Risk-based Sampling for Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Ground Beef and Beef Trim

摘要

As part of its effort to provide improved public health assurance of the safety of ground beef, FSIS developed an E. coli O157:H7 risk-based verification sampling program. This algorithm was independently peer reviewed in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget guidelines for peer review. The risk-based E. coli O157:H7 sampling program provides more comprehensive verification of domestic ground beef servings and allocates more samples to establishments with a higher risk of causing E. coli O157:H7 illness. The risk-based sampling algorithm allocates samples in a random draw where the probability of each establishment being sampled is weighted by FSIS microbiological test results for E. coli O157:H7 and production volume. As FSIS collects and analyzes data on establishment E. coli O157:H7 interventions and testing programs these will also be used to weight sampling probability. In the simplest terms, the greater an establishment's potential for causing E. coli O157:H7 illness, the higher the probability it will be sampled.