Cooperative agreement with the university of maryland to assist fsis in developing two separate risk assessment models in chicken and in turkey

The Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service awarded a $590,000 cooperative agreement to the University of Maryland, College Park from October 2021 through September 2022 under the Food Safety Cooperative Agreements program (CFDA 10.479).

Under the award, the University will assist FSIS in developing two separate risk assessment models for Salmonella in chicken and turkey production. The models will estimate reductions in foodborne illness attributed to controlling Salmonella prevalence, levels, and subtypes pre- and post-harvest under three scenarios. First, the impact of controlling Salmonella pre and post harvest. Second, implementing pre, post, and combined pre-post harvest controls. Third, establishing criteria limiting Salmonella prevalence, levels, or subtypes, or requiring a specified reduction in a relevant indicator organism. The research aims to reduce foodborne illness associated with meat and poultry products through cooperative agreements authorized under the program.

These production to consumption risk models will estimate reductions in foodborne illness attributed to chicken and turkey resulting from control of salmonella. Specifically, the models will predict the impact of three scenarios. First, the impact of controlling salmonella prevalence, levels(enumeration), and subtypes of public health concern pre and post harvest. Second, the impact of implementing pre, post and combined pre and post harvest controls. Third, the impact of establishing criteria limiting salmonella prevalence, levels or subtypes, or requiring a specified reduction in a relevant indicator organism.