Tag Archives: USDA

Beltway Beat

Dr. Justin Ransom, Administrator, USDA’s FSIS to present at the Food Safety Consortium Conference, Oct.21-23, in Washington DC

By Food Safety Tech Staff
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Dr. Justin Ransom, administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will present at this year’s Food Safety Consortium Conference October 21-23 in Washington DC along side, Dr. Donald A. Prater, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Food, FDA.

As the U.S. food safety landscape undergoes major transformation, this session will explore evolving regulatory priorities at FDA and USDA, highlighting modernization efforts in oversight, surveillance and policy. With FDA’s Human Foods Program restructuring and USDA FSIS advancing pathogen control strategies, Dr. Justin Ransom, Administrator, USDA’s FSIS and Dr. Donald A. Prater, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Food, FDA will share updates on a variety of topics including but not limited to the salmonella rule, traceability, preventive controls and ingredient oversight.

As administrator, Dr. Ransom oversees FSIS’ mission to ensure the safety, wholesomeness and proper labeling of America’s commercial supply of meat, poultry and processed egg products. He leads the agency’s modernization efforts, streamlining inspection systems, strengthening public health protections and advancing science-based policies.

Dr. Ransom brings more than 20 years of executive leadership in food safety, quality systems, animal welfare and sustainability. Immediately prior to his appointment, he served as senior director of sustainable food strategy at Tyson Foods, where he spearheaded enterprise-wide sustainability programs. His diverse industry experience also includes roles at McDonald’s and OSI Group, where he managed and advanced complex food supply chains across global markets.

With roots in production agriculture, Dr. Ransom has worked as a scientist, livestock breeder and global supply chain leader, deepening his first-hand knowledge of end-to-end food system management. His career reflects a strong commitment to enterprise collaboration and the seamless integration of food safety practices from farm to fork. He is driven by a genuine passion for protecting the safety and security of American agriculture — from the farmers who produce our food to the consumers who depend on it. He draws on his leadership development experiences to cultivate future leaders and foster strong, high-performing teams grounded in trust, accountability and shared purpose.

He began his public service career at USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, contributing to the development of technical standards for the National School Lunch Program, instrument grading systems and international trade facilitation.

Dr. Ransom holds a Bachelor of Science in agricultural communications from Texas Tech University and earned both his Master of Science and doctorate in animal science from Michigan State University and Colorado State University, respectively.

Beltway Beat

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces two significant actions on GRAS and UPFs

By Food Safety Tech Staff
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On August 10, 2026, HHS proposed a rule requiring food manufacturers to notify the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when concluding that the use of a substance added to human or animal food is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) and, alongside the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), submitted for final review the federal government’s first proposed definition of ultra-processed foods (UPFs).

“Nearly 60% of the American diet is made up of ultra-processed foods, and childhood obesity now affects more than one in five American children,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said within the press release “We cannot reverse America’s chronic disease epidemic without transforming our food system.”

Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas, J.D. added “By proposing mandatory GRAS notifications, we are closing critical information gaps and giving the FDA greater visibility into substances entering the food supply. By advancing a proposed definition of ultra-processed foods, we seek to create a stronger foundation for future nutrition research. Together, these reforms represent a significant step toward a more transparent and modern food safety system.”

FDA Proposes Stronger Oversight of Food Ingredients

The FDA issued a proposed rule that would require manufacturers to notify the agency whenever they conclude that the use of a substance added to human or animal food is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). The proposal would modernize the GRAS framework, increase transparency, and give the FDA greater visibility into substances entering the food supply.

Since Congress established the GRAS exemption in 1958, manufacturers have been permitted to reach their own conclusions that certain substances are generally recognized as safe under the conditions of their intended use. Although the FDA has long operated voluntary notification programs, companies have not been required to notify the agency when making these determinations.

The proposed rule would modernize that framework by making GRAS notifications mandatory and expanding the public-facing inventory of submitted notices, significantly improving transparency while strengthening the FDA’s ability to oversee ingredients entering the food supply.

For substances already on the market based on industry self-GRAS conclusions, the proposal would establish a time-limited streamlined submission pathway that would allow manufacturers to provide the FDA with information about existing uses. This enables the agency to prioritize post-market safety evaluations while minimizing unnecessary regulatory burden.

Consumer Reports Chimes in on the Announcement

Consumer Reports issued a statement regarding the proposed rule today pointing out that while the rule would require manufacturers to notify the FDA when they determine a new food substance is GRAS, manufacturers would still self-determine that safety conclusion themselves. Substances introduced into the market before the regulations go into effect, would be eligible for a separate, time-limited streamlined submission pathway.

“Considering the out-of-control, self-regulatory system we currently have for food ingredients, it’s disappointing that today’s announcement lacks substance and doesn’t propose anything meaningful,” said Brian Ronholm, Director of Food Policy at Consumer Reports. “Given the lack of any real enforcement under the proposed rule for failing to submit a GRAS notice, combined with the fact that it would not apply to chemicals already in our foods, it risks maintaining the status quo that allows secret ingredients and chemicals to remain on the market without FDA review.“
“The absence of a meaningful proposed rule demonstrates how budget cuts and years of underfunding have created a system where we may never fully know all the ingredients and chemicals in some of our foods. If the process for this proposed rule gets drawn out, it may be years before anything is implemented, if at all, so this should not preclude states from passing laws that protect consumers more quickly.”
Consumer Reports (CR) has called for closing the GRAS loophole in a recent petition with Yuka, which urges the FDA to end the practice of allowing companies to introduce new food additives without notifying the agency or undergoing federal safety review.

Definition of Ultra-Processed Foods

HHS and USDA submitted for final review the federal government’s first proposed definition of UPFs. Although research has linked high consumption of UPFs to preventable chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease, the absence of a standardized federal definition has limited research consistency across the federal government. The proposed definition incorporates feedback from thousands of stakeholders, including industry, consumer organizations, researchers, and members of the public.

 

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Beltway Beat

USDA Risks Becoming Irrelevant on Food Safety

By Brian Ronholm
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As concerns grow over its response to the screwworm situation in Texas, there’s a food safety issue flying under the radar at the U.S. Department of Agriculture that also may impact consumers more directly.

Last December, USDA announced a delay in the implementation of a rule that would declare Salmonella an adulterant in not-ready-to-eat breaded stuffed chicken products. In terms of food safety oversight proposals, CR described this as being easier than picking low-hanging fruit. USDA claimed the reason for the delay was that currently available test methods have accuracy limitations.

However, even the USDA’s own evidence doesn’t support the claim. In May 2024, USDA actually confirmed the existence of a validated test that had no false-positive issues. Now, USDA officials say that they became aware of inaccuracies in that test—but didn’t release any data to support their assertion. Consumer Reports recently wrote the USDA to express concern over this lack of transparency and to request any data supporting the claim of testing inaccuracies.

If USDA fails to move forward with this rule, it runs the risk of being perceived as being irrelevant on food safety oversight and beholden to industry interests. While the department’s food safety leadership likes to repeatedly emphasize that they use a science-based and data-driven approach to policy making, consumer advocates worry that these statements are meaningless if they don’t translate into policy initiatives that aim to prevent foodborne illness.

This Op-Ed was reprinted with permission from Consumer Reports Food Policy Insider. To subscribe, send an email to:  foodpolicyinsider@cr.consumer.org

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Beltway Beat

USDA Announces Food Safety and Inspection Service Reorganization, Establishes National Food Safety Center in Iowa

By Food Safety Tech Staff
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Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a reorganization of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to modernize operations, streamline support functions and better align the agency with the nation’s agricultural landscape. As part of this effort, USDA will establish a new National Food Safety Center (NFSC) in Urbandale, Iowa, which will serve as the primary hub for FSIS administrative, technical and support operations.

Opponents, including some Democratic lawmakers, have raised concerns that these types of reallocations are used to downsize agency effectiveness and affect morale, rather than improve services.

Marion Nestle says the move will gut the agency, destroy its expertise, and disable it for years to come. She adds “That has to be the intent. Add these to the 27,000 people who have already left USDA since Trump II, 37% of its staff.  Surely, some of those people helped get the agency’s work done.”

Establishing a Central Hub for Food Safety Operations

FSIS will repurpose existing USDA space in Urbandale, Iowa, to establish the new National Food Safety Center (NFSC), which will become the agency’s largest office in the United States with approximately 200 employees.

The NFSC will serve as FSIS’ primary location for headquarters support functions, including resource management, training, food safety education, financial operations, information technology and administrative services. By consolidating these functions in a centrally located hub, FSIS will reduce duplication, improve coordination and expand access to career opportunities for employees across the country. The establishment of the NFSC marks a significant shift in the agency’s operational footprint, placing key functions closer to the agricultural and food production systems that FSIS regulates and supports.

Expanding Scientific Leadership in Georgia

FSIS will also establish a Science Center in Athens, Georgia, building on its existing Eastern Field Services Laboratory and expanding its capabilities in microbiology, chemistry and epidemiology. The Science Center will strengthen FSIS’ scientific leadership and ensure continued access to top-tier academic institutions, a robust public health workforce and key industry partners.

Aligning Workforce and Functions Nationwide

Under the reorganization, FSIS will relocate approximately two-thirds of its National Capital Region workforce to mission-critical locations, including the National Food Safety Center in Iowa and the Science Center in Georgia.

Approximately 200 positions will be relocated from Washington D.C, while roughly 100 positions will remain to support congressional engagement, policy development and interagency coordination. FSIS will also establish a presence in Fort Collins, Colorado, for staff supporting international activities, further aligning the agency with USDA’s broader geographic footprint.

Maintaining Continuity in Food Safety Operations

The reorganization does not impact FSIS’ frontline inspection workforce which represents 85 percent of employees and operates across more than 6,800 regulated establishments. All food safety inspection activities and public health protections will continue without interruption, and the reorganization does not include any reduction in force. All FSIS employees will retain positions within the agency.

Beltway Beat

Achieving Goals: Integrating the Fragmented United States Federal Food Safety System into a Food Protection System

By Allen R. Sayler, Benjamin J. Reading, Ph.D., Jason Bashura, MPH, R.S., Mehrdad Tajkarimi, DVM, MPVM, Ph.D.
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The United States (U.S.) food protection system is fragmented across federal, state, and local jurisdictions, resulting in duplication, inefficiency, and systemic failures that undermine public health and erode consumer trust. Foodborne pathogens such as Listeria, Salmonella, and E. coli do not respect institutional boundaries, yet responsibility for oversight is divided among more than 15 federal agencies, 75 state entities, and thousands of local jurisdictions, operating under more than 30 laws and 70 interagency agreements. This structure has proven incapable of reducing the persistent burden of foodborne illness in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate one in six Americans is affected annually, causing 10 million illnesses, 53,000 hospitalizations, and more than 900 deaths.

The term food protection, in use since at least 1924, conceptually unifies food safety, defense, authenticity, and infrastructure protection. However, the lack of an integrated federal entity has perpetuated disjointed responses. The 2025 recall of chicken fettuccine alfredo meals—linked to 17 illnesses, 16 hospitalizations, three deaths, and one fetal loss (as of this date)—illustrates the shortcomings of the system. Oversight was split between the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulated the non-meat components, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), which oversaw the chicken ingredient. Despite involvement from CDC, the outbreak was not contained in time to prevent fatalities. Similarly, the 2024 deli meat Listeria outbreak, responsible for 10 deaths and 61 illnesses, highlighted the failure of FSIS to enforce corrective actions despite documented ongoing sanitation-based violations. These preventable events underscore the limitations of the current model.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has repeatedly called for consolidation—in 2005 and again 20 years later in 2025—emphasizing that inefficiencies, regulatory conflicts, and siloed data hindering effective food protection, resulting in preventable public health impacts. Reports also document how FSIS’s 6,500-employee continuous inspection program expends enormous resources without measurably improving outcomes. Decentralized data management further impedes trend analysis, predictive modeling, and risk-based decision-making that could anticipate and prevent outbreaks.

A unified federal food protection entity would provide structural and scientific coherence, resulting in the desired outcomes described herein. By consolidating regulatory authority, streamlining enforcement, and centralizing data, such an entity could accelerate response times, enhance accountability, and foster consistent risk-based regulation. Integrating modern technologies such as artificial intelligence and predictive analytics would strengthen surveillance, while harmonized training and inspections would maximize public health protections and reduce duplication and industry burden. Examples from Canada and the United Kingdom—both of which have lower per-capita illness rates—demonstrate the effectiveness of nationally unified food protection systems.

Congressional recognition of these systemic weaknesses has spurred legislative proposals in 2025 to establish a single food protection authority. This initiative reflects both scientific necessity and policy urgency. A consolidated approach would align regulatory practice with the realities of microbial ecology, supply chain complexity, and consumer demand for safe and wholesome foods.

In conclusion, the U.S. food protection system requires modernization and unification. Reform should focus on five core directives:

  1. Improving public health through risk-based regulation
  2. Eliminating overlap and duplication
  3. Streamlining enforcement and compliance
  4. Increasing accountability and modernizing governance
  5. Strengthening food protection as a component of national security

A unified federal food protection entity would provide a vision forward with four prime outcomes:

  1. Protect public health more effectively
  2. Reduce regulatory and economic burden
  3. Improve resilience against both natural and intentional threats
  4. Deliver a modern, science-based food protection system for the 21st century and beyond

“One system, one standard, one mission: Protecting America’s food supply from farm to fork.”

—Guiding principle for U.S. food safety efforts, FSIS

Click on the image to download the complete 45 page Whitepaper:

ICYMI: Click on the image to watch this recorded webinar with two of the Whitepaper Authors, Jason Bashura and  Ben Reading:

Ben and Jason discuss the need for truly unified, risk-based U.S. food protection system in this 26 minute recorded webinar

 

Beltway Beat

Regulators in the Spotlight: FDA & USDA’s Vision for Safer Food

By Food Safety Tech Staff
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Dr. Mindy Brashears, Under Secretary for Food Safety, USDA and Dr. Donald A. Prater, Principal Deputy Director for Human Foods, FDA will present at the Food Safety Hazards Conference, April 20-22 in St. Louis MO. The format is a fireside chat with a town hall Q&A, moderated by Brian Ronholm, Director of Food Policy, Consumer Reports.

The Food Safety Hazards Conference will take place April 20-22 in St. Louis MO. The Program starts on Monday April 20 at 12 pm which leads into two full days of high-level panel discussions and educational presentations concluding Wednesday, April 22 at 12 noon CST. Presentations include:

* Regulators in the Spotlight: FDA & USDA’s Vision for Safer Food
* Practical Pathogen Control Strategies for Complex Food Operations: Lessons from Real-World Implementation
* Food Allergen Safety – On the Other Side of the Threshold
* Assessing Heavy Metal Risks in Food Systems: A Preventive Food Safety Approach to Protect Public Health
* Forecasting Microbial Behavior: Predictive Tools for Smarter Hazard Analysis
* Transforming Pest Control Through FMEA: A Predictive, Risk-Based Framework for Preventing Food Safety Hazards
* Cybersecurity and Food Safety: HACCP Meets Hacking
* End to End Foreign Material Control: A Practical Guide for Manufactures
* Less Chemicals, More Microbes? The Use of Clean-Label Ingredients to Formulate Processed Meats
* Sanitary Transportation – Bulk Tankers – cross contamination?
* From Known to Reasonably Foreseeable: Rethinking Biological Hazard Identification in Food Safety Programs
* Food Safe Facility Drainage Design

Organized by Food Safety Tech, who also runs the Food Safety Consortium Conference since 2012, the Food Safety Hazards Conference will focus on the detection, mitigation, control and regulations of food safety hazards through technology, best practices and data analytics. The Hazards addresses in the program include Listeria, e-Coli, Salmonella, Allergens, Chemicals and Foreign Matter. The conference scope includes both human and pet foods. The complete agenda, speakers and registration information is on the Food Safety Hazards Conference website.

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Beltway Beat

DeLauro, Durbin Reintroduce the Federal Food Administration Act

By Food Safety Tech Staff
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On December 10, 2025, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) reintroduced the Federal Food Administration Act, legislation that would streamline our food safety system by consolidating food oversight into a single agency dedicated to keeping the foods Americans eat safe.

“We need a single food safety agency to ensure the food Americans eat is safe,” said DeLauro. “Currently, food safety oversight is scattered across multiple agencies with the bulk of the responsibility falling to the Food and Drug Administration – where food safety has often been treated like a second-class citizen. This legislation would put one agency clearly in charge with the singular mission of protecting our food supply with the resources, staff, and focus to achieve that goal. I am proud to partner with Senator Durbin in this effort, because Americans deserve peace of mind that the government is keeping companies accountable with clear, consistent safety standards.”

“The sad reality is that FDA has failed to protect Americans from preventable foodborne illnesses and death. In recent years, the FDA has failed to protect babies from bacterial infections in their infant formula and lead-tainted applesauce pouches,” said Durbin. “This is why Congresswoman DeLauro and I are introducing legislation to create a Federal Food Administration.  With the Federal Food Administration Act, we hope our nation will have greater success in protecting the foods in our kids’ lunch boxes and on our dining room tables.”

FDA regulates approximately 80 percent of our food supply. Consumers and companies depend on FDA to perform its regulatory role effectively.  Yet, despite increased authorities included in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and the creation of the Human Foods Program at FDA, the agency has failed to make significant inroads in reducing rates of foodborne illness and death in the U.S.

About one in six Americans—or 48 million people—get sick from a foodborne illness each year.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 128,000 Americans also are hospitalized and 3,000 Americans die of foodborne diseases each year.

A single food safety agency, with a Senate-confirmed Commissioner, will strengthen oversight of the food supply, improve the health and well-being of Americans, and ensure companies that cut corners on food safety are properly held accountable.

Joining Durbin and DeLauro as original cosponsors of this legislation is Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Sara Jacobs.

The legislation is endorsed by Consumer Reports, Consumer Federation of America, Environmental Working Group, and STOP Foodborne Illness.

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Beltway Beat

Politics has no place in the USDA’s mission or leadership

By Rick Biros
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There is an unusual banner on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website that was most likely written by USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, which the message is similar to her posts on X and other public comments.

USDA.gov Screen Shot 2025-11-06 at 12.16.12 PM

I shared the screen shot image with Sandra Eskin, CEO, Stop Foodborne Illness and former Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety at USDA. In this role, Sandy led the Office of Food Safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, overseeing the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

Sandra Eskin
Sandra Eskin, CEO, Stop Foodborne Illness

Sandy commented that “Government departments and agencies serve all citizens – republicans and democrats. This type of partisan rhetoric undermines trust in government and may violate the law.”

Sandy is correct, the USDA serves all citizens, regardless of political party. The mission of the USDA is provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on public policy, the best available science, and effective management.

According to the USDA’s website, when President Abraham Lincoln established the United States Department of Agriculture, he called it the “People’s Department.” The website goes on to say “At USDA we are working tirelessly to be a model department that serves all people of our great Nation.”

Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke L. Rollins

Is Secretary Rollins breaking the law? Maybe. The Hatch Act, applies to employees working in the executive branch of the federal government. The purpose of the Act is to maintain federal workforce that is free from partisan political influence or coercion. The Act covers messages in federal buildings but does not mention federal websites.

Regardless of the legality, Secretary Rollins’ political message is inappropriate and that this type of partisan rhetoric undermines the hard work of the very people who work for her. When USDA employees return to work, they are already dealing with  low moral and reduced resources. Their jobs are hard enough. Undermining  trust in the government only makes things worse.

Good bosses are like good coaches. You motivate your players to perform at the highest level, no matter what the odds are. My message to Secretary Rollins… step up and be a good leader. Stop the political rhetoric, blame game and excuses. Take ownership of the situation. Motivate your team and instill confidence in your agency to be the model department that you say you are… that serves all people of our great Nation.

 

 

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Ask The Expert

Seeing the Forest Through the Trees: Advancing Integration in the U.S. Food Protection System

By Rick Biros
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Calls to integrate the regulatory oversight of the U.S. food system have been echoed for decades through studies, reports, and policy forums—yet meaningful change has remained elusive. While the FDA’s recent creation of the Office of Inspections and Investigations marks an important step toward more coordinated oversight, the USDA’s FSIS still lacks a parallel structure, and significant gaps persist across the broader food protection landscape.

From food safety and quality to food defense, food integrity, and physical and digital security, the farm to fork system continues to operate in silos. This fragmentation not only creates regulatory confusion for industry stakeholders but also fuels inconsistent enforcement and mixed messages for consumers potentially leading to negative public health impacts and loss of consumer trust due to confusing recall messages—exemplified by the widely cited disparity in how cheese and pepperoni pizzas are regulated by different federal agencies.

This topic will be discussed at the Food Safety Consortium conference in Alexandria VA., October 19-21. Panelists include Benjamin Reading, Ph.D. Interim Assistant Director, NC Agricultural Research Service (NCARS) Associate Professor & University Faculty Scholar, North Carolina State University and Jason Bashura, M.P.H., RS, a 25+ yrs. public health and food protection professional. Ben and Jason discuss the need for truly unified, risk-based U.S. food protection system in this 26 minute recorded webinar. To watch the video, click on the image below or this link: Watch the Webinar.

Ben and Jason discuss the need for truly unified, risk-based U.S. food protection system in this 26 minute recorded webinar

After watching the video, we invite you to take a quick 5 question survey on this topic. You can win a chance to receive a complimentary registration to the Food Safety Consortium by correctly identifying the number of times Jason says the two words “Food Protection” in the webinar. Click here to take the Survey.

The session at the Food Safety Consortium will convene leaders from regulatory agencies, industry, academia, and NGOs to explore the structural and operational challenges that continue to hinder integration. Through their collective insights, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of what a truly unified, risk-based food protection system could look like, why such a system is needed now more than ever, and how emerging solutions—both policy-based and practical—can help close longstanding gaps.

By moving beyond agency silos and outdated jurisdictional lines, this session challenges participants to rethink what it means to protect the food supply and to consider how collaboration can turn complexity into clarity. This is the next step in seeing the forest through the trees—and laying the groundwork for a smarter, more resilient food protection system.

The Food Safety Consortium, presented by Food Safety Tech and the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) will take place October 19-21, 2025, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington VA directly across the Potomac River from  Washington, DC. The Program starts with several pre-conference workshops and training which leads into two full days of high-level panel discussions and educational presentations that will be sure to open your mind and expose you to a variety of topics, ideas and like-minded Food PROTECTION professionals who will be in attendance.

For a limited time, you can receive a 10% discount off registration by entering the discount code FoodProtection. Visit FoodSafetyConsortium.org

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Beltway Beat

AOAC INTERNATIONAL and USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service Establish MOU for Food Test Methods

By Food Safety Tech Staff
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In a press release, AOAC INTERNATIONAL (AOAC) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in June. This MOU establishes a strategic framework for developing, validating, and recognizing methods FSIS laboratories, as well as regulated establishments, use to verify the effectiveness of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) based food safety systems.

FSIS is part of a science-based national public health system to ensure food safety and food defense in the United States. FSIS ensures food safety through the authorities of the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, and the Egg Products Inspection Act, as well as humane animal handling through the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act.

“This new MOU with FSIS marks a pivotal step forward in our shared commitment to promote public health,” said David B. Schmidt, AOAC Executive Director. “By strengthening our collaboration, we are facilitating an even more resilient food safety system—one that ensures regulatory testing is backed by science, vigilance, and trusted methods.”

The MOU outlines how AOAC and FSIS will work together cooperatively where mutual interests have been identified, including collaboration on scientific method training and other educational initiatives; development of Standard Method Performance Requirements (SMPRs®) documents, validation guidance and/or method validation protocols; development of proficiency testing programs; and adoption or certification of methods for specific regulations or monitoring programs, such as Salmonella quantification. Once methods are validated through AOAC Official Methods of AnalysisSM (OMA) or Performance Tested MethodsSM (PTM) programs, there will be greater confidence that methods are fit for purpose and can be used by FSIS laboratories and constituents for applicable testing needs.

“The involvement of FSIS experts in the development of AOAC standards and evaluation of methods submitted for method conformity assessment through AOAC OMA and PTM programs is very important for ensuring their fitness for purpose from both scientific and regulatory perspectives,” said Katerina Mastovska, Ph.D., AOAC Deputy Executive Director and Chief Science Officer.