Meat+Poultry - December 2022 - 63

standards. Peterson also expressed NCC's
appreciation for FSIS's interest in data sharing.
" We believe it is critical that we all start
with robust data, and from there collaborate
on the best way to approach Salmonella
control, " she said. " We look forward to a
continued meaningful dialogue with FSIS
on the proposed Salmonella framework and
are hopeful we can come up with a sciencebased,
data-driven approach that will not only
improve public health but also ensure that
consumers of America's favorite protein still
have an affordable product available to feed
their families. "
The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates
that 48 million people contract foodborne
illnesses every year. Industry members are
rallying together to mitigate the spread of
disease by tackling the problem along all meat
production points.
VETTING
Peterson said that the industry should be
expected to control potential pathogens, but
there is no one-size-fits-all approach.
" Overall, this approach will stymie
innovation and technology which seems
counter to a collaborative food safety
approach, " she said.
Peterson recommended FSIS use
verification sampling results, to include
enumeration results, in a risk assessment
model to help understand what impacts, if
any, changes in indicator organisms and/
or Salmonella load at various processing
locations will have on public health.
Regarding the framework's third and final
component, Peterson urged FSIS to build
on the successful path established through
performance standards, with the industry
and agency collaborating to meet voluntary
The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) has
been focused recently on the importance of
communication for food safety professionals
and meat producers. NAMI hosted a webinar
in October to address current preventive food
safety efforts and best practices.
Guest speaker Jennifer Wishnie, PhD,
associate professor for the College of
Veterinary Medicine at the University of
Arizona, teaches the veterinary sciences
knowing full well the responsibility for public
health will soon be in her students' hands.
" What I really emphasize to my students
is that being admitted to the college of the
profession of veterinary medicine plays an
important role in public health because it's part
of the veterinarian's oath, " Wishnie said. " We
have an oath for the promotion of public health
and the advancement of medical knowledge
and, within that, the protection of food safety. "
Wishnie noted the importance of
veterinarians throughout the supply chain
- from those working on the farm to those
working at slaughterhouses to those educating
their clients and communities on good food
safety practices.
" From an overall perspective, the
veterinarian plays a very essential role in
working closely with the producer and with
the employees on creating a herd health
www.meatpoultry.com | 12.22 | MEAT+POULTRY
63
" We all have
the same goal
and that's
public health
- to make
sure we're
putting out
safe, quality,
wholesome
food to the
public. "
- SHARON BEALS
http://www.meatpoultry.com
Meat+Poultry - December 2022

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