Blank Page
A Year in Review — FSIS | 1

FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE

A YEAR IN REVIEW — 2015

IMPORT INPECTORS

PUBLIC

HEALTH VETERINARIANS

FOOD SAFETY PROFESSIONALS

OTHER FOOD SAFETY PROFESSIONALS

ONE TEAM, ONE PURPOSE.

United States Department of Agriculture

A Year in Review — FSIS | 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

4 INTRODUCTION

7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

9 FY 2015 AT A GLANCE

10 FSIS PERFORMANCE ON KEY CORPORATE FOOD SAFETY MEASURES IN THE 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE’S STRATEGIC PLAN

14 CASE STUDY: FOOD SAFETY OF THE FUTURE

16 FY 2015 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

17 GOAL 1 | INSPECTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH

19 GOAL 2 | COMPLIANCE, ENFORCEMENT, AND HUMANE HANDLING

20 GOAL 3 | PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

21 GOAL 4 | PREVENTION THROUGH COLLABORATION

22 GOAL 5 | SCIENCE-DRIVEN ANALYSIS

23 GOAL 6 | EFFECTIVE POLICY

24 GOAL 7 | EMPLOYEE EMPOWERMENT

26 GOAL 8 | INNOVATIVE METHODOLOGY

27 FY 2015 SCORECARD

ONE TEAM, ONE PURPOSE.

We are one team, with one purpose, and that is to protect public health. FSIS 

employees take pride in their work that helps prevent foodborne illness.

www.fsis.usda.gov
4 | USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service

Introduction

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the public health agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

(USDA) responsible for ensuring that the Nation’s commercial supply of meat, poultry, and processed egg products, 

whether domestic or imported, is safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged. Each year, FSIS dedicates 

its time, attention, and resources toward its mission of keeping food safe. This document evaluates FSIS’ annual 

progress against goals and measures set to accomplish this mission.

STRATEGIC PLANNING 

Every 5 years, FSIS adopts a new Strategic Plan that outlines its 

goals and initiatives. FSIS is currently operating under its Fiscal 

Year 2011-2016 Strategic Plan. A main driver of the Strategic 

Plan is the agency’s desire to continue evolving as a trusted and 

successful public health organization—one that adapts to the 

changing nature of food safety risks. 

In this document, FSIS reviews its performance in FY 2015 

against its Strategic Plan goals and measures. Outlined in the 

agency’s current Strategic Plan are three themes and eight goals. 

The themes are “Prevent Foodborne Illness,” “Understand and 

Influence the Farm-to-Table Continuum,” and “Empower People 

and Strengthen Infrastructure.” 

GOAL 1

Inspection 

and Public 

Health

GOAL 2

Compliance, 

Enforcement, 

and Humane 

Handling

GOAL 3

Public Education 

and Outreach

GOAL 4

Prevention 

Through 

Collaboration

Understand and Influence the 

Farm-to-Table Continuum

Empower People and 

Strengthen Infrastructure

Prevent Foodborne Illness

GOAL 6

Effective Policy

GOAL 5

Science-Driven

Analysis

GOAL 7

Employee 

Empowerment

GOAL 8

Innovative 

Methodology

Additionally in FY 2015, FSIS began drafting its new Strategic Plan for FY 2017-2021, which it plans to issue early in FY 2017. This new 

plan will have updated themes, metrics, and focus areas designed to steer the future of FSIS.
A Year in Review — FSIS | 5

ANNUAL PLANNING 

Each year, FSIS develops an Annual Performance Plan (APP) 

emphasizing three or four key results and associated actions 

that the agency intends to accomplish in each program area. 

The APP contains actions aligned with the Strategic Plan, and the 

APP provides FSIS employees, stakeholders, Congress, and the 

American public a clear list of the agency’s priorities and of the 

actions that FSIS plans to take to achieve its goals. This operational plan steers FSIS' efforts to prevent foodborne illness and 

protect public health while ensuring agency accountability.

PEOPLE 

FSIS employees serve on the front lines of food safety. The 

agency mission is carried out through 13 offices (see graphic, 

opposite page) creating efficiencies and driving effectiveness 

in pursuit of our food safety mission. FSIS employs more than 

9,000 employees in a wide range of complementary roles: 

IMPORT INPECTORS

PUBLIC

HEALTH VETERINARIANS

FOOD SAFETY PROFESSIONALS

OTHER FOOD SAFETY PROFESSIONALS

FOOD INSPECTORS perform food safety inspection activities in approximately 1,000 establishments nationwide, 

including performing antemortem and postmortem inspection of poultry and livestock and inspecting all liquid, 

frozen, and dried egg products. They also implement enforcement actions when adulteration or unwholesomeness 

is found, or when the possibility of contamination or unwholesomeness exist. 

CONSUMER SAFETY INSPECTORS (CSIs) perform inspection activities in approximately 6,000 meat or poultry 

slaughtering and processing plants to ensure food safety and to protect against intentional adulteration. CSIs collect 

product samples for laboratory analysis, implement regulatory or enforcement actions when they identify unsafe or 

insanitary conditions, and examine carcasses and food products for wholesomeness and proper labeling. 

PUBLIC HEALTH VETERINARIANS (PHVs) ensure animals are handled in a humane manner. They monitor 

animals’ health and disease status to decrease risk to the public and minimize the potential health hazards 

associated with meat, poultry, or processed egg products. PHVs also perform food safety inspection activities at 

meat or poultry slaughter and processing plants.

IMPORT INSPECTORS are stationed at U.S. ports of entry and ensure products imported from other countries are 

properly labeled and are as safe as those produced domestically.

ENFORCEMENT, INVESTIGATIONS, AND ANALYSIS OFFICERS (EIAOs) conduct comprehensive Food Safety 

Assessments (FSAs) at establishments to determine whether the establishment has considered all food safety and 

defense issues that could affect its products, the nature and source of all materials received in the establishment’s 

processes, and the establishment’s operational environment. EIAOs also focus on an establishment’s design and 

validation of its Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans, Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures 

(SSOPs), compliance with the Sanitary Performance Standards (SPS), prerequisite programs, testing programs 

such as written procedures for sampling and microbial testing, and any other programs that constitute the 

establishment’s food safety system.

OTHER FOOD SAFETY PROFESSIONALS engage in a range of work that provides the infrastructure for effective FSIS 

operations. This work includes conducting policy development; data, scientific, and lab analysis; and a range of financial, 

administrative, investigative, technical, communications, and other functions that support FSIS’ food safety, public health, 

and food defense requirements. 
6 | USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service

Protect Consumers and Prevent Foodborne Illness

One Team, 

One Purpose.

13 Program 

Areas

Our Team

3 Themes

Strategic 

Plan 

Elements

Approximately 9,500 Employees Ensuring That Meat, Poultry, and Processed 

Egg Products Are Safe, Wholesome, and Correctly Packaged

• Office of Field Operations 

(OFO) 

• Office of Policy and 

Program Development 

(OPPD)

• Office of Public Health 

Science (OPHS)

• Office of Data Integration 

and Food Protection 

(ODIFP) 

• Office of Inspection, 

Enforcement, and Audit 

(OIEA)

• Office of International 

Coordination (OIC)

• Office of Management 

(OM) 

• Office of the Chief 

Financial Officer (OCFO)

• CODEX

• Office of the Chief 

Information Officer 

(OCIO) 

• Civil Rights Staff (CRS)

• Office of Outreach, 

Employee Education 

and Training (OOEET)

• Office of Public Affairs 

and Consumer Education 

(OPACE)

8 Goals. 17 Outcomes. 36 Measures.

• Prevent Foodborne Illness

• Understand and Influence Farm-to-Table Continuum

• Empower People and Strengthen Infrastructure

IMPORT INPECTORS

PUBLIC

HEALTH VETERINARIANS

FOOD SAFETY PROFESSIONALS

OTHER FOOD SAFETY PROFESSIONALS
A Year in Review — FSIS | 7

Food inspection over the last 30 years has changed, and FSIS no 

longer relies solely on sight, smell, and touch. Modern inspection 

and food safety methods have evolved to incorporate a more 

science-based approach. Modernization continued to be a key 

agency theme in FY 2015. From the implementation of the New 

Poultry Inspection System (NPIS) to the issuance of best practice 

guidelines for retailers to the creation of a more efficient methodology for EIAOs, FSIS continued to seek out new ways, both big 

and small, to modernize the agency’s approach to food safety.

In January 2015, FSIS proposed new standards to reduce Salmonella and Campylobacter in ground chicken and turkey products 

as well as raw chicken breasts, legs, and wings. The proposed 

standards and new testing patterns are anticipated to potentially prevent up to 50,000 illnesses annually. These proposed 

standards, in concert with NPIS, are part of FSIS’ coordinated 

Salmonella Action Plan to reduce Salmonella-related illnesses. 

Under NPIS, poultry slaughter establishments sort their own 

products for quality defects before presenting them to FSIS 

inspectors. This allows FSIS inspectors to focus less on routine 

quality assurance tasks that have little relationship to preventing 

pathogens like Salmonella and to focus more on proven strategies that strengthen food safety. The new system frees up more 

of inspectors’ time to remove birds from the evisceration line 

for close food safety examinations, take samples for testing, 

check plant sanitation, verify compliance with food safety plans, 

observe live birds for signs of disease or mistreatment, and 

ensure plants are meeting all applicable regulations.

In FY 2015 FSIS analyzed a total of 4,733 samples in the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System for Enteric Bacteria (NARMS) cecal 

sampling program.

Executive Summary

Building a Modern Food Safety Agency in FY 2015
8 | USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service

In FY 2015, FSIS controlled 3,604,395 pounds (3,150,837 pounds detained) of meat, poultry, and egg products in-commerce to prevent possible injury or illness 

to the consumer.

In April, FSIS made strides in outreach and communication 

efforts with the launch of its FoodKeeper application, which 

supports the Secretary of Agriculture’s goal of reducing food 

waste. The FoodKeeper app provides consumers with information about safe handling and storage times for more than 

400 food and beverage items, including various types of dairy 

products, eggs, meat, poultry, seafood, and produce. In total, 

the application was downloaded more than 84,000 times 

between its launch and the end of the fiscal year and was mentioned in more than 200 publications.

In May and June, FSIS updated its Food Safety Assessment 

(FSA) approach by issuing a new Directive and implementing a 

new FSA methodology. Directive 5100.1 (issued in May) updated EIAO procedures by enabling quicker responses to poorly 

performing establishments. Along with the new Directive, FSIS 

also significantly streamlined its FSA tools so that questions 

better focus on public health risks and identifying key vulnerabilities that lead to better supported decisions for verification 

plans, and enforcement actions when they are necessary.

In addition to public health benefits, this new, focused FSA 

methodology created cost savings for the agency – reducing 

the average estimated FSA cost from $5,629 and 130 hours 

to $2,105 and 52 hours. In addition, to further align resources 

with public health risk, FSIS routinely conducts a Public Health 

Risk Evaluation (PHRE) to determine whether an FSA is warranted. The agency will continue to assess the effectiveness of 

this new methodology and make improvements accordingly.

FSIS also continued to strengthen its commitment to the 

humane treatment of animals in FY 2015. In May, the agency 

published a proposed rule, “Requirements for the Disposition 

of Non-Ambulatory Disabled Veal Calves,” which would amend 

the agency’s regulations on ante mortem inspection. Specifically, FSIS proposed removing a provision that permits establishments to set apart and hold for treatment veal calves that 

are unable to rise from a recumbent position and walk because 

they are tired or cold. Under the proposed rule, non-ambulatory disabled veal calves offered for slaughter will be condemned 

and promptly euthanized.

Our 2015 story is one of agency employees 

and leadership devoting their time, focus, 

and commitment to modernizing FSIS 

business processes and to keeping food safe 

that FSIS regulates for the American public. 
A Year in Review — FSIS | 9

FY 2015 at a Glance

Key Measures Improved

7.3.3: Ranking in the Partnership for Public 

Service’s “Best Places to Work”

FSIS scored in the top 29% of all 

Federal Agency Subcomponents (93 

of 320, moving up 4 positions over 

the Agency’s FY 2014 ranking).

7.3.1: Percent of workplace injury/illness cases

Brought workplace injuries down to 

5.10% this year from 5.47% in 2014.

We met/exceeded 75%

of our targets for the year.

We improved our data collection 

and collected data for 35 of the 

36 measures — up from only 

21 out of 36 measures in 2012.

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

2012

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

2015

ON TARGET CAUTION OFF TARGET

Public Education and Outreach

GOAL 3

Did We Meet Our Goals?

Inspection and Public Health

GOAL 1

Prevention Through Collaboration

GOAL 4

Compliance, Enforcement,

and Humane Handling

GOAL 2

Effective Policy

GOAL 6

Science-Driven Analysis

GOAL 5

Innovative Methodology

GOAL 8

Employee Empowerment

GOAL 7

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

2012 2013 2014

■ On Target

■ Caution

■ Off Target

■ No Data

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

NUMBER OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES

2015

How Do We Measure Up?
10 | USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service

FSIS Performance on Key 

Corporate Food Safety Measures 

in the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture’s Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan Measure 1.1.1

Four Years of Illness Reduction

The All Illness Measure tracks the total estimated number of 

Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes (Lm), and E. coli O157:H7 

illnesses attributed to FSIS-regulated products. The illnesses 

reported in FY 2015 are based on Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention (CDC) outbreak data from 2010 to 2012 and 

sporadic illness data from the CDC FoodNet program. These 

data show that overall, illnesses attributed to FSIS-regulated 

products decreased by 97,498 cases since FY 2012; however, 

we did not see a significant decrease from FY 2014 to FY 2015, 

specifically in the case of Salmonella. 

Individually, FSIS met targets for two of the three illnesses: 

Salmonella – Salmonella illnesses declined by 83,688 

cases from 2012 to 2015; however, there was a slight increase in illnesses reported this year. Overall, the target 

of 357,515 Salmonella illnesses attributed to FSIS-regulated products was missed by 5 percent, at 374,671. 

Lm – In FY 2015, there were zero illnesses attributed 

to Lm from FSIS-regulated foods as compared to FY 

2012, when the agency estimated 897 cases of Lm

as a result of FSIS-regulated products.1

E. coli O157:H7– FSIS estimated there were 7,461 

cases of E.coli O157:H7 attributed to FSIS-regulated 

products, 48 percent lower than the expected target.

The measurement of these pathogens specific to FSIS-regulated 

products is dependent upon two sources of CDC data: (1) pathogen-specific CDC FoodNet case rates of foodborne illnesses, and 

(2) pathogen-specific CDC foodborne illness outbreak data, used to 

estimate pathogen-specific FSIS attribution. FSIS must use multiple 

data points from CDC, as no one surveillance system captures all 

the needed information to estimate illnesses from specific food 

products.

Within FSIS’ new strategic plan framework, the agency is considering 

use of the updated, harmonized attribution methodology and fractions 

that were presented in FY 2015 through the Interagency Food Safety 

350

400

450

500

2012 2013 2014 2015

Data Sources: 

1) Pathogen-specific Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 

FoodNet case rates of foodborne illnesses, 

2) Pathogen-specific CDC foodborne illness outbreak data 

(used to estimate pathogen-specific FSIS attribution), 

3) Pathogen-specific, domestically acquired foodborne illness 

CDC Scaling Factors, and 

4) U.S. Census Population Estimates.

TOTAL NUMBER OF ILLNESSES IN THOUSANDS

Analytics Collaboration (IFSAC), of which Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and 

FSIS are founding members. FSIS will continue to focus on enhancing 

the timeliness and accuracy of illness data reporting, as possible.

Strategic Plan Measure 1.1.1 

Four Years of Illness Reduction 

5%

DECREASE

45%

DECREASE

0

CASES

1 FSIS uses a "simple foods" (i.e., a single ingredient was implicated, or all 

ingredients in the implicated food were assigned to a single food category) 

attribution methodology, where a rolling 3-year window of CDC Foodborne 

Disease Outbreak Surveillance System (FDOSS) data is used to accomplish 

the following: (1) separate pathogen-specific, outbreak-associated illnesses 

into two groups, those attributed to simple foods (e.g. chicken breast) and to 

complex foods (e.g. chicken burrito); (2) calculate how many outbreak illnesses 

are associated with each simple food commodity group (e.g. chicken); and (3) 

determine what percentage of illnesses from the simple food outbreaks are 

from FSIS-regulated meat, poultry, and processed egg products. The result of 

this effort is pathogen-specific attribution fractions.

p

 ACTUAL

TARGETED
A Year in Review — FSIS | 11

Strategic Plan Measure 2.1.1

Steady Increase in the Percentage of 

Establishments That Passed Salmonella

Verification Performance Standard

In FY 2015, 95.6% of broiler establishments passed FSIS’ Carcass Salmonella Verification Testing Standard, exceeding the 

target of 94%. Since 2012, the percentage of establishments 

passing the broiler carcass Salmonella verification testing has 

steadily increased from 90% to 95.6%.

This measure tracks whether young chicken slaughter establishments are effectively minimizing the opportunity for 

Salmonella to pass into final product entering commerce. In 

FY 2015, FSIS has implemented ways to improve its Salmonella

sampling programs, such as the use of a “moving window” to 

replace discrete sample sets. The agency is also determining 

how to use sampling information to account for certain risk 

factors, such as serotypes of human health concern, and will 

continue to develop sampling programs that can be used to 

calculate prevalence.

Strategic Plan Measure 2.1.1 

Steady Increase in the Percentage 

of Establishments That Passed

Salmonella Verification 

Performance Standard

95.6%

% Passed 

Verification 

Testing Standard

- Current Year
12 | USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service

Strategic Plan Measure 2.2.1

Humane Handling of Animals Improving Due to Increase in Percentage of Slaughter 

Plants Identified as Having an Effective Systematic Approach to Humane Handling

FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014

25

35

45

55

65

75

FY 2015

Strategic Plan Measure 2.2.1 

Humane Handling of Animals Improving Due 

to Increase in Percentage of Slaughter Plants 

Identified as Having an Effective Systematic 

Approach to Humane Handling 

The HMSA requires all official livestock slaughter establishments to handle and slaughter livestock using humane methods. The measure tracks the percentage of establishments 

that have a robust plan and systematic approach to humane 

handling during the slaughter process, using data from district veterinary medical specialist humane-handling verification visits. By enforcing industry compliance, FSIS ensures 

that livestock conditions meet acceptable humane-handling 

standards in regulated locations.

Plants visited are to meet the strict rules that cover nine 

humane-handling categories:

1. Inclement weather

2. Truck unloading

3. Water and feed availability

4. Ante mortem inspection

5. Suspect and disabled

6. Electric prod/alternative object use

7. Slips and falls,

8. Stunning effectiveness

9. Conscious animals on the rail

In FY 2015, 69% of plants visited met humane-handling guidelines, 

including through FSIS’ use of enforcement policies that included 

notices of intended enforcement, to suspensions. This percentage exceeded the FY 2015 target of 65%, and represents steady 

improvement made in parallel to the agency’s stretching its target 

each year–from 32% in 2012 to 65% in FY 2015 (see graph). In FY 

2016, FSIS plans to investigate methods to reduce recidivism relative to inappropriate restraining techniques and mis-stuns.

¢

¢ ACTUAL

TARGETED
A Year in Review — FSIS | 13

FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014

65%

70%

75%

80%

85%

90%

95%

FY 2015

Strategic Plan Measure 2.3.1 

Percentage of Establishments With a Food Defense 

Plan Rising

Strategic Plan Measure 2.3.1

Percentage of Establishments With a Food 

Defense Plan Rising

A functional food defense plan is a set of procedures or practices 

that an establishment uses to reduce the risk of intentional adulteration and is designed to help plants take action to minimize 

any adverse impacts. Since 2012, the percentage of surveyed 

establishments with functional food defense plans has increased 

from 77% to 85%. This increase is a significant improvement 

since 2006, when only 34% of surveyed establishments had a 

food defense plan. FSIS continues to encourage establishments 

to voluntarily adopt functional food defense plans.

In FY 2016, FSIS will evaluate the Food Defense Plan Survey data and 

other data sources to inform next steps for food defense activities.

FSIS will also finalize a food defense multi-year strategy to promote 

adoption of food defense practices and improve integration of food 

defense into day-to-day activities, whenever appropriate.

¢

¢ ACTUAL

TARGETED
14 | USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service

Case Study: Food Safety of the Future

Expanding the Farm-to-Fork Continuum To Combat the 

Cross-Contamination of Lm in Retail Establishments

As FSIS continues to pursue the goal of becoming a modern food 

safety agency, scientists and analysts look for science-based 

methods to positively affect the Farm-to-Fork continuum. In FY 

2015, FSIS focused more on retail establishments and initiated 

a major collaborative effort by engaging retailers, industry, and 

other stakeholders with the goal of developing a set of “Best 

Practices Guidance for Controlling Listeria monocytogenes (Lm)

in Retail Delicatessens” in order to keep food safe. 

BACKGROUND: Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes 

or Lm) is a leading cause of food-related hospitalization, fetal 

loss, and foodborne death in the United States. Each year, Lm

contamination of food results in an estimated 1,600 cases of 

severe illness, with more than 90% of individuals becoming 

hospitalized, and 16% to 20% of these cases resulting in death. 

Lm infection leads to a rare yet frequently fatal and preventable invasive disease, listeriosis, generally during vulnerable 

stages of life, affecting older adults and the very young.

CHALLENGE: Through its research, FSIS learned that product was being cross-contaminated at retail locations. In fact, 

83% of listeriosis illnesses attributed to deli meats were associated with those sliced and packaged at retail establishments, 

as opposed to those sliced in federally inspected establishments. Lm can survive and grow at cool temperatures as low 

as 34 ̊F/1°C, and can cross-contaminate food contact surfaces, 

foods, and food products. Improper sanitation, product handling, and employee practices can also lead to the transfer of 

Lm to ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products, which 

are products that do not require cooking prior to consumption 

and that are often held at refrigerated temperatures. Once 

contaminated with Lm, RTE food products can provide an ideal 

environment for this harmful bacterium to grow. Safe food-handling practices, thorough cleaning and sanitation procedures, 

sound facility and equipment maintenance, and good employee 

practices are key activities that prevent or reduce the likelihood 

of RTE foods becoming contaminated in retail delis.

“We’re in support of this project and 

process because it allowed us to have 

the dialogue in the beginning, work 

with our researchers, work with FSIS, 

work with FDA in a collaborative 

fashion that I think, ultimately, became 

a non-competitive issue...and it 

allowed us to solve the problems...” 

–Dr. Betsy Booren, North American Meat Institute
A Year in Review — FSIS | 15

SOLUTION: FSIS began an extensive collaboration with FDA, 

stakeholders, and retailers to better understand the extent 

to which retail conditions and operations influence the risk of 

listeriosis from RTE foods prepared and sold in delis. In conducting an Interagency Retail Lm Risk Assessment, the focus was 

on achieving increased awareness and obtaining stakeholder 

input during an initial phase, and deepening their involvement 

throughout the assessment’s development. Representatives 

from government agencies, academia, industry, and consumer 

groups participated, with at least 55 collaborative meetings held 

during the assessment, as FSIS shares jurisdiction with the FDA, 

State, local, and tribal authorities for meat and poultry products 

at retail. Outcomes included an increased trust among retailers, 

a sense of engagement and ownership among stakeholders, an 

overall sense of commitment and responsibility to prevent Lm

contamination at retail, and the resulting guidelines, a revised 

“Best Practices Guidance for Controlling Listeria monocytogenes

in Retail Delicatessens.” These guidelines provide specific recommendations that retailers can implement in their delicatessen (deli) area to control Lm.

“...I think the stakeholder 

involvement has been very beneficial. 

I think your early consultation helped 

to set the stage for answering the 

right questions. So I think from a 

consumer standpoint, we've been 

quite happy with it.”

–Caroline Smith DeWaal, Consumer Science in 

the Public Interest

NEXT STEPS: FSIS continues to broaden and increase its 

outreach as resources allow, including to public health partners. The agency is enlisting its compliance investigators to 

assess whether retailers are aware of and following the Best 

Practices Guidance. The agency has initiated a pilot program in 

which compliance investigators make observations at retail to 

assess the impact of the guidance.

“FMI has welcomed the opportunity to 

work closely with USDA, and we think 

that you should adopt this model for 

all future risk assessments and any 

project that...involves stakeholders...” 

–Dr. Hilary Thesmar, Food Marketing Institute

2 FSIS’ governing laws apply to meat and poultry products produced in 

federally inspected establishments and other entities producing or handling 

meat and poultry, including at retail. Retailers are required to maintain 

sanitary conditions, and otherwise not produce adulterated or misbranded 

product, although retail firms are generally exempt from FSIS inspection.
16 | USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service 

FY 2015 Accomplishments

Throughout FY 2015, FSIS pursued an aggressive agenda to combat foodborne illness and protect public health. 

Noteworthy accomplishments by goal are listed in this section.
A Year in Review — FSIS | 17

Ensure That Food Safety Inspection Aligns 

With Existing and Emerging Risks

MEASURE 1.1.1 | Total Number of Salmonella, 

Listeria monocytogenes, and E. coli O157:H7 

Illnesses From Products Regulated by FSIS

2012 2013 2014

405,178 394,770 384,362

479,621 427,171 386,265

2015

373,925

382,123 

TOTAL NUMBER OF ILLNESSES REDUCED IN 3 YEARS: 93,356

• ACTUAL • TARGETED

• Implemented the new poultry slaughter regulation which 

requires that all poultry slaughter establishments prevent 

Salmonella and Campylobacter contamination rather than 

address the contamination after it occurs. Establishments 

are required to maintain microbiological evidence of how 

they control fecal and enteric pathogen contamination. A risk 

assessment conducted to support the final rule showed that 

up to 5,000 illnesses from these enteric pathogens could be 

averted annually as a result of increased off-line verification 

activity by inspection personnel rather than remaining online.

• Implemented a new, focused FSA methodology that provides that a Public Health Risk Evaluation (PHRE) be conducted to determine whether an FSA is warranted. This new 

approach helps to ensure that FSIS resources are aligned 

with public health risk. It allows FSIS to more efficiently use 

resources by targeting higher risk establishments, and FSIS 

will assess the effectiveness of this new methodology in FY 

2016 and make improvements as needed.

GOAL 1

Inspection 

and Public 

Health
Enhance Public Education 

and Outreach To Improve 

Food-handling Practices

18 | USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service 

Ensure That Food Safety Inspection Aligns

With Existing and Emerging Risks (Continued)

GOAL 1

Inspection 

and Public 

Health

• Revised Directive 10,010.1 on Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) to help Inspection Program Personnel 

(IPP) better perform verification tasks by aligning those 

tasks to related policies to control STEC and reduce exposure to the public. Updates included the following:

• Changed the existing N60 sampling for bench trim 

(MT65) and raw ground beef components other than 

trim (MT64) to increase sample collection rates and 

update the Public Health Information System (PHIS) 

profile to ensure that all eligible establishments are 

sampled. This change will increase the number of samples collected and analyzed and increase the likelihood 

of finding a positive sample, thereby keeping contaminated products out of commerce.

• Improved instructions for IPP to verify the adequacy of 

the scientific support for antimicrobial interventions 

to enable them to better identify possible issues with 

the interventions. This verification will ensure that the 

interventions are effective in controlling pathogens, 

thereby reducing exposure to the public.

• Implemented new, expedited traceback procedures 

that allow FSIS to identify whether establishments 

released adulterated products into commerce and to 

take enforcement actions, by allowing FSIS to recall 

contaminated products more quickly.

• Announced its intent to adopt new policies on continuous sampling/moving window for Salmonella and 

Campylobacter sampling on carcasses and imported 

raw poultry. The continuous (weekly) sampling, versus 

the previously used, consecutive-day-based sampling, 

should encourage establishments to be proactive 

in adopting interventions and process control measures sooner. The planned approach represents an 

improvement from the existing approach to sampling 

under which it could take up to 2 years to complete a 

sampling set.

• Proposed pathogen reduction performance standards 

for chicken parts and comminuted chicken and turkey, 

with the goal of reducing public exposure to pathogens and meeting the Healthy People 2020 goals.
A Year in Review — FSIS | 19

Maximize Domestic and International 

Compliance With Food Safety Policies

2012 2013 2014

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

2015

• Drove further modernization of poultry slaughter inspection 

by requiring industry to implement new sampling programs 

and process control procedures to prevent carcass contamination by enteric pathogens and contaminated carcasses 

from entering the chiller. Additionally, with year-round, routine sampling of broilers, there has been an improvement in 

the percent of young chicken (broiler) slaughter establishments passing the carcass Salmonella Verification Testing 

Standard – with a high percentage of broiler establishments 

passing the carcass Salmonella Verification Testing Standard—95.6%, exceeding the agency’s FY 2015 target of 94%.

• Increased the percentage of official establishments with a 

functional food defense plan from 84% in 2014 to 85% in 

2015, and implemented food defense practices at approximately 96.4% of in-commerce facilities. 

• Began using Whole Genome Sequencing, which when fully 

functional, will aid FSIS in identifying recurrences in pathogens in FSIS-regulated establishments and assist establishments in developing effective control measures. 

• Increased the number of humane handling onsite assessments, 

and demonstrated that 69% of the active red meat slaughter 

establishments visited have a systematic approach to humane 

handling, exceeding the agency’s FY 2015 target of 65%.

• Targeted outreach to 29 of 31 of eligible countries that have 

recently exported FSIS-regulated products to the United States 

to encourage implementation of food defense practices. 

• Launched a self-reporting tool to streamline the foreign 

equivalency review process.

MEASURE 2.2.1 | Percentage of Slaughter Plants 

Identified During District Veterinary Medical 

Specialist (DVMs) Humane Handling Verification 

Visits as Having an Effective Systematic Approach 

to Humane Handling (All Four Elements of a 

Systematic Approach Implemented)

GOAL 2

Compliance, 

Enforcement, 

and Humane 

Handling

¢

¢ ACTUAL

TARGETED
Enhance Public Education 

and Outreach To Improve 

Food-handling Practices

20 | USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service 

Enhance Public Education and Outreach To 

Improve Food-Handling Practices

MEASURE 3.2.1/d | FSIS Electronic Media 

Outreach: Twitter Followers

• Completed and launched the FoodKeeper application in 

April 2015, which was downloaded more than 84,000 times 

between launch and the end of the fiscal year, and it was 

mentioned in more than 200 publications.

• Developed new Public Service Announcements (PSAs) in 

coordination with the Ad Council. Since their launch in December 2014, FSIS received more than 2 billion impressions 

from more than $25 million worth of donated media related 

to these PSAs. FY 2015 activities included new TV ads, radio 

spots, out-of-home, print, and Web advertising in English 

and Spanish, as well as FSIS-funded research conducted with 

Kansas State University to broadcast the message about 

thermometer use and cross-contamination.

• Provided safe handling information to approximately 73,719 

consumers through one-on-one interaction on the USDA Meat 

and Poultry Hotline (phone), Ask Karen online chat, and email. 

• Exceeded public education targets to at-risk and vulnerable audiences, Spanish-speakers, and the deaf community.

These efforts were improved most notably by the Food Safety Discovery Zone, which saw more than 1.7 million visitors. 

• Continued social media successes including Twitter engagement up more than 93%, and Facebook engagement up 192% 

from FY 2014 numbers. National media outlets also proactively highlighted specific efforts as effective uses of trending 

topics and memes, primarily through tweets and blogs.

• Yielded more than 32 million impressions with FSIS’ seasonal food safety education efforts during Thanksgiving, Winter 

Holidays, the Super Bowl, Spring, Summer/Fourth of July, 

and Back to School.

2012 2013 2014

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

800,000

2015

NUMBER OF FOLLOWERS IN MILLIONS

GOAL 3

Public Education 

and Outreach

¢

¢ ACTUAL

TARGETED
A Year in Review — FSIS | 21

• Enhanced working relationships with research and public 

health partners, such as FDA, CDC, State departments of 

agriculture and health, and USDA’s Agricultural Research 

Service (ARS), which have helped in updating and addressing the FSIS Research Priorities List. This list now includes 

four new research studies addressing techniques for species 

identification, impact of intervention chemical carryover on 

pathogen monitoring, in-field real time screening techniques, 

and identification of certain markers of interest to food safety 

and public health.

• Reached an important collaborative milestone when the IFSAC presented the results of a major analysis project at a February 2015 public meeting. For the first time, CDC, FDA and 

FSIS developed a single approach to producing harmonized 

foodborne illness source attribution estimates from outbreak 

data for Salmonella, E. coli O157, Lm, and Campylobacter.

This work achieved an important goal for FSIS and IFSAC and 

helps inform strategies and policies for FDA and FSIS.

• Held the annual National Advisory Committee on Meat and 

Poultry Inspection public meeting in January 2015, which covered FSIS' identification and management of chemical hazards 

within the National Residue Program and the USDA's Economic 

Research Service’s Foodborne Illness Cost Calculation Model.

• Expanded industry outreach, including to small and very small 

regulated establishments, and established partnerships with 

several organizations representing at-risk groups. This included webinars for small and very small establishments and State 

program inspection officials dedicated to the Cooperative 

Interstate Shipment Program, in collaboration with the USDA’s 

“Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” initiative, and for State 

and tribal public health officials on Lm controls at retail, 

respectively.

Strengthen Collaboration Among Internal 

and External Stakeholders

GOAL 4

Prevention 

Through 

Collaboration

MEASURE 4.1.2 | Key Federal Partners U.S. Food 

and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Percentage 

of Results From Interagency Collaboration on 

Analytics Used in FSIS Policy

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Baseline 

(2012)

2013 2014 2015

TARGET

32%

TARGET

53%

TARGET

74%

ACTUAL

56%

ACTUAL

55%

ACTUAL

74%
Enhance Public Education 

and Outreach To Improve 

Food-handling Practices

22 | USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service 

• Developed Codex guidance on the control of Salmonella in 

beef and pork that recognized the usefulness of U.S. measures 

to control Salmonella. The guidance was the focus of a May 

Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH) meeting in Brussels. 

The guidance was positively received, and a revised version was 

presented at the annual CCFH meeting in November 2015.

• Spearheaded the introduction of two new charges—one on 

effective Salmonella control strategies in poultry and another on 

attributes that define foodborne STEC as a severe human pathogen—to the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological 

Criteria for Foods in collaboration with FDA, U.S. Department of 

Defense (DOD), HHS, and U.S. Department of Commerce. 

• Continued collaboration with USDA ARS to explore the impact 

of antimicrobial interventions on pathogen testing. The partnership evaluated the impact of five common interventions 

and identified promising rinsate additives to negate the impact 

of Peracetic acid (PAA) and Cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) on 

Salmonella recovery.

• Triaged six issues during FY 2015 as part of the Hazard Identification Team’s (HIT) focus on the importance of emerging 

risks. Among those included was the “Shiga toxin-producing 

Escherichia coli (STEC) in High Event periods,” which was referred to the FSIS STEC workgroup. Also included was the “Low 

Pathogenic Avian Influenza and Occupational Safety” profile, 

conducted and entered into the HIT Tracking System to be 

available if this issue arose in the future.

MEASURE 5.2.1 | Percentage of Identified Public 

Health and Food Safety Gaps Addressed Across 

the Farm-to-Table Continuum

Effectively Use Science To Understand 

Foodborne Illness and Emerging Trends

GOAL 5

Science-Driven 

Analysis

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Baseline 

(2012)

2013 2014 2015

TARGET

60%

TARGET

60%

TARGET

60%

ACTUAL

64%

ACTUAL

68%

ACTUAL

68%
A Year in Review — FSIS | 23

• Increased collaboration across FSIS offices to partner and 

analyze the effectiveness of FSIS policies and instructions 

to the field. Examples include developing new performance 

standards for raw comminuted poultry and chicken parts 

for Salmonella and Campylobacter, as well as an implementation plan for verification sampling, which should help in 

reducing pathogen levels in these products and in meeting 

the Healthy People 2020 goal.

• Completed all priority data analysis projects for Salmonella

and Campylobacter in raw products, Lm and Salmonella in 

RTE products, STECs in raw beef, and residues. Analysis informed teams across the agency and led to updates in field 

staff instructions as necessary. 

• Implemented data-based design changes to the bench trim 

and the raw ground beef components sampling programs 

that improved the design of sampling programs' collection 

rates and strengthened FSIS verification activities.

• Conducted a survey of inspectors at slaughter establishments concerning FSIS testing for residues. Used the results 

of the survey to create a pilot for residue testing, focused 

on establishments where FSIS is most likely to find positives.

Findings from the pilot are expected to inform and improve 

the residue testing program.

• Improved instructions to the field and revised the product 

sampling algorithms for Lm in RTE sampling projects to 

focus more on higher risk products, based on data analysis 

conducted for RTE projects (including FSA, Intensified Verification Testing (IVT), Routine Lm Risk-Based (RLm) Sampling, 

and routine sampling data).

• Completed and released analysis of the 2013 Final Rule “Prior Label Approval System: Generic Label Approval.” Findings 

revealed that the Generic Label Approval demonstrated a 

40% reduction in the number of label applications received 

and a 58% reduction in regulatory noncompliance reports in 

the year following implementation of the final rule.

• Issued or revised the following guidance documents to 

improve and facilitate establishment compliance with Public 

Health Regulations: Sanitary Dressing and Antimicrobial 

Implementation at Veal Slaughter Establishments, Modernization of Poultry Slaughter Inspection Microbiological 

Sampling of Raw Poultry, Validating Cooking Instructions 

for Mechanically Tenderized Beef Products, HACCP Systems 

Validation, and Best Practices Guidance for Controlling Lm at 

Retail Delicatessens. 

Implement Effective Policies To Respond

to Existing and Emerging Risks

GOAL 6

Effective Policy

MEASURE 6.1.2 | Percentage of Regulated Industry 

Adhering to Key Public Health-Related Policies 

(Establishments With No Public Health-Related NonCompliances/Year)

0

5

10

15

20

25 TARGET

21%

ACTUAL

20.53%

2015
Enhance Public Education 

and Outreach To Improve 

Food-handling Practices

24 | USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service

• Considerably reduced the critical frontline vacancy rate to just 

over 4%, with a net increase of several hundred employees.

Additionally, reduced workplace injury and illness rates to 5.5%, 

and achieved nearly $1.2 million in cost savings by returning 

89% of injured employees to work through the Alternative Duty 

Program, Work Hardening Program, and job offers.

• Negotiated and implemented the NPIS, including the Voluntary 

Early Retirement Authority/Voluntary Separation Incentive 

Payment for adversely impacted inspectors, and supporting 

resume writing and job application workshops.

• Reduced the frontline occupation vacancy rate to 4.15%, which 

included filling critical inspection and veterinarian positions 

to sustain the FSIS food safety mission and bringing on several 

hundred new employees. 

• Reduced workplace injury/illness rate to 5.5% while achieving a 

7% increase in cost savings of nearly $1.2 million, by returning 

89% of injured employees to work through the Alternative Duty 

Program, Work Hardening Program, and job offers. In addition, 

FSIS saved $77,992 in prescription and medical cost through 

the use of the Pharmacy Program.

• Awarded the 2015 USDA Small Business Special Achievement 

designation, exceeding every metric for small business for 

socially disadvantaged contractors including veteran-, woman-, 

and American Indian-owned businesses, resulting in a contribution of more than $93 million to business and commerce.

• Hosted a well-received 2015 Diversity Training Conference, 

where 87% of 225 FSIS participants reported that it “met” or 

“exceeded” their expectations; ensured more than 95% of 

Empower Employees With Training, 

Resources, and Tools

GOAL 7

Employee 

Empowerment
A Year in Review — FSIS | 25

MEASURE 7.3.1 | Percentage of Workplace 

Injury/Illness Cases

2012 2013 2014

5

6

7

8

9

10

2015

Empower Employees With Training, 

Resources, and Tools (Continued)

GOAL 7

Employee 

Empowerment

employees completed Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) 

and Civil Rights (CR) training; and conducted four Compliance, 

Assistance, Review, and Evaluation (CARE) assessments to 

evaluate FSIS work units’ compliance with EEO and Civil Rights 

laws, regulations, and policies, as well as their knowledge and 

perceptions of their program’s EEO and CR programs.

• Developed and posted FSIS Competency Models and accompanying Resource Guides for the six Mission Critical Occupations; 

evaluated 100% of FSIS training classes to measure knowledge 

gain; and achieved a 95% rate of eligible FSIS employees’ completing Individual Development Plans. 

• Received designation for the FSIS Fleet Management Program as a Best Practice Model, adopted by the USDA for 

implementation, and decreased FSIS’ office space footprint 

by more than 24,000 square feet (4.5%), resulting in an 

annual cost savings of nearly $300,000.

p

 ACTUAL

TARGETED
Enhance Public Education 

and Outreach To Improve 

Food-handling Practices

26 | USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service 

• Tracked and established seven innovative agency initiative 

baselines toward FSIS’ innovation agenda.

• Introduced a life-cycle management process to analyze initiatives post-baseline review to ensure the agency received continued value in terms of time savings, cost savings, improved 

accuracy, increased data availability, or public health impact. 

• Improved reporting across the agency by championing a 

59% increase in usage of Standardized Investigation Reports 

(AssuranceNet/In-Commerce System) from management and 

administrative staff and an 80% increase from the field staff. 

• Supported innovation through targeted social media campaigns, which led to an increase of approximately 158% in 

new Twitter followers, increasing from 7,702 in FY 2014 to 

19,850 in FY 2015.

Develop, Maintain, and Use Innovative 

Methodologies, Processes, and Tools

GOAL 8

Innovative 

Methodology

MEASURE 8.2.1 | Percentage 

of Documented Implemented 

Processes, Methodologies, 

or Technologies That Are 

Evaluated To Assess Whether 

They Meet the Intended 

Outcomes or Otherwise 

Contribute to the Agency’s 

Efforts To Perform Its Mission

2015

80%

INCREASE
A Year in Review — FSIS | 27

FY 2015 SCORECARD

A YEAR-OVER-YEAR COMPARISON
28 | USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service

FY 2015 SCORECARD

FSIS Annual Performance Plan 

GOAL 1: ENSURE THAT FOOD SAFETY INSPECTION ALIGNS WITH EXISTING AND EMERGING RISKS 

1.1.1 Total number of Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and E. coli O157: H7 illnesses from products regulated by FSIS. 

1.2.1 Percent of domestic establishments that meet the “for cause” Food Safety Assessments and monthly Hazard Analysis Verification decision 

criteria more than once per year. 

1.2.2 Percent of importing countries requiring more immediate inspection or reinspection attention more than twice within the previous year. 

1.3.1 Percent of priority in-commerce facilities (e.g., warehouses, distributors, and transporters) covered by surveillance activities. 

1.3.2 Percent of follow-up surveillances resulting in compliance. 

GOAL 2: MAXIMIZE DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL COMPLIANCE WITH FOOD SAFETY POLICIES 

2.1.1 Percent of broiler plants passing the carcass Salmonella verification testing. 

2.2.1 Percent of slaughter plants identified during District Veterinary Medical Specialist (DVMS) humane handling verification visits as having an 

effective systematic approach to humane handling (all four elements of a systematic approach implemented). 

2.3.1 Percent of all official establishments with a functional Food Defense Plan. 

2.3.2 Percent of food defense practices implemented at in-commerce facilities. 

2.3.3 Outreach to eligible countries to encourage implementation of a system that protects product from unintentional contamination. 

GOAL 3: ENHANCE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO IMPROVE FOOD-HANDLING PRACTICES 

3.1.11 Average percentage of consumers who follow the four key food safety “best practices” (i.e., clean, separate, cook and chill) and thermometer 

use. 

3.2.1-b/2 FSIS Electronic Media Outreach: Page views on the FSIS Website. 

3.2.1-c/2 FSIS Electronic Media Outreach: YouTube Views. 

3.2.1-d/2 FSIS Electronic Media Outreach: Twitter Followers. 

3.2.1-e/2 FSIS Electronic Media Outreach: Visitors to the Food Discovery Zone. 

GOAL 4: STRENGTHEN COLLABORATION AMONG INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS 

4.1.1 Research: Percentage of time products from three USDA research agencies (i.e., Agricultural Research Service, Economic Research Service, 

and National Institute of Food and Agriculture) used by FSIS and shared with stakeholders. 

4.1.2 Key Federal partners U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Percentage of 

results from interagency collaboration on analytics used in FSIS policy. 

4.1.3 Small and Very Small Plants: Percentage of identified opportunities realized to improve information sharing. 

1

 Measure 3.1.1 was rated black because no data was available pending the development of an interim survey tool. Goal 3 was rated red overall 

pending the development of interim survey measurement tool.

2

 Measure 3.2.1-a was retired due to more effective measurements in the form of 3.2.-b-e
Desired

Direction FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015

COLOR TARGET ACTUAL COLOR TARGET ACTUAL COLOR TARGET ACTUAL COLOR TARGET ACTUAL

q Down ● 405,178 479,621 ● 394,770 427,171 ● 384,362 386,265 ● 373,955 382,123 

q Down ● 1.70% Baseline ● 1.65% n/a ● 1.60% 3.68% ● 1.55% 3.15%

q Down ● 20.00% 14.00% ● 20.00% 14.00% ● 20.00% 24.10% ● 15.00% 31.00%

p Up ● 85.00% 85.80% ● 85.00% 85.60% ● 85.00% 85.60% ● 85.00% 83.90%

p Up ● 79.00% 87.06% ● 82.00% 89.90% ● 83.00% 88.80% ● 83.00% 86.60%

COLOR TARGET ACTUAL COLOR TARGET ACTUAL COLOR TARGET ACTUAL COLOR TARGET ACTUAL

p Up ● 90.00% 90.28% ● 91.00% 90.37% ● 92.00% 92.00% ● 94.00% 95.60%

p Up ● 32.00% 42.00% ● 45.00% 56.00% ● 60.00% 63.00% ● 65.00% 69.00%

p Up ● 76.00% 77.00% ● 81.00% 83.00% ● 85.00% 84.00% ● 90.00% 85.00%

p Up ● 91.00% 94.10% ● 91.00% 94.80% ● 91.00% 95.00% ● 91.00% 96.40%

p Up ● 30.00% 31.00% ● 60.00% 65.50% ● 70.00% 82.80% ● 85.00% 93.50%

COLOR TARGET ACTUAL COLOR TARGET ACTUAL COLOR TARGET ACTUAL COLOR TARGET ACTUAL

p Up ● 75.00% 76.00% ● 75.00% n/a ● n/a n/a ● n/a n/a

p Up ● n/a n/a ● 43,900,000 70,961,562 ● 61,000,000 59,019,170 ● 66,000,000 74,689,643 

p Up ● 39,025 171,544 ● 381,544 401,465 ● 500,000 704,525 ● 700,000 1,156,567 

p Up ● 118,600 332,600 ● 451,000 466,000 ● 520,000 593,607 ● 712,000 772,514 

p Up ● 500,000 669,711 ● 467,240 619,539 ● 478,160 1,715,845 ● 600,000 1,712,868 

COLOR TARGET ACTUAL COLOR TARGET ACTUAL COLOR TARGET ACTUAL COLOR TARGET ACTUAL

p Up ● Baseline 

(18%) n/a ● 18.00% 23.00% ● 25.00% 27.00% ● 27.00% 27.00%

p Up ● Baseline 

(11%) n/a ● 32.00% 56.00% ● 53.00% 56.00% ● 74.00% 74.00%

p Up ● Baseline 

(66%) n/a ● 68.00% 74.00% ● 71.00% 76.00% ● 73.00% 84.00%

A Year in Review — FSIS Planning and Performance Agenda | 29

A YEAR-OVER-YEAR COMPARISON
30 | USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service

FSIS Annual Performance Plan 

GOAL 5: EFFECTIVELY USE SCIENCE TO UNDERSTAND FOODBORNE ILLNESS AND EMERGING TRENDS 

5.1.1 Percent of annual science agenda completed and number of agenda items initiated. 

5.1.2 Percent of completed science agenda items that meet quality standards for information rigor, clarity, and defensibility of methods used. 

5.2.1 Percent of identified public health and food safety gaps addressed across the Farm-to-Table Continuum. 

GOAL 6: IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE POLICIES TO RESPOND TO EXISTING AND EMERGING RISKS 

6.1.1 Percent of food safety appeals granted (categories of appeals that were overturned by a higher level supervisor). 

6.1.2 Percent of regulated industry adhering to key public health-related policies (establishments with no public health related non-compliances/year). 

6.1.3 Frequency of reviews examining the effectiveness of FSIS policies regarding significant public health risks. 

GOAL 7: EMPOWER EMPLOYEES WITH TRAINING, RESOURCES, AND TOOLS 

7.1.1 Average score on the Annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey for questions related to workers’ understanding of their impact on public health. 

7.2.1 Percent of competency gaps closed for targeted groups. 

7.2.2 Percent of all eligible FSIS employees with an Individual Development Plan (IDP) in place. 

7.2.3 Percent of all managers/supervisors that complete 3 hours of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) training-annually. 

7.2.4 Percent of all non-managers/non-supervisors who complete 2 hours of EEO training annually. 

7.3.1 Percent of workplace injury/illness cases. 

7.3.2 Annual rate of staff vacancies. 

7.3.3 Ranking in the Partnership for Public Service’s Annual Report, Best Places to Work in the Federal Government. 

7.3.4 Increase the workforce for Persons with Targeted Disabilities. 

GOAL 8: DEVELOP, MAINTAIN, AND USE INNOVATIVE METHODOLOGIES, PROCESSES, AND TOOLS 

8.1.1 Percent of innovative processes, methodologies, or technologies for which the agency has established a baseline. 

8.1.2 Percent of innovative processes, methodologies, or technologies that, once employed, are evaluated by the agency. 

8.2.1 Percent of documented implemented processes, methodologies, or technologies that are evaluated to assess whether they meet the 

intended outcomes or otherwise contribute to the agency’s efforts to perform its mission. 

FY 2015 SCORECARD

1

 Measure 3.1.1 was rated black because no data was available pending the development of an interim survey tool. Goal 3 was rated red overall 

pending the development of interim survey measurement tool.

2

 Measure 3.2.1-a was retired due to more effective measurements in the form of 3.2.-b-e
Desired

Direction FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015

COLOR TARGET ACTUAL COLOR TARGET ACTUAL COLOR TARGET ACTUAL COLOR TARGET ACTUAL

p Up ● Baseline 

(98%) n/a ● 95.00% 95.00% ● 95.00% 96.00% ● 95.00% 96.00%

p Up ● Baseline 

(100%) n/a ● 95.00% 95.00% ● 95.00% 95.00% ● 95.00% 88.00%

p Up ● Baseline 

(70%) n/a ● 60.00% 64.00% ● 60.00% 68.00% ● 60.00% 68.00%

COLOR TARGET ACTUAL COLOR TARGET ACTUAL COLOR TARGET ACTUAL COLOR TARGET ACTUAL

q Down ● 40.33% 35.00% ● 40.00% 50.00% ● 39.70% 10.00% ● 39.00% 29.80%

p Up ● 75.00% 73.80% ● 19.00% 20.00% ● 20.00% 21.49% ● 21.00% 20.53%

p Up ● 3 3 ● 5 5 ● 4 4 ● 4 4 

COLOR TARGET ACTUAL COLOR TARGET ACTUAL COLOR TARGET ACTUAL COLOR TARGET ACTUAL

p Up ● 90.00% 90.00% ● 91.00% 90.00% ● 92.00% 89.00% ● 92.00% 92.25%

p Up ● Baseline n/a ● n/a n/a ● 10.00% 10.00% ● 15.00% 15.00%

p Up ● 95.00% 100.00% ● 100.00% 95.00% ● 100.00% 95.00% ● 100.00% 95.00%

p Up ● New 

Measure n/a ● 60.00% 96.00% ● 75.00% 83.00% ● 85.00% 95.00%

p Up ● New 

Measure n/a ● 40.00% 95.00% ● 60.00% 95.00% ● 75.00% 91.00%

q Down ● 6.20% 9.10% ● 6.10% 8.65% ● 6.00% 5.47% ● 5.90% 5.10%

q Down ● 6.67% 5.47% ● 6.50% 3.42% ● 6.00% 10.10% ● 6.00% 4.15%

q Down ● 38.39% 25.00% ● 37.05% 25.00% ● 37.50% 32.00% ● 34.00% 34.00%

p Up ● New 

Measure n/a ● 2.00% 1.23% ● 2.00% 1.26% ● 2.50% 1.24%

COLOR TARGET ACTUAL COLOR TARGET ACTUAL COLOR TARGET ACTUAL COLOR TARGET ACTUAL

p Up ● Baseline n/a ● 100.00% 100.00% ● 55.00% 55.00% ● 55.00% 55.00%

p Up ● Baseline n/a ● 100.00% 100.00% ● 71.00% 71.00% ● 71.00% 71.00%

p Up ● Baseline n/a ● 100.00% 100.00% ● 80.00% 80.00% ● 80.00% 80.00%

A Year in Review — FSIS Planning and Performance Agenda | 31

A YEAR-OVER-YEAR COMPARISON
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights 

regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, 

national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, 

disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance 

program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or 

activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint 

filing deadlines vary by program or incident. 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information 

(e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible 

Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the 

Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339/ Additionally, program information may be made available 

in languages other than English. 

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint 

Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA 

office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested 

in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed 

form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary 

for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 

690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

www.fsis.usda.gov | BeFoodSafe@usda.gov | (202) 690-6188

MARCH 2016

United States Department of Agriculture