WHAT HAPPENED: In its June 26 Constituent Update, FSIS announced a new pilot program allowing poultry processing establishments to test alternative approaches to managing Salmonella. The pilot is open to chicken and turkey slaughter and processing establishments subject to one or more existing Salmonella performance standards for carcasses, parts, or comminuted products.
WHAT IS BIOMAPPING? Biomapping is a facility-specific testing approach in which an establishment samples and tests multiple sites throughout its slaughter and processing operations — rather than relying solely on standard end-product testing points — to identify where and how Salmonella levels change as product moves through the facility.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE: To participate, establishments must either incorporate Salmonella biomapping into their food safety system or include a validated Critical Control Point (CCP) for Salmonella control in their HACCP plan. Facilities that already conduct biomapping or have implemented a validated CCP are also eligible to participate.
WHAT ELSE IS IN THE PROGRAM: FSIS plans to evaluate a shortened moving window for Salmonella performance standards, moving from the current 52-week window to a variable window beginning at 13 weeks, with a maximum of 52 weeks. FSIS will also consider waiver requests submitted through the Salmonella Initiative Program (SIP) for alternative carcass microbial sampling frequencies.
Under the pilot, establishments using this option must submit a sampling plan identifying the specific locations where Salmonella samples will be collected and enumerated. The resulting data is intended to give both the establishment and FSIS a clearer picture of where contamination risk is concentrated, supporting more targeted interventions.
WHY IT MATTERS: Information gathered through the pilot could inform future regulatory changes and support updates regarding how the Agency evaluates and enforces Salmonella performance standards. The pilot program follows a public meeting held January 14 that discussed practical strategies for reducing Salmonella illnesses tied to poultry products, signaling continued agency focus on data-driven, plant-specific control strategies rather than one-size-fits-all standards.
NCC’s TAKE: We appreciate the Agency working with industry to collect data that will aid in making informed and science-based regulatory decisions.
WHAT’S NEXT: For establishments approved to participate in this pilot, FSIS inspection personnel will routinely verify collected biomapping data. Establishments opting to participate in the CCP pilot must submit information to FSIS describing the validated Salmonella intervention in their HACCP plan.
