The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are working together to strengthen oversight of food manufacturers, especially meat and poultry processors, in order to reduce the incidence of foodborne illnesses.
In 2024, the USDA focused on Salmonella and Listeria prevention, while the FDA launched its revamped Human Foods Program to enhance its risk management capabilities. These efforts have continued into 2025.
Recent outbreaks of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat meat and poultry products have raised concerns. For example, Yu Shang Food Inc. had to recall contaminated RTE products, leading to infections in multiple states and tragic deaths.
In response to these incidents, the FSIS announced new measures to strengthen oversight of meat, poultry, and egg processing facilities. These include enhanced testing for Listeria, improved training for inspectors, and increased focus on sanitation practices.
Additionally, the FSIS is conducting Food Safety Assessments at RTE facilities and verifying Listeria monocytogenes-related risk factors weekly to ensure compliance with regulations.
The agency is also revising establishment-review alert triggers to identify high-risk facilities more effectively. These efforts aim to control Listeria monocytogenes and enhance food safety.
Furthermore, the FSIS declared Salmonella an adulterant in raw breaded stuffed chicken products that exceed a specific threshold, as part of its ongoing efforts to control contamination in poultry products.
On the other hand, the FDA’s Human Foods Program, launched in 2024, focuses on microbiological food safety, food chemical safety, and nutrition to protect public health. This program consolidates the agency’s risk management activities and aims to reduce foodborne illnesses through science-based approaches.
The FDA’s restructuring of its food program has led to the creation of the Human Foods Program, which combines various offices to streamline regulatory and scientific efforts in food safety and nutrition.