Small and Very Small Meat Processors Program

Conference - April 30, 2008, Philadelphia, PA

Participants from industry (small and very small plants across the country), the academic/training community and Federal (USDA-FSIS) and State inspection programs met in Philadelphia, PA on April 30, 2008. Working in small groups, the participants focused on making recommendations for the development of training materials and programs; getting information out to small and very small plants about topics such as basic HACCP, E. coli O157:H7 and Listeria control programs; and responding to inspection requirements, new regulations and guidelines.

Background:

It can be very difficult for Small and Very Small Meat and Poultry Establishments to keep up with the demands resulting from new guidelines, regulations and expectations in the constantly changing environment of meat and poultry food safety.

In 2000, the USDA-FSIS Small and Very Small Plant Outreach Program was developed when Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) were first implemented in small and very small establishments. The goal of the outreach programs was to provide these establishments with the resources to assist in the development and implementation of HACCP.

While there are always new establishments coming on line, existing operations have moved beyond the need for the basic, introductory HACCP course. As such, there is a need to address changing regulatory requirements through additional training and/or dissemination of information. Limited financial resources, lack of time, and simply not knowing where to go for training and information can affect the smaller processor's ability to operate sucessfully under HACCP regulations.

Contact Us:

Catherine N. Cutter
Associate Professor and Food Safety Extension Specialist - Muscle Foods;
Chair of the Food Safety Impact Group
433 Food Science Building
University Park, PA 16802
Ph: (814) 865 8862
FAX: (814) 863 6132
Email: cnc3@psu.edu

Diane Wright Hirsch, MPH, RD
Cooperative Extension Educator/Food Safety
University of Connecticut
New Haven County Extension Center
305 Skiff Street
North Haven, CT 06473
203-407-3163 (phone)
203-407-3176 (FAX)
diane.hirsch@uconn.edu