Congress Urged to Reject Antibiotic Restrictions
US - The American Farm Bureau Federation is urging congressional members to oppose legislation that would restrict the use of antibiotics in livestock and poultry. In letters to Senate and House members,...

High MRSA Bacteria Levels in Retail Pork Products
US - Retail pork products in the United States have a higher prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria (MRSA) than previously identified, according to new research by the University...

Pfizer Ends Residue Violation Worries
US - Pork producers now have a worry-free solution to help them continue their track record of producing safe, wholesome pork. The Pfizer Pork Residue Free Guarantee is an innovative solution that ensures...

Antibiotic Rule - a Small Step and a Sad Indictment
ANALYSIS - The US Food and Drug Administration's decision to ban 'extra-label' or unapproved uses for certain antibiotics is a small step in the direction towards reducing the potential risk of antibiotic...

AVMA Responds to Order Limiting Use of Antibiotics
US - The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) announced Friday that the FDA's order prohibiting certain uses of cephalosporins in food animals appears consistent with the current AVMA position...

FDA Issues Order Restricting Cephalosporin Use
US - The FDA has issued an order to restrict the use of cephalosporin antibiotics, which are given to some cattle, swine, chickens and turkeys before slaughter.

Limited Transmission of Novel Flu A (H3N2) Virus
US - In November the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed three cases of swine-origin triple reassortant influenza A (H3N2) (S-OtrH3N2) virus infection in children in two counties in I...

Mechanism Found for AMR Development
US - Antibiotics in pig feed encourage gene exchange between gut bacteria, which may lead to the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), according to USDA researchers.

Evidence: Ban on Growth Promotion Use of Antibiotics
US - In a review study, researchers from Tufts University School of Medicine zero in on the controversial, non-therapeutic use of antibiotics in food animals and fish farming as a cause of antibiotic ...

Salmonella Control Programmes for Meat & Poultry
US - The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued Notice 57-11: Reviewing Establishment Salmonella Control Programmes for Raw Classes of Meat or Poultry Product.

Conference Tackles Antibiotic Use
US – The issue of antibiotic use in food animals and its effect on antibiotic resistance in humans was discussed at a two-day conference in Chicago, writes Chris Wright, senior editor of ThePigSite.

FDA Announces Retail Food Safety Action Plan
US - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced its Retail Food Safety Action Plan. The plan specifically calls for new state and local food safety requirements for retail food establishments...

User Fees for Federal Inspection Opposed
US - More than 20 food and agriculture organisations in the US have send a letter to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, or 'Super Committee', opposing 'user fees' for Federal inspection of...

Listeria Prevalence in RTE Meat, Poultry Declines
US - Listeria prevalence in all ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products was .28 in 2010, according to data released by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

FSIS Issues Directive on Salmonella Programme
US - The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued directive 5020.1 on verification of the Salmonella Initiative Program (SIP).

Pork Cooking Temperature Could Boost Demand
US - The National Pork Board's Vice President of Science and Technology is confident the US Department of Agriculture's reduction in the recommended end point cooking temperature for pork will improve...

Products Recalled for Possible Listeria Contamination
SOUTH CAROLINA, US - Carolina Pride Foods, Inc., a Greenwood, South Carolina, establishment is recalling approximately 18,416 pounds of boneless, fully cooked ham products that may be contaminated with...

Companies Recall Pet Treats on Salmonella Risk
US - A number of companies have recalled pig ears in recent months for possible Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Annual Report Targets Salmonella
US - No progress has been made in Salmonella control over the past 15 years, according to the latest annual report from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

National Pork Board to Meet Prior to World Pork Expo
US - Building on the early success of its new Pork® Be inspired(sm) campaign launched in April, the National Pork Board will consider a proposal today to allocate additional Pork Checkoff resources...

NPB Comment on USDA's 'My Plate' Food Icon
US - The National Pork Board appreciates the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) unveiling of a new food guide icon designed to help make following current dietary recommendations easie...

Call for Prohibition of Antibiotic-Resistant Salmonella
US - Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is calling on the USDA to prohibit antibiotic-resistant Salmonella in ground meat and poultry on the grounds that dangerous strains make foodborne...

Lower Pork Cooking Temperature Recommended
US - The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is updating its recommendation for safely cooking pork, steaks, roasts, and chops. USDA recommends cooking all whole cuts of meat to 145° F as measured with...

WCRF Recommendations Labelled ‘Unfounded’
US - Renewed recommendations from the World Cancer Research Fund to limit red and processed meat intake should be met with scepticism as they are not supported by the full evidence and they conflict with...

Report Ranks Food Safety Issues on Cost
US – Researchers at the University of Florida Emerging Pathogens Institute (EPI) have identified the top 10 riskiest combinations of foods and disease-causing microorganisms, providing an important tool...

FSIS Publishes New Guide on RTE Product Hygiene
US - The USDA has announces the availability of a Compliance Guide to help reduce foodborne illness. The improved guidelines target potential causes of recent recalls to enhance food safety at small and...

Federal Data Show Meat & Poultry Safe, Says AMI
US - The recently published Pew study misleads consumers about the public health significance of Staphylococcus aureus from food sources, says the American Meat Institute (AMI).

‘Staph Report’ Author Calls for Cut in Drug Use
US - Following the publication of his findings of Staphylococcus aureus in almost half of all US meat last week, the author has called for a dramatic cut in the use of antibiotics in food animal...

Staph Contamination Found in US Meat and Poultry
US - Drug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria linked to a wide range of human diseases, are present in meat and poultry from US grocery stores at unexpectedly high rates, according...

USDA Proposes New Requirement for Meat Products
US - USDA has announced a proposed 'Test and Hold' requirement for meat and poultry products, which it says will enhance existing procedures and help to reduce foodborne illnesses.