Inspection Models Showing Improvements in Food Safety

7/18/2000- The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Monday that its HACCP-based inspection models project is beginning to show dramatic improvements in food safety and other consumer protection concerns, according to preliminary data now available for young chickens. Thomas J. Billy, FSIS Administrator said, "The system of inspection that we are testing has reduced food safety defects in young chickens by at least 92% in plants that are participating in the project" said Thomas J. Billy, FSIS Administrator. "The data are preliminary, but they are very significant results that we want to share with the public." On June 30, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia reversed a lower court ruling supporting the project and sent it back for further proceedings. Billy noted that the agency has received messages from both inspectors and veterinarians assigned to plants participating in the project who expressed disappointment with the recent court decision. The agency is exploring all options and is continuing the project pending further proceedings.