991031 Drop in Salmonella at Small PlantsOctober 9, 1999Washington - The government's new inspection system for food has reduced the occurrence of salmonella in raw meat and poultry by as much as 50% in small processing plants. That is similar to the reduction that the Agriculture Department reported earlier in large plants. “Our ability to greatly reduce the prevalence of salmonella in meat and poultry is a significant achievement in our ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of the American food supply,” Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman said Thursday. Salmonella was found in 7.5% of the ground beef tested before the new system was in place, but 3.3% six months afterward. The occurrence of salmonella in chicken was reduced from 20% to 13.9% six months later. The new program sets pathogen standards for plants and requires companies to identify key points in the manufacturing and packing processes where food can be contaminated and take steps to minimize contamination. The government estimates that there are 1.4 million cases of salmonella every year and as many as 600 deaths.
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