USDA has announced measures to better protect consumers from foodborne illness in meat and poultry products.

USDA says the measures will significantly improve the ability to trace contamination in the supply chain, act against contaminated products sooner and establish the effectiveness of food safety systems.

Ultimately – USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Elisabeth Hagen says the additional safeguards will strengthen the nation’s food safety infrastructure.

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service intends to implement new traceback measures in order to control pathogens earlier and prevent them from triggering foodborne illnesses and outbreaks. FSIS is also implementing three 2008 Farm Bill provisions that require establishments to prepare and maintain recall procedures, notify FSIS within 24 hours that a meat or poultry product that could harm consumers has been shipped into commerce and document each reassessment of their hazard control and critical control point system food safety plans.