USDA proposes eliminating ‘redundant’ trichinae control requirements

The agency said it would also consolidate regulations for thermally processed, commercially sterile meat and poultry products.

Trichinella is a parasite that infects humans and animals. Swine are the primary source of Trichinella spiralis infected meat that is eaten by humans (Hill et al., 2012).

During 2008-2012, a median of 15 cases per year were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“The overall number of cases reported has decreased because improved swine-raising practices in the pork industry such as grain-fed swine being raised in confinement, commercial and home freezing of pork, and public awareness of the danger of eating raw or undercooked meat products,”​ according to USDA-FSIS guidance​.

Supplemental proposed rule​

The proposed rule is supplemental to one in 2001, when FSIS proposed to establish performance standards for all ready-to-eat (RTE) and all partially heat-treated meat and poultry products.

If the supplemental proposed rule is finalized, all establishments producing pork products will need to assess whether items are to be treated for elimination of Trichinella, whether special cooking instructions are necessary on the label, or if safe handling labels are sufficient to ensure products are cooked to temperatures necessary to eliminate any possible live Trichinella.

USDA-FSIS said the rule would eliminate requirements for RTE and not-ready-to-eat (NRTE) pork products to be treated to destroy trichinae (Trichinella spiralis) because regulations are inconsistent with the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) ones.

FSIS’ HACCP regulations require federally inspected establishments to identify and control food safety hazards reasonably likely to occur, making prescriptive trichinae regulations no longer necessary.

Compliance with FSIS’ HACCP guidelines has proven effective at eliminating trichinae, and the risk for Trichinella infection associated with commercial pork has decreased, said the agency.

Proposed rule timings​

If it is finalized, FSIS will end its Trichinella Approved Laboratory Program (TALP) for the evaluation and approval of non-federal laboratories that use pooled sample digestion to analyze samples for trichinae – there is one lab in this program.

Because of the length of time since the publication of the proposed rule, FSIS is providing an opportunity to comment on this supplemental proposed rule. Comments must be received on or before May 27​.

FSIS has also developed guidance representing best practice recommendations, based on the best scientific and practical considerations, and does not represent requirements that must be met.

Establishments may choose to adopt different procedure, but they would need to support why or how those procedures are effective, said the agency.

FSIS is proposing to consolidate regulations on thermally processed, commercially sterile meat and poultry products (i.e., canned food products containing meat or poultry) and make minor changes to the regulations but it is not proposing to finalize the proposed performance standards.

Changes will streamline and clarify the regulations without reducing existing public health protections. FSIS is proposing to remove redundant equipment descriptions, update wording to reflect organizational structure, and clarify regulatory requirements.