ill do is e%ami$e the data ge$erated by

he testi$g program from its i$ceptio$ through 5ctober, 6772 a fe. mo$ths before

he Supreme -eef decisio$ a$d e%ami$e the program's effective$ess& This is

seful because it ca$ i$form further discussio$s about the future of performa$ceta$dard testi$g&

M"T*ODS

5$ 5ctober 2, 6772 .e submitted a Freedom of /$formatio$ "ct (F5/") reDuest to

he S!" reDuesti$g all !almonellatesti$g data collected si$ce the begi$$i$g of the

esti$g program i$ 1a$uary 2334& The data .as received o$ C!5+ i$ !ecember

772 a$d covered testi$g from 1a$uary 6)&

-ecause .e .a$ted to evaluate age$cy e$forceme$t actio$s at pla$ts faili$g to

meet the performa$ce sta$dard, .e sorted the data by the $umber of failed

sample sets8 for each product type& The category .ith the most failed sets .as

rou$d beef(2;:H; testi$g program, a program

$depe$de$t from the !almonellatesti$g program, i$dicates that the perce$tage of

rou$d beef samples collected at federally i$spected productio$ facilities that tested

ositive for -. colii$creased from &24 i$ 233; to 2&= i$ 6777& Ave$ .ith better

esti$g, a$ -. coli52>;:H; rate e%ceedi$g o$e perce$t i$dicates that compa$y

afety pla$s a$d curre$t age$cy regulatio$s are $ot co$trolli$g food safety ha*ards

$ a .ay that sufficie$tly protects co$sumers(2;)&

ece$t research i$dicates that co$sumer dema$d for beef is steadily i$creasi$g(24),

$d therefore the safety of this product greatly impacts public health&

H"CCP .as impleme$ted i$ stages, accordi$g to pla$t si*e& "s pla$ts came u$der

H"CCP, they simulta$eously became subect to !almonellatesti$g& H"CCP .as

mpleme$ted i$ large pla$ts (those .ith >77 or more employees) i$ 1a$uary 2334I

$ small pla$ts (those .ith 27 to G33 employees) i$ 1a$uary 2333I a$d very small

la$ts (those .ith fe.er tha$ 27 employees or a$$ual sales of less tha$ J6&>

millio$) i$ 1a$uary 6777& /t is very difficult to determi$e ho. large a pla$t is strictly

y the i$itial !almonellatesti$g date, ho.ever, because testi$g at some large

la$ts started late (after 2334) .hile testi$g at some small pla$ts started early

before 1a$uary 2333)&

The database .e received did $ot list pla$t si*e& Therefore .e first estimated a

la$t's si*e by the date it started !almonellatesti$g& 0e co$firmed the si*e of thela$ts .e believed to be large (.hich are the primary focus of this report) usi$g

ither the age$cy's .ebsite(23) or i$formatio$ .e received from age$cy officials&


4/16

0he$ this i$formatio$ co$flicted, .e relied o$ the .ebsite i$formatio$ because the

ge$cy .as freDue$tly $o$respo$sive to our Duestio$s about pla$t si*e a$d other

$formatio$ perti$e$t to this report(67)& Co$fusio$ about pla$t si*e may also e$ter

$ because pla$t si*es are $ot fi%ed(62)& /t is possible that some pla$ts may have

ha$ged category by gai$i$g or losi$g employees&

The bulk of this report deals .ith fi$di$gs i$ the 6< grou$d beef pla$ts .e

etermi$ed to be large& -ecause the age$cy impleme$ted H"CCP i$ the large pla$ts

rst, it has do$e more testi$g i$ each of these pla$ts tha$ i$ pla$ts that are small

r very small& There are, ho.ever, ma$y more small a$d very small pla$ts, so these

o$tribute the maority of tests i$ later years& Large pla$ts .ill have a sig$ifica$t

mpact o$ public health due to the large volume of grou$d beef they produce& There

s $o reliable, publicly available i$formatio$ o$ the perce$tage of grou$d beef

roduced by large pla$ts(66), or o$ the total pou$dage produced by large grou$d

eef pla$ts u$der H"CCP& For calculatio$s i$ this report, .e are usi$g a$ estimate

ommo$ly accepted by those familiar .ith the grou$d beef i$dustry that large

rou$d beef pla$ts typically produce 2>7,777 pou$ds per shift, t.o shifts per day,

i% days per .eek& -ased o$ this estimate, the 6< large grou$d beef pla$ts

ollectively se$d e$ough grou$d beef to market to make $early 27 billio$ Duarter

ou$d hamburgers each year&

PART O":T*" SALMONELLAT"ST(G PROGRAM O PAP"R .S/ ( PRACT(C" T*"

T"ST(G PROGRAM O PAP"R

The stated purpose of performa$ce sta$dard testi$g is to e$sure that food

o$sumed by the public is as safe as possible& The age$cy uses a sampli$g program

o verify that pla$t systems are co$trolli$g food safety ha*ards& The more freDue$t

he sampli$g, the more rapidly the age$cy should be able to detect problems that

hreate$ public health&

reDue$t testi$g is $ecessary because the $ature of the productio$ systems i$ meat

la$ts makes them e%tremely vul$erable to problems that freDue$tly occur .ithout

.ar$i$g a$d as a result, food ca$ Duickly be tur$ed i$to a to%ic product& A%cessive

$e speeds preve$t li$e employees from detecti$g co$tami$atio$& Amployee

ur$over i$ the large pla$ts ofte$ e%ceeds 277 perce$t per year& Thus, each $e.

roup of u$skilled .orkers must be trai$ed ho. to eviscerate a$imals .ithoutpilli$g fecal material o$ the carcass, as .ell as ho. to avoid crossco$tami$ati$g

meat as it moves do.$ the li$e& ADuipme$t malfu$ctio$ or misha$dli$g ca$ also

$troduce a$d spread co$tami$atio$ o$ carcasses& Pla$ts that gri$d meats are

ul$erable to problems .ith the ra. products they receive from their suppliers, as

.ell as sa$itatio$ a$d process problems at their o.$ facility&

0he$ the public debate o$ microbial testi$g first bega$, co$sumer group

eprese$tatives advocated daily sampli$g at each pla$t& This seemed to be the o$ly

.ay to determi$e that pla$ts .ere co$trolli$g ha*ards co$siste$tly e$ough to

$sure that the food .as actually safe& Some compa$ies that are kee$ly a.are of

he deadly co$seDue$ces of i$adeDuate procedures use eve$ more freDue$t testi$g&

"fter the 233= tragedy, 1ack/$The-o% i$stituted microbial testi$g i$ its pla$ts

very 2> mi$utes of productio$(6=)&

The S!" regulates meat a$d poultry i$ slaughter a$d processi$g facilities&

Slaughter8 pla$ts tur$ live a$imals i$to carcasses& "ll further butcheri$g, gri$di$g$d processi$g of the carcasses is do$e at processi$g facilities& The age$cy's

urre$t !almonellaregulatio$s apply at slaughter pla$ts for cattle, hogs, chicke$

$d turkeys, a$d processi$g pla$ts that gri$d beef, chicke$ or turkey, but $ot to

ther types of processed meats& 0hile the H"CCP Fi$al ule authori*es the age$cy

o sample carcasses a$d grou$d products at pla$ts that produce both(6G), the

ge$cy focuses testi$g efforts o$ grou$d products at these pla$ts because

!almonellais more likely to be prese$t o$ ra., grou$d or commi$uted products

ha$ o$ the carcasses from .hich they are derived&&&8(6>)&

$der sta$dard protocol the age$cy tells federal i$spectors i$ a give$ pla$t .he$ to

egi$ taki$g samples& For grou$d products, the sample si*e is appro%imately half a

ou$d(6


5/16

top se$di$g them& The results of the lab tests are se$t to the Food Safety

$spectio$ Service (FS/S) at S!" headDuarters i$ 0ashi$gto$, !C& 5$ly .he$ the

ample set is complete, do the gover$me$t i$spector i$ the pla$t or pla$t officials

ave access to the results&

!almonellasta$dards for each product .ere based o$ $atio$.ide i$dustry baseli$e

esti$g performed before the impleme$tatio$ of H"CCP& -aseli$e prevale$ce rates

.ere calculated usi$g data from large a$d small pla$ts o$ly, because very small

la$ts co$tribute less tha$ o$e perce$t of products reachi$g the market(64)& For

ach product, the age$cy established the $umber of samples that make up a set

$d the $umber of samples i$ the set that may legally test positive for the prese$ce

f !almonella& The performa$ce sta$dards established by the age$cy .ere chose$

o that there is a$ 8appro%imately 47 probability of passi$g .he$ the

stablishme$t is operati$g&&&ust .ithi$ the performa$ce sta$dard&8(63) The $umber

f allo.able positives a$d the $umber of samples i$ the set vary by product& For

%ample, a pla$t slaughteri$g steers a$d heifers meets the sta$dard if $o more

ha$ o$e out of 46 samples tests positive for !almonella, .hereas a grou$d turkey

la$t meets the sta$dard if $o more tha$ 63 out of >= samples tests positive for

!almonella& Brou$d beef pla$ts, covered i$ this report, are co$sidered to be i$

omplia$ce if $o more tha$ five out of a set of >= samples test positive for

!almonella(=7)&

f the pla$t passes the set, it .ill be tested agai$ .he$ever the age$cy schedules it&Ho.ever, the age$cy has $ever made clear ho. soo$ after passi$g a set the pla$t

.ill be retested, thereby $eglecti$g to establish a mi$imum scope or freDue$cy of

esti$g& This leaves the public health fou$datio$ of the testi$g program i$complete&

f the pla$t fails the set, a$ i$spector i$ the pla$t is i$structed to issue a $o$

omplia$ce report reDuiri$g corrective actio$& The$, the age$cy .ill 8$ormally8

egi$ retesti$g i$ appro%imately


6/16

Five pla$ts failed o$e out of t.o sets (296)&

5$e pla$t failed t.o out of t.o sets (696)&

Testing Fre0uenc!

"ge$cy protocol states that a sample is to be collected every day a pla$t produces

rou$d beef u$til >= samples are collected(=G)& To determi$e the e%te$t to .hich

he age$cy actually samples grou$d beef each day that it is bei$g produced, .e

ooked o$ly at data from the large pla$ts, because these pla$ts typically producerou$d beef five or si% days per .eek& Small a$d very small pla$ts may o$ly

roduce the product sporadically& /f samples are take$ daily, the age$cy should

asily complete collectio$ of a grou$d beef sample set at a large pla$t .ithi$ 3 to

6 .eeks&

"ge$cy testi$g .as completed .ithi$ a 26.eek time frame i$ less tha$ G7

=3&;) of the ;= sets completed i$ the large pla$ts for .hich .e have good

ata(=>)& The media$ set le$gth .as 2G&2 .eeks a$d the ra$ge of set le$gths .as

7&= .eeks to 26&;

.eeks&

The data sho. that prolo$ged sets ofte$ have i$volved e%te$sive lapses .ithi$ the

ample set, rather tha$ co$siste$t, but less freDue$t testi$g& "$y $umber of the

ypical tra$sie$t problems i$volvi$g eDuipme$t, supplies or employees could

ombi$e to cripple food safety systems duri$g such a lapse, a$d remai$ u$detected

f the pla$t co$ti$ues $ormal productio$ schedules a$d co$ti$ues to se$d product to

he market(==

amples .ere collected& The$ all sampli$g ceased u$til the fi$al fe. samples

ecessary to complete the set .ere collected i$ 2333 or 6777& -ased o$ thege$cy's respo$ses to our Duestio$s, it is $ot clear if the age$cy k$e. of the lapses

$ testi$g, or a$y pote$tial patter$ i$ the timi$g of these lapses& egardless of the

easo$ behi$d it, the age$cy's failure to preve$t these lapses i$ testi$g is

$e%cusable&

Postponing a Finding o Failure

Si$ce a grou$d beef pla$t fails the sample set if more tha$ five samples test

ositive for !almonella, .e refer to the date of the si%th positive sample as the

actual failure8 date& Ho.ever, as this sectio$ e%plai$s, the age$cy does $ot declare

set a failure u$til all samples are collected& 0e refer to the date that the age$cy

o$siders a set a failure as the 8official failure8 date&

The age$cy ma$dates that pla$ts take corrective actio$ after faili$g a set(=;), but it

$$ecessarily postpo$es determi$atio$ of failure a$d thereby prolo$gs co$ditio$s

hat could threate$ public health& Ave$ though a grou$d beef pla$t fails if a$y moreha$ five samples test positive for !almonella, the age$cy does $ot co$sider a set

omplete a$d .ill $ot address set failure u$til all >= samples have bee$ collected&

The age$cy does have a$ 8early .ar$i$g8 system, u$der .hich it i$forms pla$ts as

oo$ as they have accumulated more tha$ half the positives $ecessary to fail a

ample set (three for grou$d beef)& -ut the age$cy does $ot reDuire that the pla$t

ake a$y actio$ to correct the problem after such a .ar$i$g& "fter this early

.ar$i$g, u$til all >= samples are a$aly*ed, the age$cy .ill $ot:

i$form the pla$t .he$ it fails the set (.ith the si%th positive sample)I

reDuire corrective actio$I

alert the i$spectors i$ the pla$t that the pla$t failed the setI or

.ar$ the public that the pla$t may be se$di$g u$usually co$tami$ated products to

market&

$stead, the S!" does $othi$g a$d co$ti$ues to stamp the products 8/$spected

$d Passed8 a$d the product goes to market&

The delays due to prolo$ged testi$g discussed i$ the previous sectio$ are especially


7/16

ig$ifica$t at faili$g pla$ts& 5ut of the 2G faili$g sample sets at large pla$ts, o$ly

our .ere completed i$ 26 .eeks& /$ the other 27 faili$g sets, testi$g took up to 6;

dditio$al .eeks& -ecause of the e%cessive time to complete the set, a$d because

o corrective actio$ is reDuired u$til a set is complete, such delays represe$t a

missed opportu$ity to protect public health&

The ultimate impact of this dela& on consumers is that the agenc& allowed failing

lants to send products to market for a cumulati%e total of nearl& +999 weeks after

ctual failures, without informing them of pro(lems or re:uiring them to take

orrecti%e action.

uring the +7+ weeks of dela&s at large plants alone, the agenc& knowingl& allowed

n estimated 7+; million pounds of potentiall& contaminated ground (eef to enter

he market (earing the !# seal of appro%al (efore it e%en informed plant

managers of the need for correcti%e actions* samples a$d the A%cel pla$t had 2> samples that had

ested positive for !almonella, demo$strati$g that their food safety co$trols .ere

eriously compromised throughout the u$$ecessary period of age$cy i$actio$&

The %aiting Period 1et2een Sets

0e calculated the le$gth of the period bet.ee$ the e$d of o$e sample set a$d the

egi$$i$g of the $e%t set& 0e refer to this period as a 8.aiti$g period&8

The age$cy does $ot defi$e ho. lo$g the .aiti$g period is after passi$g sets&

Though $o testi$g is bei$g do$e duri$g a .aiti$g period, grou$d beef co$ti$ues to

arry the S!" seal of approval&

There .ere limitatio$s i$ the data that limited our ability to calculate the average.aiti$g period after passi$g sets& 0e reDuested data from 1a$uary 2334 through

5ctober 6772, but, u$der age$cy policy, o$ly received data from sample sets that

ad bee$ completed i$ that timeframe& There .ere $umerous pla$ts .here at least

$e set .as take$ but .here $o subseDue$t set has bee$ docume$ted si$ce 2333&

0hile it is possible that $o testi$g of grou$d beef has occurred at a particular pla$t

i$ce the$, it is also possible that the age$cy had i$itiated but $ot completed a set

y 5ctober 6772 a$d therefore did $ot release data from these i$complete sets& /t

s also possible that the pla$t has stopped produci$g grou$d beef altogether& There

.ere too ma$y cases like this to be i$dividually i$vestigated&

Bive$ those limitatio$s, ho.ever, .e determi$ed the .aiti$g period after passi$g

ets for pla$ts for .hich .e have records& The .aiti$g period at pla$ts that $ever

ailed a set e%hibited variability at both large a$d smaller pla$ts&

# se%en or eight month waiting period for plants that ha%e ne%er failed a set can

till pose a threat to pu(lic health (ecause good performance does not alwa&sontinue. This is illustrated (& the fact that si> of the +9 large plants and +< of the

89 small plants that failed their second or third set, did so after passing their first

et.

ve$ at pla$ts that pass co$secutive sets, there is $o assura$ce that the co$ditio$s

uri$g the .aiti$g period bet.ee$ sets .ere co$sta$t& 5$e e%ample is the A%cel

la$t i$ Fort +orga$, Colorado& Numerous food safety problems .ere evide$t at this

la$t duri$g the testfree .aiti$g period bet.ee$ "pril 2>, 2333 a$d 1uly 24,

777(=3):

5$ September 2=, 2333, S!" fou$d -. coli 9+01321i$ beef produced at the

la$t through its ra$dom retail sampli$g programI

S!" tests fou$d the same pathoge$ t.ice soo$ afterI

i$spectors cited the pla$t 6< times for fecal co$tami$atio$I

S!" suspe$ded i$spectio$ at the pla$t for three days a$d threate$ed a seco$d

uspe$sio$I

sirloi$ tips produced at the pla$t o$ 1u$e 6=, 6777 a$d co$tami$ated .ith the


8/16

eadly -. coli /+01321pathoge$ .ere li$ked to a$ outbreak that sicke$ed over >77

eople a$d killed a little girl i$ 0isco$si$&(G7)

Testi$g of the grou$d beef .as the o$ly !almonellatesti$g do$e at this e$tire pla$t

i$ either slaughter or processi$g& !espite the severity of the problems ust

escribed that .ere happe$i$g i$ the slaughter sectio$ of the pla$t starti$g i$ "pril

333, the age$cy did $ot schedule a$other set to evaluate the pla$t's food safety

o$trols u$til 1uly 6777& irtually all of the beef used by the pla$t to produce

rou$d beef comes from the slaughter sectio$ of this facility&

0he$ a pla$t fails a sample set, age$cy policy holds that a follo.up set .ill usually

e i$itiated .ithi$


9/16

0hile it is impossible to li$k lo$g testi$g cycles directly .ith public health effects, a

o$g testi$g cycle $ecessarily co$tai$s lo$g periods .ith $o sampli$g& /t is $ot safe

o assume that good performa$ce co$ti$ues duri$g testfree periods, .hether

ccurri$g duri$g passi$g sets or i$ the follo.i$g .aiti$g period& The data sho. t.o

la$ts .ith lo$g testi$g cycles .hich passed their first set, but .hose subseDue$t

istory illustrates .hy such delays are troubli$g&

!ue to a sig$ifica$t lapse .ithi$ its first set, as .ell as the .aiti$g period after that

et(G


10/16

!almonella enforcement strateg& will em(od& an o($ecti%e, uniform s&stems

pproach to ensure that it is administered and applied in a fair, e:uita(le, and

ommonAsense manner. The #genc& will carefull& monitor and ad$ust its

nforcement program on an ongoing (asis to ensure that its enforcement acti%ities

eflect these principles while ensuring food safet&."*0+

art 5$e demo$strated that testi$g .as $ot admi$istered i$ a u$iform .ay,

esulti$g i$ lo$g delays both .ithi$ a$d bet.ee$ sets, a$d docume$ted e$ough

$co$siste$cies to cast doubt o$ the ra$dom$ess of testi$g results& a$dom$ess is

$ esse$tial compo$e$t of a$y legitimate sampli$g program& The !almonella

rogram's e%treme i$co$siste$cies could have sig$ifica$tly biased data collectio$

$der this program, precludi$g reliable a$alysis of a$$ual tre$ds or tre$ds bet.ee$

ample sets&

T*" 3&A)(T+ OF AG"C+ R"PORTS

The age$cy has a$aly*ed o$goi$g data from the program o$ at least eight

eparate occasio$s(>6)& Aach time it published at least o$e report o$ the fi$di$gs

.ith accompa$yi$g press releases& /$itial age$cy reports stated that results .ere

till co$sidered prelimi$ary a$d some reports suggest cautio$ i$ compari$g data

ecause of pote$tial bias& !espite this, the age$cy co$siste$tly makes compariso$s

o preH"CCP baseli$e data a$d .ith every a$alysis reports co$ti$ui$g

mproveme$t i$ the i$dustry as a .hole& The age$cy has ofte$ cited particular

mproveme$ts i$ grou$d beef as a result of H"CCP impleme$tatio$, based o$ theesults from the !almonellatesti$g program& The validity of these reports is

everely compromised by t.o factors& First, the age$cy did $ot co$trol for pote$tial

iases i$ the data due to poor impleme$tatio$ of the program& Seco$d, the age$cy

sed a$alytic methods that i$troduced additio$al bias&

"ge$cy reports do $ot me$tio$ the great disparities i$ sample set le$gth a$d

ampli$g patter$s or the pote$tial departure from a ra$dom sampli$g scheme that

hese disparities sig$al& There is $o i$dicatio$ that the age$cy recog$i*ed this

ource of bias or co$trolled for it&

The age$cy's a$alytic methods for i$terpreti$g the data add additio$al bias& The

.o measures of performa$ce co$siste$tly used by the age$cy i$ its reports are

omplia$ce a$d prevale$ce rates& The 8complia$ce rate8 i$dicates the perce$tage of

ompleted sample sets that passed the performa$ce sta$dard duri$g a give$ time

eriod& The 8prevale$ce rate8 i$dicates the perce$tage of samples that testedositive for !almonella&

$ all four reports si$ce 1a$uary 6777, the age$cy has e%cluded results from some

ample sets from most complia$ce rate a$d prevale$ce rate calculatio$s& These

alculatio$s i$clude results o$ly from completed 8"8 sets, defi$ed as a$y set .hich

oes $ot follo. a failed set&(>=) (/t should be $oted that e%clusio$ of data from sets

ollo.i$g failed sets i$ $o .ay i$dicates that a$y of the meat from the sets is

reve$ted from carryi$g the S!" seal to market&)

0he$ the age$cy i$itially used this method i$ calculatio$s for the report o$ 1a$uary

334 through 1a$uary 6777 data (herei$after, 8the 23346777 report8), it did $ot

me$tio$ it i$ the mai$ report(>G) or its accompa$yi$g press release&(>>)

Complia$ce rates a$d prevale$ce rates .ere prese$ted as if $o data had bee$

%cluded& The age$cy did describe the e%clusio$s i$ the te%t of the full report but

rese$ted the results of calculatio$s .ith all the data o$ly i$ the "ppe$di% of that

eport(>;)

Ho.ever, e%cludi$g all but " sets from age$cy calculatio$s is certai$ to bias the


11/16

ata because a faili$g grou$d beef pla$t .as more tha$ = times (=&66) (>4) as

kely to fail the $e%t set as a passi$g grou$d beef pla$t, i$ the data .e received&

The age$cy has progressively 8purified8 the data by e%cludi$g results from these

la$ts for its reports& For e%ample, i$ 6777, five of the 6; sets collected i$ large

rou$d beef pla$ts failed the performa$ce sta$dard& This mea$s that results from

he five subseDue$t sets at those pla$ts .ould be e%cluded from subseDue$t

alculatio$s& "ssumi$g that the age$cy used a similar si*e sample frame for the

e%t set, $early 67 of results (>96; sets) .ould be e%cluded from calculatio$s$volvi$g the subseDue$t sets&

There are t.o more areas of co$cer$ .ith the age$cy reports the sampli$g

rogram's relatio$ship to volume of productio$ a$d the diluti$g effect of i$cludi$g

arge $umbers of results from small pla$ts& $less the perce$tage of samples from

ach si*e category used i$ age$cy calculatio$s accurately represe$ts the volume of

rou$d beef those pla$ts co$tribute to the market, the combi$ed prevale$ce rate

.ill $ot reflect the prevale$ce of !almonellai$ grou$d beef o$ the market& /$ its

eports, the age$cy has $ot co$trolled for this pote$tial bias a$d yet claims that the

Edata released& & &sho.s that the prevale$ce of !almonellai$ ra. meat a$d

oultry has decreased&&&8(>3)&

$ grou$d beef calculatio$s, the bias due to this i$accuracy has bee$ co$siderable&

or e%ample, i$ the 23346772 report $early =7 perce$t (


12/16

hroughout, .ith $o i$dicatio$ to co$sumers that a pla$t has $ot met the sta$dard

r has $ot bee$ tested i$ mo$ths&

& The poor impleme$tatio$ of the program has resulted i$ data that are riddled

.ith problems& The poor data, a$d the Duestio$able a$alytical methods used to

$aly*e it, call i$to Duestio$ the validity of the age$cy's claims about the program's

uccess at reduci$g the prevale$ce of !almonellai$ grou$d beef&

Take$ together, these co$clusio$s illustrate that the S!"'s !almonellaerforma$ce sta$dard program remai$s a poor a$d u$prove$ replaceme$t for the

oss of co$ti$uous gover$me$t i$spectio$ u$der H"CCP& The i$freDue$t testi$g rate

$d the age$cy's failure to act .he$ testi$g reveals that pla$t food safety systems

re i$adeDuate, provide little i$ce$tive for grou$d beef producers to improve their

ystems&

PART FO&R: R"COMM"DAT(OS

0e recomme$d that the !almonellatesti$g program be cha$ged by redesig$i$g the

esti$g protocol& " more protective testi$g program .ould i$clude:

!aily testi$g& This elimi$ates .aiti$g periods bet.ee$ sets a$d /$ !epth

erificatio$ revie.s&

olumebased testi$g, .hich .ould take i$to accou$t the amou$t of product se$t

o market by differe$t si*e pla$ts& /$ other .ords, large pla$ts .ould be subect to

more sampli$g tha$ small a$d very small pla$ts&

Bover$me$t sampli$g for other pathoge$s, at a mi$imum, -. coli&

" .ar$i$g system to alert age$cy officials .he$ the sampli$g rate falls belo.

aily, .hich .ould prompt a gover$me$t i$spector i$ the pla$t to report .hy daily

ampli$g is $ot happe$i$g& These reports should be made public&

/mmediate $otificatio$ of compa$ies, i$spectors, a$d the public .he$ a pla$t fails

set by e%ceedi$g the allo.able $umber of failures&

" limit o$ the period of time i$ .hich pla$ts may release product .hile

mpleme$ti$g corrective actio$s&

Public release of $ames of pla$ts faili$g to meet the sta$dard& This should i$clude

romi$e$tly displayi$g o$ the S!" .ebsite the results of faili$g sets alo$g .ith

ssociated data such as dates for sample collectio$ a$d a$y corrective actio$sake$&

The prevale$ce rate that serves as the performa$ce sta$dard should get lo.er

ver time&

Publicatio$ of the testi$g protocol, .ith a detailed e%pla$atio$ of ho. sta$dards

.ere chose$&

" more tra$spare$t e%pla$atio$ of the a$alysis of complia$ce a$d prevale$ce

ates, a$d the use of co$siste$t a$alytical methods from report to report& "ll data

hould be i$cluded, .hich .ould elimi$ate the use of 8" sets&8 eports should

ddress a$d correct for pote$tial biases&

" recalculatio$ of the complia$ce a$d prevale$ce data from the program to date,

si$g all data (.ithout 8" sets8)& To .hatever e%te$t possible, the age$cy should

orrect for a$y bias, a$d at a mi$imum, e%plai$ a$d Dua$tify its effect o$ results&

"s soo$ as possible, i$corporate rapid testi$g tech$ology i$to daily gover$me$t

$spectio$ activities&

Provide .histleblo.er protectio$ for i$dustry employees .hose disclosures are

ve$ more sig$ifica$t i$ the abse$ce of reliable testi$g data&

#cknowledgments

The authors of this report .ould like to tha$k the follo.i$g for their research a$d

diti$g assista$ce: +arti$ Ad.i$ "$derse$ Tom !evi$e Arica Hartma$ Tim Laias

eter Lurie Caitli$ +iller Natio$al 1oi$t Cou$cil of Food /$spectio$ Locals !o$$a

ose$baum -ob Sti% -ria$ 0olfma$&

Footnotes

& 8Live from N+": +ura$o charts $e. fro$tier for food safety&8 !a$ +urphy&

966976& http:99...&meati$gplace&com

& 8Stateme$t for the ecord by Stephe$ +& 5stroff, +&!&, "ssociate !irector for
http://www.meatingplace.com/http://www.meatingplace.com/http://www.meatingplace.com/


13/16

pidemiologic Scie$ce, Natio$al Ce$ter for /$fectious !iseases, Ce$ters for !isease

Co$trol a$d Preve$tio$, !epartme$t of Health a$d Huma$ Services, -efore the

"griculture, Nutritio$ a$d Forestry Committee, &S& Se$ate&8 3967977&

ttp:99...&cdc&gov9.ashi$gto$9legislative973676777&htm

& 8+oder$ +eat&8 Fro$tli$e& G924976&

ttp:99...&pbs&org9.gbh9pages9fro$tli$e9sho.s9meat9etc9script&html

& 3 CF =27&6>(b)& The other compo$e$t of the microbial testi$g program u$derH"CCP is a ge$eric A& coli sampli$g program co$ducted by the compa$y a$d

udited by gover$me$t meat i$spectors& /$spectors are o$ly e$titled to see a

ummary chart of results a$d compa$ies are allo.ed to do multiple tests a$d o$ly

eport passi$g results& 3 CF =27&6>(a)&

& 8/ssue Paper: Public elease of Salmo$ella Testi$g esults&8 S!" Food Safety

$d /$spectio$ Service& 2692>93;& http:99...&fsis&usda&gov95"9haccp9issue72&htm

& 8Pathoge$ eductio$: Ha*ard "$alysis a$d Critical Co$trol Poi$t (H"CCP)

SystemsI Fi$al ule&8 S!" Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service& ;96>93)&

& H"CCP Fi$al ule p& =44G43&

& H"CCP Fi$al ule p& =44G3&

& 6;> F& =d G=6 (>th Cir& 6772)

7& Perso$al commu$icatio$& S!" Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service& >92;976

2& Perso$al commu$icatio$& S!" Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service& >92;976

6& 8S!" To Co$ti$ue Testi$g For Salmo$ella /$ +eat Pla$ts&8 S!" Ne.s elease

No& 76= samples& See page ;

or more e%pla$atio$ of the testi$g program protocol&): -roilers G7I Co.s9-ulls

I Steers9Heifers 2I Turkeys >I +arket Hogs 6GI Brou$d Turkey =I Brou$d

Chicke$ 7I Brou$d -eef


14/16

964934& http:99...&fsis&usda&gov95PHS9salmstd&htm

6& Perso$al commu$icatio$& S!" Aco$omic esearch Service& G92(b)(6)

>& H"CCP Fi$al ule p& =44G4&9;976& 0ashi$gto$, !C&

3& H"CCP Fi$al ule p& =44G;&

7& 3 CF =27&6>(b)(2)&

2& 8!irective 27,722&2: A$forceme$t /$structio$s for the Salmo$ella Performa$ce

Sta$dards&8 S!" Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service& 393934&

ttp:99...&fsis&usda&gov95PP!A9rdad9FS/S!irectives9277222&pdf(/&!&G)& Thee$gth of the .aiti$g period is subect to age$cy discretio$ a$d may be affected by

ctio$s take$ by the pla$t&

6& 8Failure by the establishme$t Eto take appropriate corrective actio$s, or failure

o meet the sta$dard o$ the third co$secutive series of FS/Sco$ducted tests for

hat product & & &.ill cause FS/S to suspe$d i$spectio$ services&8 3CF =27&6>(b)(=)

iii)&

=& 8+icrobiological esults for a. Brou$d -eef Products "$aly*ed for -scherichia

oli /+01321&8 S!" Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service&

ttp:99...&fsis&usda&gov95PHS9ecoltest9i$de%&htm

G& 8!irective 27,722&2: A$forceme$t /$structio$s for the Salmo$ella Performa$ce

Sta$dards&8 S!" Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service& 393934&

ttp:99...&fsis&usda&gov95PP!A9rdad9FS/S!irectives9277222&pdf

>& "lthough .e have data for ;< complete sample sets at 6< large grou$d beefla$ts, data for three of the first sets .as erro$eous because the e$d date of the

et .as later tha$ the sampli$g dates for subseDue$t sets& !ata from a fe. small

la$ts had this same problem& /$ February 6776, age$cy officials co$firmed that

hese e$d dates must be erro$eous, but did $ot respo$d to repeated calls for

orrect sampli$g dates&

(b)(=)(/) a$d

ii)

4& 2>7,777 pou$ds9shift % 6 shifts9day % < days9.eek % 262 .eeks O 62;&4 millio$

ou$ds

3& The age$cy collected samples comparatively freDue$tly a$d co$siste$tly from

+arch 2334 through 1u$e 2334& /t collected the last three samples i$ "pril, 2333 to

omplete the first Salmo$ella set& /t bega$ the testi$g for the seco$d set i$ 1uly

777&

7& 8"$ 5utbreak 0aiti$g to Happe$: -eef/$spectio$ Failures Let /$ a !eadly

+icrobe&8 1oby 0arrick& G923972& 0ashi$gto$ Post&

2& emarks at Co$sumer Federatio$ of "merica's 8Natio$al Food Policy

Co$fere$ce&8 G966976& 0ashi$gto$, !C&

6& 8!irective >>77&2: Co$ducti$g Targeted /$!epth erificatio$ evie.s&8 S!"ood Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service& 27922972&
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPHS/salmstd.htmhttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/meat/etc/script.htmlhttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/meat/etc/script.htmlhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISDirectives/10011-1.pdfhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISDirectives/10011-1.pdfhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISDirectives/10011-1.pdfhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISDirectives/10011-1.pdfhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPHS/ecoltest/index.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISDirectives/10011-1.pdfhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPHS/salmstd.htmhttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/meat/etc/script.htmlhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISDirectives/10011-1.pdfhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISDirectives/10011-1.pdfhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPHS/ecoltest/index.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISDirectives/10011-1.pdf


15/16

ttp:99...&fsis&usda&gov95PP!A9rdad9FS/S!irectives9>>77&2&pdf

=& 8!irective >>77&2: Co$ducti$g Targeted /$!epth erificatio$ evie.s&8 S!"

ood Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service& 27922972&

ttp:99...&fsis&usda&gov95PP!A9rdad9FS/S!irectives9>>77&2&pdf

G& "lthough there are fe. pla$ts that have had $umerous sets, it appears that the

esti$g cycle le$gth may be i$creasi$g for later sets&

H"CCP Fi$al ule p&=44=;>& !uri$g the 6; mo$th lapse, the age$cy collected eight samples& The age$cy

ompleted G> samples for the first set by 1uly 4, 2334& To complete the set, it took

hree samples i$ November 2333, three samples i$ +ay 6777 a$d t.o samples i$

u$e 6777& /t started the seco$d set o$ 5ctober 22, 6777&

&htm/$terim Progress eport o$ Salmo$ella Testi$g of a. +eat a$d Poultry Products&8

S!" Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service&

ttp:99...&fsis&usda&gov95PHS9haccp9salmra.&htm

Progress eport o$ Salmo$ella Testi$g of a. +eat a$d Poultry Products, 2334

777&8 S!" Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service&

ttp:99...&fsis&usda&gov9ophs9haccp9salmdata6&htm

Progress eport o$ Salmo$ella Testi$g of a. +eat a$d Poultry Products, 2334

772&8 S!" Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service&

ttp:99...&fsis&usda&gov95PHS9haccp9salmGyear&htm

=& 8Progress eport o$ Salmo$ella Testi$g of a. +eat a$d Poultry Products,

3346772&8 p&2&

G& 8Progress eport o$ Salmo$ella Testi$g of a. +eat a$d Poultry Products&8

>& 8FS/S eports Co$ti$ued !ecli$e 5f Salmo$ella&8 S!" Ne.s elease& =962977&
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISDirectives/5500.1.pdfhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISDirectives/5500.1.pdfhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISDirectives/5500.1.pdfhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISDirectives/5500.1.pdfhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/recalls/rec_intr.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPHS/salmstd.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/background/salmback.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/background/salmtest3.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/background/salmtest4.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/background/salmtest5.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPHS/haccp/salmraw.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPHS/haccp/salmraw.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/ophs/haccp/salmdata2.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPHS/haccp/salm4year.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISDirectives/5500.1.pdfhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISDirectives/5500.1.pdfhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/recalls/rec_intr.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPHS/salmstd.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/background/salmback.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/background/salmtest3.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/background/salmtest4.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/background/salmtest5.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPHS/haccp/salmraw.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/ophs/haccp/salmdata2.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPHS/haccp/salm4year.htm


16/16

ttp:99...&fsis&usda&gov95"9$e.s967779salmrel6&htm

)9the $umber of passi$g sets that had a

ubseDue$t set (=6G&76& G924976&

ttp:99...&usda&gov9$e.s9releases9677697G972>G&htm

7& 66,673 of the ;G,;>4 samples (63&;) used for the 23346772 aggregate

revale$ce figure (combi$i$g results from large, small a$d very small grou$d beef

la$ts) .ere from very small grou$d beef pla$ts& 8Progress eport o$ Salmo$ella

Testi$g of a. +eat a$d Poultry Products, 23346772&8

2& Lore$ La$ge, "ssista$t !eputy "dmi$istrator, 5ffice of Public Health a$d

Scie$ce, Food Safety a$d /$spectio$ Service, prese$tatio$ at FS/S' 8Pathoge$

eductio$: " Scie$tific !ialogue&8 >9;976& 0ashi$gto$, !C& La$ge stated that verymall pla$ts .ere $ot eve$ i$cluded i$ baseli$e testi$g because they are such a

mall perce$tage of productio$&

6& The very small grou$d beef pla$ts had a much lo.er prevale$ce rate (6&G for

3346772) tha$ the large pla$ts (>&6 for 23346772)& 8Progress eport& & &

3346772&8 http:99...&fsis&usda&gov95PHS9haccp9salmGyear&htm&

=& Large pla$ts co$tributed =,3>G samples compared to the 66,673 samples

o$tributed by the very small pla$ts& 8Progress eport o$ Salmo$ella Testi$g of a.

+eat a$d Poultry Products, 23346772&8

G& /$ co$trast, amo$g broiler pla$ts, it is the large pla$ts that co$siste$tly have

o.er prevale$ce rates& For the 23346772 aggregate figures, the prevale$ce rate

or Salmo$ella .as much higher for the very small pla$ts (=G&;) tha$ for small

2=&;) or large (3&6) pla$ts& /t is .orth $oti$g that, i$ broilers, .here the very

mall pla$ts did so poorly, they .ere $ot overreprese$ted by the perce$tage ofamples from their class used for aggregate results o$ly 2&G of the samples for

he 23346772 aggregate prevale$ce rate for broilers came from very small pla$ts&

>& http:99...&fsis&usda&gov9oa9co$gress9testglickma$&htm

4= samples .ere i$cluded from large pla$ts, .ith a prevale$ce rate of 3&2&

There .ere 4G6; total samples&

ECopyrightQPrivacy Stateme$tQTerms a$d Co$ditio$s
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/news/2000/salmrel2.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPHS/haccp/salcomp.pdfhttp://www.usda.gov/news/releases/2002/04/0154.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPHS/haccp/salm4year.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/congress/test_glickman.htmhttp://web.biz.uwa.edu.au/legal/copyright.asphttp://web.biz.uwa.edu.au/legal/privacy.asphttp://web.biz.uwa.edu.au/legal/privacy.asphttp://web.biz.uwa.edu.au/legal/privacy.asphttp://web.biz.uwa.edu.au/legal/terms.asphttp://web.biz.uwa.edu.au/legal/terms.asphttp://www.cambridgemedia.com.au/http://web.biz.uwa.edu.au/research/jrconsumers/academic/academic_article.asp?IssueID=11&ArticleID=16#top%23tophttp://mm_openbrwindow%28%27../printpage/print_academic.asp?ArticleID=16%27,%27Academic_Article_16%27,%27status=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=no,width=650,height=400%27)http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/news/2000/salmrel2.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPHS/haccp/salcomp.pdfhttp://www.usda.gov/news/releases/2002/04/0154.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPHS/haccp/salm4year.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/congress/test_glickman.htmhttp://web.biz.uwa.edu.au/legal/copyright.asphttp://web.biz.uwa.edu.au/legal/privacy.asphttp://web.biz.uwa.edu.au/legal/terms.asp

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