FSIS issues new directive to inspectors

The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued FSIS Directive 5010.1 regarding food safety topics that inspectors should include at weekly meetings with food production establishments. The directive is a response to concerns that inspectors are failing to discuss some important food safety issues at these meetings.
Suggested topics to be addressed include in-plant observations, handling issues “that do not rise to the level of noncompliance but warrant discussion,” FSIS policies and guidelines, changes to the establishment’s processing and handling methods that could affect food safety, and results of industry-wide tests for salmonella, E. coli and violative residues.
The full directive can be downloaded here.