Dr' Merle Pierson

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• Dr. Merle Pierson
• Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety

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Food System

• Suppliers
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• Production Processing
  Food Service/Retail Consumers
  
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• Distribution
  
• Local Regional National -
  International

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Responsibility

• Every person involved in the food system from
  primary agriculture production, processing,
  distribution, retail, government, legislators to
  the consumer has responsibility for food safety.

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USDA/FSIS Responsibility

• To protect the publics health through ensuring,
  to the greatest extent possible, the safety of
  meat, poultry, and egg products, both domestic
  and imported.

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Foundation of FSIS Inspection System

• 1996 Pathogen Reduction/HACCP rule

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Recent Evidence of Success

• Salmonella prevalence data
• CDC foodborne illness data

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Salmonella Baseline and PR/HACCP Verification Data
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Although there are positive indications of
success in improving food safety and protecting
public health, we must go further.
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Cooperative Efforts

• Within USDA
• Outside USDA
• International

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Food Safety Goals

• Secure our meat, poultry, and egg products supply
  from intentional harm.
• Base policy decisions on science.
• Improve management of agency programs.
• Improve coordination with sister agencies.
• Engage in aggressive education programs.