The changes in ready to eat (RTE) meat and poultry products will start from November.
FSIS will increase the number of product samples it collects under its Routine Risk-based L. monocytogenes (RLm) Sampling Program and its Intensified Verification Testing (IVT) protocol from three to five samples per sampling unit.
FSIS laboratories will composite the five 25g product samples from the RLm sampling program, which will increase the sample size of the analyzed test portion from 25g to 125g.
The Agency is effecting these changes to make its sampling procedures more consistent with international practices, to conserve its laboratory resources, and to improve public health.
FSIS is inviting comments on these changes which must be received by 23 November.
