Retail establishments that grind trim and/or slice deli meat could face increased scrutiny from federal inspectors due to inconsistent compliance with recordkeeping requirements and food safety procedures.
During the recent North American Meat Processors conference, an official from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service suggested the failure of retail delis to maintain accurate beef grinding logs has complicated federal recall and outbreak investigations involving E. coli O157:H7.
In regard to meat slicing, FSIS is concerned about the unsanitary conditions of meat slicing equipment within retail delis, which could support the contamination of sliced meats with Listeria monocytogenes. During the conference, it was reported that FSIS is developing new food safety guidelines for retailers.
Vist the FSIS web site for additional information.