FSIS Issues Updated Compliance Guideline for Control of Pathogenic E. coli (STEC) in Non-intact Beef

FSIS released an updated 2017 Compliance Guidance on Minimizing the Risk of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in Raw Beef (including Veal) Processing Operations.  This guideline updates and combines information from both the 2008 Sampling Beef Products forEscherichia coli O157:H7 (August 12, 2008) and •Sanitation Guidance for Beef Grinders (January 2012).  "This guideline incorporates current Agency thinking on the use of antimicrobial treatments, establishment sampling programs, and other measures in the establishment’s HACCP system."

This guidance states "FSIS is revising [the previous guidance documents] because it has seen that many small and very small establishments have had difficulty in designing and supporting their HACCP system (e.g., HACCP plan, Sanitation Standard Operating Procedure, or other prerequisite program) in a manner to prevent, eliminate, or reduce STEC to an acceptable level."

The guidance applies to non-intact beef products including: "ground beef; beef that an establishment has injected with solutions; beef that is vacuum tumbled with solutions; beef that an establishment has mechanically tenderized by needling, cubing, pounding devices (with or without marinade); beef that an establishment has reconstructed into formed entrees; and diced beef less than ¾ inch in any one dimension."