United States Department of Agriculture 

FISCAL YEAR 2018 

ANNUAL PLAN

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE
Contents

Acting Deputy Under Secretary’s Letter

Acronyms

Introduction

Agency Performance Management and Governance

Goal 1 Prevent Foodborne Illness and Protect Public Health

Outcome 1.1 Prevent Contamination

Result 1 Drive Compliance With Food Safety Statutes and Regulations

Result 2 Strengthen Sampling Programs

Result 3 Ensure Establishments Are Meeting Pathogen Reduction Performance Standards 

Result 4 Promote Food Defense Practices 

Outcome 1.2 Limit Illness From Regulated Products

Result 5 Improve Food Safety at In-Commerce Facilities

Result 6 Enhance Response to Foodborne Illness Outbreaks and Adulteration Events

Result 7 Increase Public Awareness of Recalls, Foodborne Illness, and Safe Food 

Handling Practices

Goal 2 Modernize Inspection Systems, Policies, and the Use of Scientific 

Approaches

Outcome 2.1 Improve Food Safety and Humane Handling Practices Through Adoption of 

Innovative Approaches 

Result 8 Modernize Scientific Techniques and Inspection Procedures

Result 9 Increase Adoption of Humane Handling Best Practices

Outcome 2.2 Enhance Access to Complete and Accurate Information To Inform Decisions

Result 10 Improve the Reliability, Access, and Timely Collection and Distribution of 

Information and Data

Goal 3 Achieve Operational Excellence

Outcome 3.1 Maintain a Well-Trained and Engaged Workforce

Result 11 Improve Recruitment and Retention for Mission Critical Positions

Result 12 Enhance Training and Development Opportunities Across Competency Areas

Result 13 Ensure Equal Opportunity, and a Diverse and Inclusive Environment

Outcome 3.2 Improve Processes and Services 

Result 14 Enhance Efficiency and Effectiveness of Key Business Processes and Systems

Result 15 Improve Service Delivery

Cross-Cutting

Result 16 Enhance Collaboration With Our Partners
Message From the Acting Deputy 

Under Secretary

I am very pleased to release the FY 2018 Annual Plan of 

the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 

Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). This Annual 

Plan, which is directly aligned with the agency’s 2017-

2021 Strategic Plan, outlines the ways FSIS will achieve 

its strategic goals over the next fiscal year. The Annual 

Plan serves as an operational guide for FSIS and in it, we 

hold ourselves accountable to both new and continuing 

activities. We explain the progression of our activities 

from the key milestones the agency achieved in FY 2017, 

outline what we are planning to achieve in FY 2018 and 

why, and describe how we will assess progress by using 

our Strategic and Annual Plan measures and targets. 

FSIS continues to work towards its goals while the 

number of establishments requiring inspection continues 

to increase, to more than 6,400. The agency anticipates 

a very busy and productive FY 2018 in focusing on its goals to prevent product contamination and 

foodborne illness, modernize systems and approaches, and enhance how we do business. By collaborating 

and seeking solutions when faced with challenges, we will be able to move closer to accomplishing those 

goals and better meet FSIS’ mission of protecting the public’s health.

Continuing priorities for FY 2018 include further implementation of the New Poultry Inspection System 

(NPIS) and Siluriformes fish inspection, effectively using Public Health Risk Evaluations (PHREs) and 

pathogen reduction performance standards for Salmonella and Campylobacter in poultry to drive 

compliance and prevent contamination, and modernizing swine and egg products inspection systems. 

The agency will also continue to increase its use of whole genome sequencing, further develop key 

informational tools and resources for inspection personnel, and continue to work with public health 

partners to prevent Listeria monocytogenes in retail delicatessens. The agency will also encourage 

industry adoption of food defense and humane handling practices, and consumer adoption of safe 

food-handling practices. Lastly, to maintain a strong workforce, FSIS will also continue its focus on 

recruiting and retaining employees in hard-to-fill mission-critical positions, engaging and empowering 

employees, and implementing process enhancements in key areas. 

We expect that our regular monitoring of results and measures delineated in this Annual Plan will help 

ensure that we stay focused on our strategic goals, while continuing to adopt newly identified operational 

efficiencies and practices that support our workforce. I look forward to working together to complete the 

actions in this plan so that we can continue to make a real impact in decreasing foodborne illnesses.

Carmen Rottenberg

Acting Deputy Under Secretary, Office of Food Safety 
FSIS Acronyms and Abbreviations

ADR Alternative Dispute Resolution

ATP Adenosine Triphosphate 

CCMS Consumer Complaint Monitoring 

 System

CFP Conference of Food Protection 

COR Contracting Officer Representative

E. coli Escherichia coli

EEO Equal Employment Opportunity

EWA Early Warning Alerts

FERN Food Emergency Response 

 Network

FEVS Federal Employee Viewpoint 

 Survey

FOIA Freedom of Information Act

FSA Food Safety Assessment

FSMA Food Safety and Modernization Act

FY Fiscal Year

Gen-FS Interagency Collaboration on 

 Genomics for Food and Feed Safety

HACCP Hazard Analysis and Critical Control 

 Point

IDP Individual Development Plan

IPP Inspection Program Personnel

IT Information Technology

Lm Listeria monocytogenes

MPI Meat and Poultry Inspection

NARMS National Antimicrobial Resistance 

 Monitoring System 

nBPW Neutralized Buffered Peptone Water

NPIS New Poultry Inspection System

PFP Partnership for Food Protection

PFGE Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis

PHIS Public Health Information System

PHR Public Health Regulation

PHRE Public Health Risk Evaluation

PHV Public Health Veterinarian

POE Point of Entry

RTE Ready-to-Eat

SEP Special Emphasis Program

SRT Self-Reporting Tool

STEC Shiga-toxin producing E. coli 

STEPS System Tracking E. coli O157:H7 

Positive Suppliers 

WGS Whole Genome Sequencing

Referenced Organizations

APHIS Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

 Service

CDC HHS/Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention

FDA HHS/Food and Drug Administration 

FSIS Food Safety and Inspection Service

HHS Department of Health and Human 

 Services

IFSAC Interagency Food Safety Analytics 

Collaboration 

IRAC Interagency Risk Assessment 

Consortium

NACMCF National Advisory Committee on 

 Microbiological Criteria for Foods 

NACMPI National Advisory Committee on 

Meat and Poultry Inspection

NIFA National Institute of Food and 

 Agriculture

NCBI/NIH National Center for Biotechnology 

Information, National Institutes of 

 Health 

OIG Office of Inspector General

OPM Office of Personnel Management

FSIS Offices, Program Areas, or Staffs

CRS Civil Rights Staff 

HR Human Resources

OCFO Office of the Chief Financial Officer

OCIO Office of the Chief Information 

Officer

ODIFP Office of Data Integration and Food 

Protection

OFO Office of Field Operations

OIC Office of International Coordination 

OIEA Office of Investigation, Enforcement 

 and Audit

OM Office of Management 

OOEET Office of Outreach, Employee 

Education and Training

OPACE Office of Public Affairs and 

Consumer Education

OPHS Office of Public Health Science

OPPD Office of Policy and Program 

 Development 

Accountable Collaborative Empowered Solutions-Oriented
1

Vision: Everyone’s food is safe

Mission: Protecting the public’s health by ensuring 

the safety of meat, poultry, and processed products 

ACCOUNTABLE • COLLABORATIVE • EMPOWERED • SOLUTIONS-ORIENTED

GOAL 2

Modernize Inspection 

Systems, Policies, and the 

Use of Scientific 

Approaches

GOAL 3

Achieve Operational 

Excellence

1.1—Prevent Contamination

1.2—Limit Illness From 

Regulated Products

2.1—Improve Food Safety and 

Humane Handling Practices 

Through Adoption of Innovative 

Approaches

2.2—Enhance Access to 

Complete and Accurate 

Information to Inform Decisions

3.1—Maintain A Well-Trained and 

Engaged Workforce

3.2—Improve Processes 

and Services

1.1.1—Drive Compliance With Food Safety 

Statutes and Regulations

1.1.2—Strengthen Sampling Programs

1.1.3—Ensure Establishments Are Meeting 

Pathogen Reduction Performance Standards

1.1.4—Promote Food Defense Practices

1.2.1—Improve Food Safety at In-Commerce Facilities

1.2.2—Enhance Response to Foodborne Illness

Outbreaks and Adulteration Events

1.2.3—Increase Public Awareness of Recalls, Foodborne 

Illness, and Safe Food Handling Practices

2.1.1—Modernize Scientific 

Techniques and Inspection 

Procedures

2.1.2—Increase Adoption of 

Human Handling Best Practices 

2.2.1—Improve the Reliability, Access, 

and Timely Collection and Distribution 

of Information

3.1.1—Improve Recruitment and Retention for 

Mission Critical Positions 

3.1.2— Enhance Training and Development 

Opportunities Across Competency Areas

3.1.3— Ensure Equal Opportunity and a 

Diverse and Inclusive Environment

3.2.1—Enhance Efficiency and Effectiveness of Key 

Business Processes and Systems

3.2.2—Improve Service Delivery

GOAL 1 

Prevent Foodborne 

Illness and Protect 

Public Health

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE

Introduction 

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the public health agency in USDA whose mission is to 

protect the public’s health by ensuring the safety of the Nation’s commercial supply of meat, poultry, and 

processed egg products.1 FSIS ensures food safety through the authorities of the Federal Meat 

Inspection Act,2 the Poultry Products Inspection Act,3 and the Egg Products Inspection Act,4 as well as 

humane animal handling through the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act.5 FSIS employs approximately 

9,600 employees working collectively to conduct a broad range of food safety activities to achieve FSIS’ 

overall vision—that everyone’s food is safe. FSIS employees are highly trained, motivated, and skilled 

professionals working as “one team with one purpose.” FSIS activities contribute to USDA’s FY 2018-2022 

draft Strategic Plan in its Goal 7, “Prevent Foodborne Illness and Protect Public Health,” and FY 2018 marks 

the second year of the agency’s FSIS 2017-2021 Strategic Plan.6 The goals, outcomes, and objectives set 

forth in FSIS’ FY 2017-2021 Strategic Plan directly align to the agency’s Annual Plans (AP), and provide an 

integrated framework for understanding how FSIS fulfills our mission and addresses 21st-century public 

health challenges. Specifically, 15 AP results directly correlate to 15 Strategic Plan objectives, with an 

additional Result on partner collaborations.

 1As of December 2015, fish of the order Siluriformes are included in this definition. See 80 FR 75589, December 2, 2015. 2Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA, P.L. 90-492).

 3Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA, P.L. 90-492).

 4Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA, P.L. 91-597).

 5Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA, P.L. 85-765).

 6 See FSIS FY 2017-2021 Strategic Plan. 
2

Agency Performance Management and Governance 

FSIS will implement this FY 2018 Annual Plan by utilizing its performance management framework, which 

includes monitoring and reporting processes underpinned by the agency’s enterprise governance (EG) 

process. FSIS fosters a performance-based environment by using an agency-wide Dashboard, with 

executives and senior staff assigned to regularly track and monitor progress, ensure FSIS meets intended 

targets, and make timely and necessary adjustments to key activities or approaches. Our Annual Plan this 

year includes a greater focus on outcome-based measures, while continuing internal tracking of other key 

milestones, management controls, and outputs. 

FSIS has used its EG process to present public health and other mission-related topics to executive 

leadership, particularly those that cut across programs and/or have agency-wide implications, and for 

collaborative decision making and implementation. All new investments, major projects, proposed 

policy initiatives, and major changes to existing policies go through this process. Three governance boards 

regularly meet to deliberate, and along with their associated work groups and committees (sub-boards), 

provide key analysis, evaluation, and recommendations regarding program enhancements that support 

data-driven decision making. In FY 2017, FSIS took steps to strengthen its EG process, with input from 

internal stakeholders, including conducting assessments of its sub-boards and information technology (IT) 

governance. Specifically, this included developing visualization and tracking tools and revising a key 

internal form that serves to support decision making and funds allocation for new and continuing 

initiatives. In FY 2018, FSIS plans to implement several recommendations from the IT governance 

assessment, such as instituting regular communication and outreach activities with directors and work 

groups to ensure that they understand the governance structure and process, and know how, when, at 

what level, and on what activities to engage to strengthen agency decision making. 

The agency is also integrating new Office of Management and Budget enterprise risk management (ERM) 

requirements into its current governance activities and structure. To this end, FSIS leveraged existing 

internal risk-related expertise to develop an ERM profile, and will continue to work on completion of the 

profile in FY 2018. Further, the agency recently gathered employee opinion and preference data 

regarding the efficacy of a range of internal communications, and it will use these data in FY 2018 to 

inform the agency’s exploration into optimizing information flow across FSIS organizations on key 

priorities, policies, projects, and major changes.
3
4 GOAL 1: Prevent Foodborne Illness and Protect Public Health 

Strategic Plan Measures and 

FY 2018 Targets

• At most, 1.2% of 

 establishments are 

 scheduled for a PHRE due 

 to public health risk 

 determinants8 (Strategic Plan 

 Measure 1.1.1.1)

• 21% of product combinations 

 tested from equivalent 

 countries for biological and 

 chemical hazards9 (1.1.1.2)

• 1% increase in overall 

 participation in FSIS 

 international outreach 

 activities by foreign 

 governments and officials 

 (1.1.1.3)

OUTCOME 1.1: PREVENT CONTAMINATION 

 

RESULT 1 Drive Compliance With Food Safety Statutes and Regulations 

This multifaceted Result primarily focuses on the work of thousands of FSIS 

inspectors across the United States verifying industry compliance with 

applicable food safety regulatory requirements, which extends to both imported 

and domestically produced food products. As such, this Result includes activities 

in both arenas. Key areas of emphasis to drive compliance and reduce the risk of 

FSIS-regulated product contamination include the following: 

• Conducting PHREs and Food Safety Assessments (FSAs)7 to ensure 

 regulated establishments have developed and implemented food safety 

 systems that reduce food safety hazards or prevent them from occurring.

• Ensuring an effective international equivalence process for determining initial 

 equivalence and verifying ongoing equivalence through document review, 

 onsite audits, and once eligible, point of entry (POE) product reinspection.

• Strengthening existing efforts in sampling imported products.

• Continuing review of State Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) Programs.

• Enhancing outreach to small and very small establishments and other 

 domestic stakeholders about food safety requirements. 

PHREs: When conducting PHREs, the agency generates a monthly prioritized 

list of establishments to consider for potential “for cause” FSAs based on public 

health risk determinants or triggers. PHREs and FSAs often result in 

improvements to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system 

design and process controls and/or reduction in non-compliance that help to 

reduce hazards present in food. In FY 2018, FSIS will continue to perform 

activities and take steps to reduce non-compliance and for-cause FSAs based on 

these public health risk determinants.

State MPI Programs: FSIS work in the area of compliance also includes State MPI 

Programs. The agency will continue its work to ensure that the 27 States with an 

MPI Program maintain “at least equal” status with Federal food safety 

requirements. As in FY 2017, FSIS will continue to ensure it meets annual onsite 

audits and State self-assessment verification requirements in FY 2018, and to 

audit State MPI laboratory programs.

GOAL 1: Prevent Foodborne Illness and Protect Public Health 

7

The PHRE is a decision making process that FSIS uses to determine whether an FSA needs to be scheduled. It is a distinct, separate activity from an FSA. 

See FSIS Directive 5100.4 Rev. 1. The purpose of an FSA is to assess and analyze an establishment’s food safety system to verify that the establishment is 

able to produce safe and wholesome meat or poultry products in accordance with FSIS statutory and regulatory requirements. 

See FSIS Directive 5100.1 Rev. 4. 8

This measure calculates the percentage of establishments scheduled for a PHRE due to specific public health criteria out of all establishments eligible 

for a PHRE, using Public Health Information System (PHIS) as the data source. Expected performance is downward in small partial percentage increments 

through FY 2021. 

9

This measure calculates the percentage of all country/product combinations submitted through import reinspection that are assigned lab analysis for 

biological and chemical hazards. 
FSIS FY 2018 Annual Plan 5

FY 2018 Annual Plan Measures 

and Targets

State Meat and Poultry 

Inspection (MPI) Programs

• Complete 90% of planned 

 onsite audits, annual 

 Self-Assessments, and 

 Quarterly New Issuances 

 Verifications to ensure 

 compliance 

Outreach to Small and 

Very Small Establishments

• Provide outreach through 

 attendance at a minimum of 

 eight high-impact 

 conferences and exhibits10 to, 

 in part, increase awareness 

 of the Small Plant Help Desk 

 and to disseminate technical 

 resources for regulatory 

 compliance 

Enforcement

• Ensure 85% of enforcement 

 actions address food safety 

 violations 

Import Safety

• Maintain Failures-to-Present 

 resulting in a recommended 

 recall action to below 20% 

FSIS FY 2018 Annual Plan

Grinding Logs: One specific effort aimed at industry compliance was FSIS’ move 

to amend recordkeeping requirements to require all official establishments and 

retail stores that grind raw beef products for sale in commerce to maintain 

specific information about grinding activities. FSIS will continue activities it 

started in FY 2017 to review grinding logs at retail stores, educate retailers on the 

rule, and conduct targeted outreach to retail industry organizations, slaughter 

and processing industry trade organizations, and academia on these 

requirements. 

Outreach: For domestic stakeholders, including small and very small 

establishments, FSIS will continue to deploy innovative approaches to develop 

and deliver outreach that is focused on enhancing the communication of 

technical scientific and regulatory compliance information. The agency will also 

utilize advanced technologies to simplify how stakeholders receive technical 

assistance and resources. Specifically, FSIS intends to enhance its delivery of 

technical information, resources, and assistance by utilizing digital applications 

and the FSIS Small Plant Help Desk. FSIS will also continue to exhibit and conduct 

outreach at industry conferences, conventions, and meetings that cater to small 

and very small plant establishments and the associations that represent these 

businesses. FSIS will also conduct webinars for establishment owners and 

operators and other industry partners that highlight relevant agency initiatives 

and recently published agency policy and regulations. FSIS will measure the 

effectiveness of its outreach by surveying stakeholders and partners on value, 

efficiency, quality of delivery, and if expectations were met. FSIS will adapt 

measurement tools to better quantify the number of stakeholders reached and 

the impact of information sharing. 

Imported Products: FSIS’ food safety mission also extends to ensuring the safety 

of imported products. In FY 2018, FSIS expects to see continued growth in the 

number of foreign countries that are seeking an equivalence determination from 

FSIS necessary to become eligible to export meat, poultry, or processed egg 

products to the United States. FSIS’ equivalence process ensures that eligible 

foreign countries maintain equivalence and compliance through continuous 

monitoring that includes document review, POE reinspections, and an onsite 

audit of each eligible country at least triennially. In FY 2018, FSIS will leverage the 

new, improved Self-Reporting Tool (SRT) that crosswalks previously submitted 

information for equivalent countries exporting FSIS-regulated products to the 

United States. 

A significant component in ensuring the safety of imported 

products is FSIS’s reinspection of products at official import inspection 

establishments. In FY 2017, FSIS reduced the number of Failures-to-Present that 

required recall from commerce, and developed strategies for reducing POE 

violations. FSIS seeks to implement these strategies in FY 2018, which include 

proactive education and outreach to foreign government counterparts to focus 

their attention on mitigating POE violations before they occur. Additionally, FSIS 

will utilize baselines and data analytics tools to monitor point of entry 

reinspection activities.

10FSIS considers exhibits and conferences high impact when they attract large numbers of small and very small plant owners and operators. Impact is also 

measured by the quantity of resources disseminated, and the increased call volume to the Small Plant Help Desk after information dissemination. 
6

11Import samples are collected to verify that eligible countries are maintaining equivalent food safety inspection systems. See also Result 2.

GOAL 1: Prevent Foodborne Illness and Protect Public Health 

Sampling Imported Food:11 FSIS will enhance its import food sampling program 

that its import program personnel accomplish through the collection of samples 

at the U.S. border. This sampling, combined with ongoing audits by FSIS 

auditors in countries that have been determined to be eligible to ship meat, 

poultry, and/or processed eggs to the United States, verifies to FSIS that these 

countries are maintaining equivalent food safety inspection systems. FSIS will 

continue to support a risk-based sampling plan for imported foods. This plan 

consists both of samples that are planned based on country profiles that include 

amenable species, volume shipped, and that are unplanned for-cause samples 

triggered by recent violative samples, issues identified during FSIS audits, and/or 

data or information received. FSIS will utilize baselines and analytics tools to 

identify trends of concern from data obtained through foreign country audits and 

POE reinspection activities to direct sampling in the agency’s annual sampling 

plan and support decisions on further for-cause sampling initiatives. 

International Outreach: FSIS will continue working with foreign regulatory 

counterparts to share information about FSIS regulatory requirements and about 

how the agency uses the latest technology to ensure protective public health 

standards for food safety. This will be done through technical assistance exchange 

programs, meetings with foreign government officials and organizations, 

educational seminars, and FSIS-sponsored visits to U.S. laboratories and regulated 

establishments. FSIS aims to increase the overall participation of foreign 

governments and officials in FSIS international outreach activities in FY 2018. FSIS 

also intends to continue reaching out to international regulatory counterparts 

who are currently implementing or working to modernize existing food safety 

inspection programs to inform them of our best practices and technological 

advances and work with them in an effort to improve food safety standards and 

vital health protections worldwide.
7

12The measure calculates the percent of all product/establishment pairs in domestic slaughter and production that are subject to sampling. In FY 2017, 

new projects started included poultry low-volume and religious-exempt products, which had been excluded from FSIS sampling.

FSIS FY 2018 Annual Plan

OUTCOME 1.1: PREVENT CONTAMINATION 

 

RESULT 2 Strengthen Sampling Programs

This Result focuses on how FSIS is expanding its sampling programs to better 

address gaps in testing for pathogens and chemical residues in FSIS-regulated 

products. Many FSIS sampling programs include collecting samples of a variety 

of product types and testing these samples for multiple microbiological hazards 

and chemical residues. However, there are some combinations of establishments, 

hazards, and products that the agency does not currently sample or test. For 

example, FSIS maintains certain exclusions or exceptions for different 

regulatory and policy reasons. FSIS will continue to use a risk-based approach in 

closing these exceptions, to the extent practicable. As FSIS increases the 

percentage of different products the agency tests, FSIS will also increase the 

percentage of establishments at which it collects samples to close identified 

sampling gaps, reduce exceptions to what it samples and tests, and gather 

knowledge on the relative risk of contamination of regulated products. 

Approaches include unifying testing so that FSIS only collects one sample for each 

product and tests it for multiple microbiological hazards or chemical residues, 

and leveraging new technology to increase precision, gain efficiencies, and better 

identify and define hazards to decrease their presence in food. 

In FY 2017, FSIS implemented new sampling projects for religious-exempt and 

low-volume poultry establishments and Phase II of its Raw Pork Exploratory 

Sampling Program. In FY 2018, FSIS plans to analyze the data from these projects 

and determine next steps, including the need to continue sampling or develop 

industry guidelines or performance standards. 

In FY 2018, FSIS will conduct an internal evaluation to assess its past allocation 

and use of domestic and import sampling resources to ensure the agency 

allocates and uses its sampling and inspection resources as effectively as possible. 

As part of this evaluation, the agency will review its sample prioritization 

criteria. FSIS will use the evaluation results to modify future annual sampling 

plans as needed, and the results of this evaluation will drive development of 

possible measures and targets for the FY 2019 Annual Plan. To better manage 

sampling resources, FSIS will develop and implement a plan to regularly monitor 

its sampling activities throughout the fiscal year to ensure planned samples are 

collected and analyzed as scheduled. These activities will help improve resource 

allocation, close sampling gaps, and maximize the public health benefit through 

prioritizing testing by degree of hazard.

Using the sampling project assessment priorities list developed in FY 2017, FSIS 

plans to assess comminuted chicken and beef bench-trim sampling in FY 2018. 

For each project, FSIS will examine the current sample design and associated 

outcomes of assigned samples within various categories, such as by 

establishment type and product volume. Based on the findings, FSIS will make 

recommendations for stratification or other design improvements to improve 

collection rates.

Strategic Plan Measure and FY 

2018 Target

• 47% of products from 

 FSIS-regulated 

 establishments are subject to 

 sampling (1.1.2.1)12
8 GOAL 1: Prevent Foodborne Illness and Protect Public Health 

In addition to increasing the percentage of products and establishments that are 

subject to sampling, the agency made improvements to current sampling 

projects to ensure that it is focusing on the products most likely to be positive. In 

FY 2017, the sampling algorithm for Ready-to-Eat (RTE) products was updated to 

refocus sample collection, giving greater weight to product alternatives, product 

type percent positive, and establishment size. 

FSIS will also continue to work through its current partnerships and programs, 

such as the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring Program (NARMS) and 

the National Residue Program (NRP), and aims to develop new partnerships or 

programs in FY 2018. For example, NRP will continue to identify priority 

compounds of public health concern in conjunction with partner agencies and 

utilize this information to develop domestic and import scheduled sampling 

plans. Additionally, FSIS will continue to work with the Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA) to use their sampling results in dual jurisdiction 

establishments to target sampling of FSIS-regulated products or food contact 

surfaces.
9

Strategic Plan Measures and 

FY 2018 Target

• 78% of establishments meet 

 pathogen reduction 

 performance standards15

FY 2018 Annual Plan 

Measures and Targets

• All establishments newly 

 assigned to Category 3 based 

 on any Salmonella 

 performance standard are 

 scheduled for a PHRE within 

 60 days of internal 

 notification16 95% of the 

 time 

• Ensure 95% of the 

 PHIS-scheduled pathogen 

 and residue samples are 

 collected and submitted to 

 the laboratory when 

 applicable product is 

 available

FSIS FY 2018 Annual Plan

OUTCOME 1.1: PREVENT CONTAMINATION 

 

RESULT 3 

This Result focuses on using pathogen reduction performance standards to assess 

the food safety performance of establishments that slaughter and process poultry 

and meat products. 

Poultry: Salmonella and Campylobacter

In FY 2017, in addition to implementing routine sampling and a movingwindow assessment approach to chicken and turkey carcass sampling projects, 

FSIS implemented six new performance standards for Salmonella and 

Campylobacter in comminuted chicken and turkey, and chicken parts. Further, 

in responding to establishments that do not meet the performance standard for 

Salmonella in carcasses, FSIS is scheduling and conducting a PHRE focusing on the 

establishment’s planned corrective actions.13 FSIS may also conduct an FSA when 

deemed appropriate. In addition, in FY 2017, FSIS has been assigning and 

collecting followup samples at all establishments that process carcasses that do 

not meet the Salmonella performance standard. 

In FY 2018, FSIS will finalize and implement an overall assessment and 

enforcement strategy for Salmonella reduction performance at establishments 

slaughtering and processing raw poultry that has been under development in FY 

2017. These activities will inform the development and implementation of new 

policies, or help to update existing policies to prioritize evaluation and 

enforcement in establishments that slaughter or process raw poultry. FSIS also 

plans to analyze and communicate the results of analysis regarding the effect of 

neutralizing Buffered Peptone Water (nBPW) on the performance standards for 

chicken poultry carcasses and parts. Similarly, FSIS will continue to assess 

establishments that slaughter and/or process raw poultry to determine whether 

they are meeting current Campylobacter performance standards. 

Meat: Salmonella

In FY 2017, FSIS completed a risk assessment for Salmonella in ground beef, and 

an analysis of the veal/beef carcass baseline study data. These revealed that beef 

still contributes to salmonellosis and that FSIS will not reach the HP2020 goals for 

reducing salmonellosis without further reductions in Salmonella contamination 

on beef. To facilitate continual improvement, FSIS will develop an action plan that 

outlines the hurdles associated specifically with Salmonella in beef and options 

for how FSIS might move forward. FSIS recently implemented sampling for the 

baseline phase of the Raw Pork Products Exploratory Sampling Project for 

Salmonella in intact and non-intact pork cuts and comminuted pork.14 The 

related study will be completed in FY 2018, and data gathered will be used to 

inform FSIS policies regarding pork products and to develop industry guidance 

and/or performance standards. 

13See also Result 1.

14See also Result 2, and FSIS Notice 30-17. 

15For each pathogen/product pair with a performance standard, this measure is calculated by dividing the number of establishments that passed all of 

their included moving windows by the total number of establishments with at least one completed moving window that either passed or failed. (A 

moving window is an approach to sampling in which FSIS evaluates a set number of sequential results from a single establishment to assess process 

control. For example, if FSIS chose to evaluate 20 results under the moving window approach, FSIS would assess the most recent 20 FSIS results for a 

particular establishment. The “moving window” approach provides FSIS with more flexibility for scheduling sample collection at different establishments.) 

Consistent with FSIS’ approach to posting aggregate performance standard results for chicken parts and comminuted poultry, initial calculations will 

incorporate pre-verification sampling data from exploratory sampling through PHIS during completion of the first 52-week moving window.

16See also measures 1.1.1.1 and 2.1.1.2. 

Ensure Establishments Are Meeting Pathogen Reduction 

Performance Standards 
10 GOAL 1: Prevent Foodborne Illness and Protect Public Health 
11

17In FY 2017, FSIS revised the food defense task for inspection personnel, which resulted in the establishment of a baseline of the percent of 

FSIS-regulated establishments that voluntarily maintain food defense practices as the basis of this measure.

FSIS FY 2018 Annual Plan

OUTCOME 1.1: PREVENT CONTAMINATION 

 

RESULT 4 Promote Food Defense Practices 

Strategic Plan Measure and 

FY 2018 Target

• 85% of establishments 

 maintain food defense 

 practices17 (1.1.4.1)

FY 2018 Annual Plan 

Measure and Target

• Perform 5,000 surveillance 

 testing samples at FERN 

 Cooperative Agreement 

 Laboratories

This Result focuses on how FSIS will remain vigilant and sustain progress made 

in the area of food defense and preparedness to respond to acts of intentional 

contamination of food. The evolving threat landscape and emerging risks demand 

that the agency maintain and enhance its capability and capacity to prevent, 

protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from all hazards. FSIS 

continues to monitor and analyze food defense tasks at establishments, as well as 

align policies, outreach, and partnerships to improve understanding and 

communication of food defense best practices. The agency also focuses on 

collaborating with other agencies on food defense and preparedness activities, 

such as on validating response and recovery plans through conducting exercises 

across the country. FSIS’ work with Federal and State partner networks to 

identify threats through surveillance activities and to respond to non-intentional 

and intentional food contamination events and outbreaks are also key 

components that help reduce risks associated with potential events. The agency 

will continue to promote agency preparedness, and that of the regulated 

industry, to drive enhanced capabilities and capacities to respond to and recover 

from threats and hazards of greatest risk.

In FY 2017, FSIS began implementing a multi-year strategy for food defense, 

which included modifications to food defense tasks; further integration of food 

defense into, and increased effectiveness of, FSIS policies; further outreach by 

developing, revising, and distributing tools, resources, and guides; and 

collaboration with FDA and other agencies and organizations, and it will continue 

these activities in FY 2018. In addition, the agency shifted from measuring the 

voluntary adoption of functional food defense plans by industry to focusing on 

the importance of implementing and maintaining food defense practices in all 

FSIS-regulated establishments. This shift will allow FSIS to develop a better 

understanding of gaps that need to be addressed and will allow the agency to 

better assess preparedness for intentional contamination. As a result of this new 

focus, FSIS established a baseline of the percent of FSIS-regulated establishments 

that voluntarily maintain food defense practices. Additionally, preparedness 

activities include data analyses of food incidents to prioritize agency efforts, 

exercises to validate response and recovery plans, and food defense-targeted 

threat surveillance at National Special Security Events. 

In FY 2018, FSIS will continue its work in aligning and integrating key food defense 

concepts and activities into day-to-day inspection operations, and it will continue 

to update critical food defense policies, as needed. By conducting food defense 

surveillance activities in regulated establishments, the agency will continue to 

identify food defense practices in use. FSIS will conduct vulnerability assessments 

to identify critical risks and immediately identify the best practices to reduce 

them. Also in FY 2018, FSIS will continue to seek out and enhance collaborative 

opportunities with stakeholders.
12 GOAL 1: Prevent Foodborne Illness and Protect Public Health 

These activities will include providing information to public and private partners 

to emphasize the importance of food defense and highlight tools and resources 

available on the FSIS website, support for foreign governments to protect the 

supply of food to the United States, and publishing food defense articles in 

multiple sources. 

FSIS will also continue to improve capabilities to respond to and recover from 

any hazards through preparedness activities, including conducting analyses of 

food incidents to prioritize agency efforts and conducting exercises to validate 

response and recovery plans and to minimize negative public health and 

economic impacts. Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) laboratories will 

continue to perform surveillance testing of food at the cooperative agreement 

laboratories by analyzing samples from retail for various chemical, biological, and 

radiological agents. They will also collaborate with the FDA to provide training 

and proficiency tests.
FSIS FY 2018 Annual Plan 13

OUTCOME 1.2: LIMIT ILLNESS FROM REGULATED PRODUCTS 

 

RESULT 5 Improve Food Safety at In-Commerce Facilities

Proper handling of meat, including Siluriformes fish, poultry, and egg products at 

in-commerce firms like warehouses, distributors, and retailers, is critical to 

preventing foodborne illnesses. Product volumes at some types of these facilities 

can be very high, and the ways that products are handled or even 

further processed at some facilities can introduce additional hazards. FSIS focuses 

its surveillances, investigations, enforcement, and other in-commerce activities 

on those facilities that present the greatest risk to consumers. FSIS conducts 

followup surveillance activities at firms where conditions have been observed 

that could lead to unsafe products. FSIS also collaborates with State and local 

authorities to ensure that all types of in-commerce firms are routinely monitored. 

FSIS also promotes safe food handling practices at in-commerce firms through 

outreach and education.

A particular agency priority is verifying that retail locations that operate delis are 

safely handling ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry for sale to consumers. For 

example, Listeria monocytogenes (Lm), an illness with a higher fatality rate than 

most other foodborne illnesses, can survive and grow at cool temperatures and 

can persist in retail deli environments. Safe food-handling practices, thorough 

cleaning and sanitation procedures, proper maintenance of the facility and 

equipment, and good employee practices can and have decreased the likelihood 

of RTE food contamination. 

FY 2017 FSIS activities included participating in several meetings, conferences, 

and trade shows with key audiences to provide information on improving 

retail deli food safety practice efforts,18 and distributing several thousand Retail 

Deli Best Practices Brochures to retailers across the country as our investigators 

performed surveillance activities to verify food safety in commerce. FSIS will 

continue these activities in FY 2018 to expand outreach, education, and training 

about in-commerce food safety, especially safe practices at retail delis; on FSIS 

rules, regulations, and guidance affecting in-commerce firms; and will encourage 

improvements to the FDA Food Code to enhance public health in retail. This will 

occur through building on established partnerships and initiating new 

relationships with national and regional associations representing city, county, 

and State health agencies; food marketers; grocery stores; delis; and restaurants. 

In serving in an advisory role on the Executive Board for the Conference of Food 

Protection (CFP), FSIS works with the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention (CDC) to recommend changes to the Food Code that impact the 

safety of meat and poultry products in-commerce. In FY 2018, FSIS will continue 

to support workshop and biennial meeting planning, including presenting 

recommended changes to the Food Code and assessing changes proposed by 

other groups (e.g., industry and academia), and meeting monthly with the FDA 

on CFP issues of mutual interest. 

18This included meetings with the Association of Food and Drug Officials, State and local officials, the Food Marketing Institute, and other organizations.

19The Strategic Plan measure tracks the percentage of retailers that are following all eight of the most important retail deli Lm guidelines. These 8 are 

among the 33 recommendations in the AP measure that follows. The large difference between the targets is in part because all eight need to be followed 

to be counted in the percentage. The AP measure with a 91% target reflects an aggregate of recommendations being followed that are weighted equally. 

The recommendations cover product handling, cleaning and sanitizing, facility and equipment controls, and employee practices. 

Strategic Plan Measure and FY 

2018 Target

• 61% of retailers are following 

 all 8 of the most 

 important FSIS Deli Lm

 guidelines19 (1.2.1.1) and 

 91% of the 33 

 recommendations in the 

 guidelines

FY 2018 Annual Plan 

Measure and Target

• 70% of not-for-cause 

 surveillance activities are at 

 the highest risk (Tier 1) firms 
14 GOAL 1: Prevent Foodborne Illness and Protect Public Health 

FSIS will continue to conduct most of its surveillance at the highest risk business 

types that handle the largest product volumes, and that State or local authorities 

do not routinely visit. FSIS will also continue performing followup surveillance 

activities at firms where initial surveillance reveal food safety violations, and take 

product control actions when appropriate and necessary to remove unsafe food 

from commerce. The agency will conduct approximately 15% of its surveillance 

activities at retailers to continue to track progress on safe-handling practices at 

retail delis, enforce recordkeeping requirements for retailers that grind beef and 

document violations, and educate retail deli operators. 

FSIS will assess the data from its surveillance activities and use the findings to 

enhance surveillance activity strategies and further focus its outreach materials. 

FSIS plans to work with FDA and other public health partners to jointly develop 

specific outreach materials for retailers (e.g., for slicers). The agency will also 

develop guidelines for other products produced at retail that have been linked 

to foodborne illness investigations. FSIS will also collect and analyze surveillance 

data to assess the effectiveness of the agency’s efforts with respect to retail and 

inform the agency’s development of strategies to improve those efforts.
FSIS FY 2018 Annual Plan 15

OUTCOME 1.2: LIMIT ILLNESS FROM REGULATED PRODUCTS 

 

RESULT 6

This Result underscores the complex nature of responding quickly and 

effectively to reports of foodborne illness. FSIS’ work includes collaborating with 

public health partners, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

(CDC), FDA, and State and local departments of health and agriculture to 

ensure timely sharing of information related to foodborne illness investigations. 

By increasing the availability of information, including on trends of public health 

importance, FSIS can collaborate and communicate more effectively with 

partners about emerging risks and strategies for control and prevention. 

Collection of evidence from case-patient interviews, product traceback, 

environmental inspection and sampling, and laboratory testing are essential to 

identifying and controlling the sources of foodborne illness. 

In FY 2017, FSIS began or continued implementing several strategies to improve 

communication and collaboration with public health partners, with the aim of 

enhancing foodborne illness reporting and increasing effectiveness of foodborne 

illness investigations. FSIS conducted a series of focus groups with healthcare 

providers to better understand healthcare provider decision making with regard 

to the diagnosis, treatment, and reporting of patients with potential foodborne 

illness. After FSIS completes analysis of data from these groups in early FY 2018, 

the agency will use the results to inform development of foodborne illness 

guidance materials for healthcare providers that are easy to access and 

practical to encourage early detection, reporting, and diagnosis of foodbornerelated illness. The agency also continues to utilize advances in technology, such 

as whole genome sequencing (WGS), to better understand and respond to 

foodborne hazards that are of greatest concern to public health. 

FSIS also began a number of activities in FY 2017 to encourage partners to notify 

FSIS promptly of illnesses associated with FSIS-regulated products, since early 

notification can enable FSIS to take more rapid and effective action to protect 

public health. To obtain insight into information gaps that FSIS may address 

through partner outreach, the agency began administering an annual survey to 

gather information from key State partners. FSIS will use these survey results to 

help focus on areas of greatest need, to better plan, and to promote early 

reporting by partners of adverse events associated with FSIS product, as well 

as provision of investigative information that will facilitate agency action. FSIS 

will also continue to utilize recently developed information-sharing procedures 

to expedite information exchange with partners in State and local health and 

agriculture agencies during investigations. FSIS also intends to continue to engage 

with public health partners through various outreach opportunities to increase 

visibility of FSIS services available to stakeholders. 

20Strategic Plan Measure: Number/percentage of State and local partners who, because of FSIS outreach efforts, can provide information that improves 

identification of contaminated product. The FY 2017 survey provided a baseline from which FSIS defined targets and is measuring progress.

21FSIS Notice 45-16. Sharing Information with State or Local Agencies, Foreign Government Officials, and International Organizations. 

Strategic Plan Measure and FY 

2018 Target

• 73% (35) of State partners 

 indicate that they routinely 

 report to FSIS illness 

 outbreaks that may be 

 associated with 

 FSIS-regulated products20 

 (1.2.2.1)

FY 2018 Annual Plan 

Measure and Target

• Respond within 7 calendar 

 days to 90% of requests from 

 State and local health and 

 agriculture partners for 

 information regarding 

 foodborne illness 

 investigations21 

Improve Response to Foodborne Illness Outbreaks and 

Adulteration Events 
16

OUTCOME 1.2: LIMIT ILLNESS FROM REGULATED PRODUCTS 

 

RESULT 7 

FSIS continues to increase public awareness of recalls, foodborne illness, 

policies, and safe food-handling practices through a broad range of 

communications channels with the goal of reducing the rates of foodborne 

illness. The agency will continue strategic outreach through traditional media, 

social media, events, partnerships, educational materials, mobile applications, 

seasonal outreach, and other forms of public engagement to communicate the 

importance of food safety messages and inform the public of current recalls and 

public health alerts.

In FY 2018, FSIS will expand its proactive outreach efforts to the press; will 

continue to work with partners to serve as message multipliers to extend and 

expand the reach of safety messaging; and engage with the public and key 

stakeholders through traditional and new media. In FY 2017, the agency began a 

social science survey effort to conduct annual observational research on 

consumer adoption of safe food-handling practices. While this effort experienced 

delays in the planning phases of the project, the research is now underway and 

in FY 2018, FSIS will analyze the results to better understand ways to explain food 

safety risks to consumers. By making these changes, FSIS will reach more 

consumers with actionable and tested safety messages to increase public 

awareness of recalls, foodborne illness, and safe food-handling practices and 

promote positive behavior change.

Key activities for FY 2018 include achieving more proactive placements of stories 

about recalls, foodborne illness, and safe food-handling practices with 

national, regional/State, and local media; tracking the impressions these 

placements achieve; and training a limited number of field staff to serve as 

spokespeople during local interviews and food demonstrations. FSIS will also 

continue to increase engagement with the public and other key stakeholders 

through digital communications outreach and proactive briefings, and execute 

three food safety outreach-related initiatives. Other key activities will include 

tracking the quantity and quality of partnership activities/grassroots activities 

promoting safe food handling and establishing strategic plan baselines and 

targets to increase the percent of consumers identified through observational 

research who follow safe food-handling behavior goals. Results from this social 

science research will allow the agency to better explain consumer food-handling 

practices to the public and inform the creation of future communication 

materials.

22This indexed measure includes weighted metrics primarily of impressions, including direct connections, website traffic, application downloads, event 

participation, physical and digital educational material distribution, social media engagement, media impressions and emails distributed. The percentage 

represents more than 48 million weighted impressions as its target for FY 2018.

23The unexpected delay in starting work did not allow for a baseline and targets for this measure to be set. FSIS will set them in FY 2018 using the social 

science research that is underway. 

Strategic Plan Measures and 

FY 2018 Targets

• 5% increase in public 

 awareness of safe 

 food-handling guidance and 

 recalls through 

 communications channels22

 (1.2.3.1)

• % of consumers 

 identified who follow safe 

 food-handling behaviors23 

 (1.2.3.2)

GOAL 1: Prevent Foodborne Illness and Protect Public Health 

Increase Public Awareness of Recalls, Foodborne Illness, and 

Safe Food-Handling Practices 
17

Strategic Plan Measures and 

FY 2018 Targets

• 100% of all regulatory and 

 60% of non-regulatory 

 isolates that FSIS sampling 

 generates are subject to WGS 

 (2.1.1.1)

• 71.4% of establishments’ 

 non-compliance rate 

 decreases 120 days after 

 receiving an Early Warning 

 Alert25 (2.1.1.2)

FY 2018 Annual Plan 

Measure and Target

• Implement NPIS in 95% of 

 establishments that opted in 

 and are ready to adopt the 

 new system

OUTCOME 2.1: IMPROVE FOOD SAFETY AND HUMANE HANDLING PRACTICES 

THROUGH ADOPTION OF INNOVATIVE APPROACHES 

 

RESULT 8

GOAL 2: Modernize Inspection Systems, Policies, and the Use of Scientific Approaches

This Result focuses on identifying or developing innovative tools, techniques, 

and methodologies or approaches to support continued modernization. More 

specifically, FSIS will expand our WGS capacity, explore innovative inspector tools 

through pilot projects, and identify, pilot and, as appropriate, implement the use 

of new and innovative methodologies to improve hazard detection and response. 

This Result also focuses on enhancing Public Health Information System (PHIS) 

functionalities and data system interoperability. The goal is to provide our 

inspectors; enforcement, investigation, and analysis officers; and regulatory 

partners with the information they need to support decision making in a timely 

manner. Key activities in this Result aim to reduce consumer risks by ensuring 

that FSIS uses up-to-date practices, technology, and science to inform regulatory 

requirements, and inspection procedures and to systematically control and 

prevent hazards associated with FSIS-regulated products. 

Tools and Techniques 

Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS)

In FY 2017, FSIS used WGS to characterize 100% of pathogen isolates, including 

Salmonella, Campylobacter, Lm, and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) 

originating from regulatory samples. In addition, FSIS used WGS to characterize 

Salmonella, Campylobacter, and a subset of indicator isolates from 

non-regulatory samples.24 In FY 2018, FSIS, in consultation with appropriate 

stakeholders, will explore how to broaden the application for WGS in our 

regulatory framework and develop an action plan. In the short term, the agency 

plans to continue to use WGS to better understand Lm harborage in regulated 

establishments producing RTE products. In addition, FSIS plans to work with FDA 

and other partners to develop specific procedures for sharing WGS information 

involving dual jurisdiction establishments. Consistent with a Federal Register 

Notice (81 FR 7285), FSIS will develop criteria for determining when serotype, 

pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), antibiotic resistance, and WGS results 

should trigger a PHRE, and procedures for communicating actionable results from 

the laboratory to the field. In addition, FSIS will use WGS data to support 

enforcement actions in Category 3 establishments when applicable. More 

specifically, for poultry establishments that are Category 3 for Salmonella, FSIS 

will explore the use of WGS analysis with other existing techniques to determine 

if product isolates contain Salmonella of relevance to public health. The agency 

will use this information to develop a framework for regulatory considerations 

and subsequent inspection assignment actions.

24Additionally, all Salmonella, Campylobacter, and a select few E. coli and Enterococcus were also subject to WGS from the NARMS program, and a small 

fraction of Salmonella from USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service. 25This measure is calculated as the percent of establishments receiving a PHR Early Warning Alert whose PHR noncompliance (NC) rate is below the lower 

threshold for receiving an Early Warning Alert 120 days after receiving the alert. 

Modernize Scientific Techniques and Inspection 

Procedures 
18 GOAL 2: Modernize Inspection Systems, Policies, and the Use of Scientific Approaches 

Potential Inspector Tools

In FY 2017, FSIS assessed the utility of certain tools, such as for adenosine 

triphosphate (ATP) sampling of surfaces, and an imaging device that may be used 

to provide inspectors and other field staff with information to help them make 

sampling decisions in a timely manner. FSIS determined that the tools tested 

did not meet FSIS’ evaluation criteria (suitability, time to results, and usability by 

inspectors). In FY 2018, FSIS plans to explore other tools to assess their 

applicability in slaughter and processing establishments. The agency also plans to 

continue exploring the development and application of real-time microbiological 

testing methodology for field application. FSIS plans to continue the 

development of these tools in collaboration with USDA’s Agricultural Research 

Service (ARS) and other partners. Other activities related to modernization of 

procedures include establishing functionality in PHIS for tracking E. coli O157:H7 

Positive Suppliers (STEPS), Recall Management, and Industry Notification of 

Adulteration applications. 

Inspection Procedures and Approaches

FSIS will continue to monitor the number of establishments whose 

non-compliance rate decreases 120 days after receiving an early warning alert 

(EWA) for Public Health Regulations Noncompliance Records (PHR/NRs). 

Inspectors use EWAs to help plan their day-to-day activities with a focus on 

addressing specific food safety concerns. FSIS plans to begin assessing 

performance of individual establishments that fail to show improvement. In 

addition, FSIS is developing an early notice alert for Inspection Program Personnel 

(IPP) in poultry establishments whose performance is declining from Category 2 

to Category 3. 

FSIS will also continue to modernize inspection procedures and develop new 

approaches to assess the industry’s control of hazards. Specifically, FSIS will 

continue to implement NPIS in establishments that opt in and are ready to adopt 

the new system. This inspection system is designed to facilitate pathogen 

reduction in poultry products by focusing the agency’s online activities to provide 

for more efficient and effective carcass-by-carcass inspection, allowing some of 

the agency’s online resources to be used to perform additional offline inspection 

activities that are more effective in ensuring food safety. 

FSIS will also explore alternatives for evaluating the effectiveness of process 

control, and for identifying conditions that may lead to cross-contamination of 

product during slaughter and processing. This may include using 

food-contact-surface sampling at pre-op for Salmonella and STEC in select 

establishments. Similarly, FSIS recently assessed surface-sampling methods as a 

potential alternative to N-60 or grab sampling for collecting trim and other raw 

ground beef components. The agency plans to continue its collaboration with 

USDA’s Agricultural Research Service to perform a pilot study in FY 2018 to 

determine the applicability of this method to collect samples in FSIS-regulated 

establishments. FSIS also plans to explore how to best expand the Accredited 

Laboratory Program to include microbiological testing and to update analytic 

methods. This will provide FSIS additional flexibility to have commercial 

laboratories accredited to perform FSIS methods in the event that the agency 

requires additional analytical capacity.
 FSIS FY 2018 Annual Plan 19

OUTCOME 2.1: IMPROVE FOOD SAFETY AND HUMANE HANDLING PRACTICES 

THROUGH ADOPTION OF INNOVATIVE APPROACHES 

 

RESULT 9 Increase Adoption of Humane Handling Best Practices

This Result primarily focuses on livestock slaughter through using humane 

methods, with a specific focus on restraint and/or stunning of livestock to 

improve establishment compliance and reduce the risk of humane handling 

incidents at slaughter establishments. FSIS will communicate and train staff on 

these important requirements. 

This year, the agency will continue its enhanced education and outreach strategy 

recently designed to target small and very small establishments to ensure more 

consistent application of humane handling best practices and compliance with 

humane handling regulatory requirements. To support these efforts, FSIS plans 

to collect additional data from small and very small slaughter facilities through a 

survey, to solicit information on their knowledge gaps regarding humane handling 

regulations and policies and the format they would like to receive additional 

guidance from FSIS. Using the survey results, the agency will develop an action 

plan for implementing a new educational strategy focused on preventing multiple 

stun events resulting in FSIS enforcement actions.

FSIS also recently launched an initiative to increase understanding of signs of 

consciousness in livestock during the process of slaughter through a well-received 

training to approximately 65% of agency Public Health Veterinarians (PHVs), 

which will continue in FY 2018 to ensure the agency reaches the entire PHV 

population. FSIS will also begin training other field personnel responsible for 

livestock humane handling verification duties. FSIS will create and establish the 

training in AgLearn and make it available to assigned employees by early quarter 

2 FY 2018. In support of this effort, FSIS will design, create, and implement 

reference material on recognizing signs of consciousness in livestock on the IPP 

Help Button.

Last, the agency will also publish a Federal Register Notice (FRN) regarding its 

intent to hold livestock owners, transporters, haulers, and other persons not 

employed by an official establishment responsible if they inhumanely handle 

livestock in connection with slaughter while on the premises of an official 

establishment.26 The FRN will also describe any clarifications or revisions made in 

response to comments received in FY 2017, and announce the implementation 

date. The FRN should enhance the agency’s ability to ensure the humane 

handling of livestock in connection with slaughter and will not replace the 

agency’s existing humane handling enforcement responsibilities.

Strategic Plan Measure and 

FY 2018 Target

• 90% of slaughter 

 establishments are 

 compliant with all livestock 

 restraint and/or stunning 

 requirements (2.1.2.1)

FY 2018 Annual Plan 

Measure and Target

• Deliver refresher training to 

 40% of the 1,000 IPP in 

 livestock slaughter 

 establishments that are 

 responsible for Humane 

 Handling verification

26When livestock are handled inhumanely on official establishment premises, FSIS historically has taken enforcement action solely against the 

establishment, regardless of whether the establishment employs or otherwise holds a contractual relationship with the person that inhumanely handled 

the livestock. 
20 GOAL 2: Modernize Inspection Systems, Policies, and the Use of Scientific Approaches 

OUTCOME 2.2: ENHANCE ACCESS TO COMPLETE AND ACCURATE 

INFORMATION TO INFORM DECISIONS 

 

RESULT 10

This Result focuses on improvements to systems, tools, and communications that 

will enable FSIS employees and external stakeholders to more easily access and 

apply agency information. Improvements in the content, format, and delivery of 

information allow for more consistent implementation and better understanding 

of policy by both field employees and industry. Leveraging technology by 

developing and enhancing systems and tools (1) facilitates the timely distribution 

and coordination of information among agency employees, and (2) equips 

analysts with ways to synthesize the large volume of data and present quality 

analyses for informed and sound regulatory decision making and policy 

development for food safety.

In FY 2018, FSIS plans to continue several activities it began in FY 2017. This 

includes development of more tools to aid in access and visualization of FSIS data 

to assist IPP in performing inspection tasks, and to provide innovative ways of 

presenting guidance for industry, information to inspectors and consumers, and 

analysis with partners, such as: 

• Improving a server-based visualization program and integrating a Geographic 

 Information System modeling functionality, deploying an Analytics Portal, and 

 expanding data visualization access for FSIS analysts in headquarters and 

 district offices.

• Developing IPP job aids, continuing use of the IPP Help Button, and 

 implementing a protocol to receive field input on priorities for Directives and 

 Notices.

• Redesigning the Compliance Guideline Index webpage to aid in making 

 guidelines easier to find and more accessible and in reformatting and 

 condensing a key directive on safe and suitable ingredients for use in 

 FSIS-regulated products to make information easier to find for industry and 

 IPP. 

• Developing an action plan to promote industry control of allergens, including 

 revising directives and guidelines and identifying research needs. 

• Adding a Spanish version of the electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring 

 System (CCMS) form—which allows consumers to provide FSIS feedback on 

 food safety issues—and fully migrating approved CCMS functionality into 

 PHIS.

Strategic Plan Measures and 

FY 2018 Targets

• An increase of 1.2, up to 20 

 from a score of 18.8, of 

 analysts are able to access, 

 analyze, and visualize FSIS 

 data27 (2.2.1.1)

• 70% of employees have 

 online access to 

 FSIS-approved systems 

 (2.2.1.2)

• Four establishment-

 specific and other FSIS 

 datasets are made publicly 

 available (2.2.1.3)

FY 2018 Annual Plan 

Measure and Target

• Ensure that 97% of all 

 employees who need a 

 working LincPass have one28

27This measure calculates a weighted score, from survey results of FSIS data analysts who have access to and use FSIS’ major data systems (such as PHIS), 

who can and have verified that they analyze and visualize FSIS data using statistical or other software. FSIS will assess progress in achieving this measure 

through an annual survey of FSIS analysts. FSIS developed this measure because of its focus on continually modernizing the agency’s use of scientific 

approaches.

28FSIS anticipates increasing the number of employees issued LincPass with the deployment of credentialing stations, combined with an eDevice initiative 

for Food Inspectors. This 97% level represents an increase from FY 2017.

Improve the Reliability, Access, and Timely Collection 

and Distribution of Information and Data 
 FSIS FY 2018 Annual Plan 21

• Further developing and exploring new applications for the T-Cube web interface, in collaboration with the CDC and 

 States, to support illness outbreak analysis, as it enables the analysis and visualization of large datasets and the 

 needs of public health labs and epidemiologists at State, tribal, and Federal levels. 

• Continuing work on integrating data from a legacy system on residue violators into FSIS’ Analytics Portal.

After filming two videos in FY 2017 to provide guidance to industry on wet-bulb temperatures and humidity 

monitoring tools, FSIS also plans to develop and film additional video guidelines to be published online for easy access 

to industry, and to develop other innovative ways to present instructions to inspectors and guidelines to industry in FY 

2018. FSIS also plans to develop and hold webinars with several stakeholders on STEC issuances and on policy 

concerning intended use. Finally, FSIS will continue sharing key datasets and reports, having posted six 

establishment-specific datasets in FY 2017. Sharing these data allows FSIS better engagement with its stakeholders and 

enables them to have quality information on an ongoing basis.

FSIS aims for more employees to gain online access to FSIS-approved systems through increasing the availability of 

electronic devices to allow for use of such devices and to ensure access to FSIS training materials, data reports, and 

other information on the FSIS intranet. FSIS plans to implement a pilot program in two locations in the first quarter of 

FY 2018 to test a new method for obtaining eAuthorization certification and LincPass for employees within their first 

week on the job through the e-Onboarding program. If successful, this adjusted methodology will be implemented 

agency-wide, with LincPass credentialing stations placed in each District Office, allowing employees to obtain their 

LincPass during initial orientation at the District Office. Once established and operating nationwide, FSIS will establish 

a new baseline to determine the timeframe within which FSIS will expect that employees will obtain a LincPass after 

their first day of work.
22 GOAL 3: Achieve Operational Excellence 

OUTCOME 3.1: MAINTAIN A WELL-TRAINED AND ENGAGED WORKFORCE 

 

RESULT 11

This Result primarily focuses on continuing to implement an expanded set of 

incentives, strategies, and initiatives that will sustain or improve mission-critical 

hiring and improve retention, including for hard-to-fill locations. It also focuses on 

recruitment activities for specific populations, such as veterinarians, 

veterans, and IT professionals to support FSIS’ ability to maintain a diverse and 

highly qualified workforce. As a large majority of FSIS’ workforce is critical to the 

day-to-day oversight of inspection operations, these strategies help reduce the 

inherent risks the agency faces in ensuring a sufficient number of inspectors are 

in place to conduct inspection activities to prevent FSIS-regulated product 

contamination and ensure animals are humanely treated before slaughter. 

In FY 2017, FSIS launched a comprehensive hiring initiative to target 

veterinarians; one feature of the initiative has been to compress the 

pre-employment timeline by conducting an end-to-end recruiting event that 

provided individuals an opportunity to apply, and be evaluated, interviewed, and 

medically examined within the same week—and be able to make a 

tentative job offer. This business model provides a foundation for activities in FY 

2018 and beyond, utilizing teams composed of human resources (HR) 

professionals and field inspection experts to educate individuals on the mission 

and job requirements. The end-to-end model will target specific hard-to-fill 

locations; FSIS is using this model to acquire and fill its vacant veterinarian 

positions, with one related strategy being the continued acquisition of Malak 

scholars to fill veterinarian positions in FSIS hard-to-fill locations. In FY 2018, 

FSIS will also deploy additional recruiting, hiring, and retention strategies. These 

include the following: 

• Planning and executing two “onsite” targeted hiring events for mission 

 critical occupations. 

• Obtaining certifications from the U.S. Departments of Labor and Veterans 

 Affairs for the Army Apprenticeship program to target transitioning military 

 service members for food inspector and consumer safety inspector positions, 

 including building a cohort of up to 20 candidates from separating service 

 members to complete the program.

• Further developing and implementing a retention program that enables FSIS 

 to best utilize incentives, including for what duration and for what 

 occupations. This includes increasing marketing and providing incentives that 

 require continued Federal service agreements to improve retention.

Across both recruiting and retention, FSIS aims to provide sufficient incentives 

across defined time periods, for specific positions, and in hard-to-fill locations, 

including Student Loan Repayment opportunities, with caps on allocations across 

incentive categories. 

Strategic Plan Measures and 

FY 2018 Targets

• 95% of mission critical 

 frontline positions are filled 

 (3.1.1.1)

• 76% of employees remain 

 with FSIS for 2 years or more 

 (3.1.1.2)

FY 2018 Annual Plan 

Measure and Target

• 25 candidates complete 

 pre-employment activities 

 for each end-to-end 

 recruiting and hiring event 

 conducted, either onsite or 

 within 30 days of 

 participating in the event

Improve Recruitment and Retention for Mission Critical 

Positions 
FSIS FY 2018 Annual Plan 23

OUTCOME 3.1: MAINTAIN A WELL-TRAINED AND ENGAGED WORKFORCE 

 

RESULT 12

This Result focuses on delivering a range of training and development activities to 

FSIS employees, as well as developing and deploying competency models and skill 

gap assessments for key occupations to enhance employee training and 

development. FSIS continues to enhance and expand its training offerings through 

using new training delivery mechanisms and frequent course offerings. The FSIS 

workforce is critical to the day-to-day oversight of inspection operations, and 

these training strategies help reduce the inherent risks the agency faces in 

ensuring that its inspection workforce is sufficiently trained to prevent 

FSIS-regulated product contamination and to ensure animals are humanely 

treated before slaughter. 

This year, FSIS will continue to focus on expanding and transforming training 

programs and offerings. To date, FSIS has delivered training and established 

competency models in certain mission-critical occupations. The agency will 

maintain these training offerings while expanding programming to additional 

critical and non-mission-critical occupations and transforming how the agency delivers training. FSIS plans to complete training transformation of two courses in FY 

2018. FSIS will support a range of training and development activities, 

including: 

• Implementing a redesigned, interactive formal classroom program and 

 delivering courses for PHVs 4 times and Inspection Methods 10 times.

• Posting quick, on-demand, online refresher trainings and reference 

 materials.

• Employing alternative delivery methods and training approaches that are 

 suitable to the content and audiences FSIS is reaching—such as Virtual 

 Reality, a USDA-redesigned AgLearn, and an interactive learning platform. 

• Marketing and promoting increased Office of Field Operations participation 

 and use of online technical materials available through the IPP Help Button, 

 PHIS Help Button, FSIS Intranet, and AgLearn.

• Supporting external training offerings to both maintain competencies and fill 

 key gaps in key areas.

• Promoting and monitoring Individual Development Plan (IDP) participation 

 for non-bargaining unit employees to reach a level at which 95% of 

 employees who want IDPs have them, and considering enhancements to the 

 IDP process and its effectiveness. 

• Further developing the agency’s Supervisor Help Button. 

• Providing access to visuals such as photographs, animations, videos, 

 point-of-view reference materials, and 360-degree videos. 

Strategic Plan Measures and 

FY 2018 Targets

• Achieve a 2% increase in 

 knowledge gained in key 

 occupations within 180 days29 

 (3.1.2.1)

• 25% of the workforce’s skill 

 gaps have been assessed 

 (3.1.2.2)

Enhance Training and Development Opportunities 

Across Competency Areas 

29The baseline for this measure is 77.8%. FSIS aims to reach 80.9% in FY 2018. 
24 GOAL 3: Achieve Operational Excellence 

Leadership training will focus on offerings/opportunities to improve leadership and management competencies in the 

areas of accountability, vision, problem solving, and leveraging diversity. Inspection and technical training will focus on 

competencies in staff through new and expanded offerings, such as in data and information analysis, animal pathology, 

regulation compliance, consumer safety knowledge, and critical thinking. 

To measure progress, FSIS will assess knowledge gained from these efforts using updated methods to analyze training 

results to better interpret and measure training outcomes, such as factoring supervisor assessment survey results with 

pre-and post-training test scores. FSIS will also continue to analyze and use Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) 

results and employee responses to training and FSIS’ annual surveys to advance content development and training 

delivery, and to interpret and measure outcomes. 

Due to an unexpected delay, initial work on competency gap assessments and development of specific new 

competency models was not completed in FY 2017. FSIS will continue its work on competency gaps in the PHV and IT 

occupations, and will continue to develop a competency model for food inspectors. FSIS plans to substantially 

complete the PHV and IT competency assessments this year and to complete a portion of Consumer Safety Inspector 

and Food Inspector competency assessments. 
FSIS FY 2018 Annual Plan 25

OUTCOME 3.1: MAINTAIN A WELL-TRAINED AND ENGAGED WORKFORCE 

 

RESULT 13

This Result focuses on ensuring and enhancing FSIS’ commitment to Equal 

Employment Opportunity (EEO) and employee engagement. The agency will 

continue required activities, such as distributing policy statements and 

conducting compliance reviews, and will continue to promote the use of 

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and ensure fair, timely, and efficient 

processing of EEO complaints. This Result also focuses on activities that increase 

and enhance employee engagement, such as i-Impact, Special Emphasis 

Programs (SEP), promoting work/life and wellness programs, and other related 

activities, and determining means by which to meaningfully assess their 

effectiveness. In FY 2017, FSIS launched key enhancements to its EEO and 

diversity activities, such as developing a comprehensive ADR marketing plan and 

enhancing its EEO and civil rights training program to help prevent complaints. To 

increase the use of ADR to resolve EEO complaints, FSIS developed a plan for 

publicizing its ADR program and communicating the effectiveness of its ADR 

services in resolving workplace conflict. FSIS also began utilizing competency 

assessment questions in its EEO and civil rights training to gauge employees’ 

understanding of key EEO and civil rights concepts and to ensure that employees 

understand that discrimination is illegal and prohibited in the workplace. FSIS 

also increased the number of annual EEO compliance reviews it conducts to help 

ensure compliance across programs and districts with EEO and civil rights policies, 

regulations, and laws.

In FY 2018, FSIS will continue these efforts and other key activities. FSIS will 

continue to issue USDA EEO and civil rights policies; meet with leadership to 

review open complaint activity and potential barriers to equal employment; 

complete mandatory EEO and civil rights reports; ensure fair, timely, and efficient 

processing of complaints; and manage key programs such as the EEO Advisory 

Committees and the SEP. In implementing its ADR marketing plan, FSIS will issue 

mandatory ADR training to all employees and host an ADR lunch-and-learn series. 

The agency will also continue to refine its training program by assessing training 

competency data to inform development of future trainings. In addition, using 

an FY 2017 internal assessment of its EEO compliance review process, FSIS will 

streamline the process to ensure that the agency conducts compliance reviews of 

programs and districts in an effective manner that delivers valuable, 

actionable recommendations aimed toward improving the agency’s overall EEO 

and civil rights results. 

In FY 2017, FSIS made key strides in employee engagement by launching Phase II 

of i-Impact, which included introducing agency employees to the new Strategic 

Plan through in-person briefings. In FY 2018, FSIS will use data from feedback it 

has gathered on i-Impact, as well as 2017 Customer Service Survey results, to 

further target engagement on how employees receive information and on what 

topics. FSIS also plans to launch a process for more standardized new employee 

orientation so that more employees across the country have a basic and 

consistent introduction to FSIS activities and functions. 

Strategic Plan Measures and 

FY 2018 Targets

• Achieve a 43% Alternative 

 Dispute Resolution 

 acceptance rate for formal 

 and informal EEO complaints 

 (3.1.3.1), and resolve 61% of 

 informal complaints

• 78% of employees 

 who completed mandatory 

 training satisfied the EEO/CR 

 competency requirements30 

 (3.1.3.2)

• Achieve 68.66% on key 

 employee engagement FEVS 

 questions31 (3.1.3.3)

FY 2018 Annual Plan 

Measure and Target

• Counsel a minimum of 99% 

 of all informal EEO 

 complaints in the required 

 timely manner

30FSIS is assessing progress in achieving this measure through use of scenario-based and other questions embedded in mandatory training for employees, 

to assess their understanding of the material. 

31FSIS’ FY 2017 target was 67.95%. The online survey had a 60% response rate for 6,957 recipients for the electronic version and a 48% response rate for 

2,000 recipients for the paper version of the survey.

Ensure Equal Opportunity and a Diverse and Inclusive 

Environment 
26 GOAL 3: Achieve Operational Excellence 

OUTCOME 3.2: IMPROVE PROCESSES AND SERVICES 

 

RESULT 14 

This Result focuses on ensuring FSIS’ business practices and systems are efficient 

and effective, and increasingly enabling FSIS personnel—in particular its frontline 

workforce—to dedicate more of their time to day-to-day mission activities. FSIS 

continues to further align and enhance organizational business and management 

processes, data flows, and technology to support sound operations, with a 

particular focus on HR, IT, and procurement. These activities will help reduce 

inherent risks associated with processes and systems by better optimizing them 

to improve reliability or accessibility and to ensure FSIS adequately supports its 

personnel. 

 

FSIS will leverage progress from FY 2017 activities to enhance strategic human 

capital planning activities; procurement, IT, and Freedom of Information Act 

(FOIA) processes; external audit and internal evaluation processes; and further 

build out or complete budget and financial management system enhancements 

in FY 2018. Examples include the following:

Human Resources: In FY 2018, FSIS anticipates completing a full position review 

based on forecasted requirements and modernization initiatives to proportionally 

align its front line and non-frontline workforces. The subsequent workforce 

reshaping will progress as FSIS implements modernization efforts that provides 

for a sustainable frontline-to-support ratio. 

Procurement: After a review of previous years’ acquisitions, and to better project 

the upcoming FY 2018 acquisition workload, FSIS will hold meetings with each 

program area to develop an acquisition plan for upcoming acquisitions early 

in the fiscal year, and by mid-year or earlier, will have designed and developed 

acquisition strategies for all FY 2018 procurement actions in collaboration with 

program stakeholders. 

IT: FSIS will continue to evaluate and refine its processes and IT Roadmap, 

including increasing the use of cloud and mobile technologies as possible, to 

ensure its business technology and enterprise architecture will continue to meet 

its evolving mission and increasingly mobile workforce. FSIS will design these 

streamlined processes and innovative technologies to help support workforce 

productivity and, in FY 2018, respond to updated Departmental and Federal 

requirements. This also includes launching version 2.0 of the IT Procurement 

Process Toolkit and doing further IT roadmapping activities, such as a multi-year 

transition plan to more cloud and mobile technology and continuing the 

transition to more Agile methodologies. 

Strategic Plan Measure and 

FY 2018 Target

• 75% of defined process times 

 met for hiring, procurement, 

 and IT32 (3.2.1.1)

FY 2018 Annual Plan 

Measure and Target

• FSIS took actions on 70% of 

 FSIS-administered surveys 

 and evaluations 

32FSIS uses an indexed measure to drive improvements related to meeting defined process times for hiring, procurement, and IT. In FY 2017, FSIS set an 

initial baseline for specific components of these processes, and it is conducting additional work on remaining components in FY 2018. Hiring: FSIS has 

assessed and targeted the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)-required time of 80 days, and added assessment of pre-recruit activities, which 

captures activities prior to submission of the manager’s request to fill a position. FSIS is using 131 days as a baseline, which includes the 80 days under 

OPM hiring guidance. The FSIS target is meeting 131 days or less for 75% of the hiring actions. IT: This measure calculates the process times for which 

development, modernization, and enhancement investments are met for specific projects. The FY 2018 target is 80%. Procurement: FSIS is defining this 

baseline in Q1 FY 2018. Separately, FSIS will also continue to use internal process time metrics for resolving grievances and unfair labor practices 

complaints as well as preparing and deciding on discipline cases. 

Enhance Efficiency and Effectiveness of Key Business 

Processes and Systems 
FSIS FY 2018 Annual Plan 27

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): FSIS will focus its FOIA efforts this year on improving customer service through 

an enhanced FOIA process and continued training of FSIS personnel. This enhanced FOIA process will include making 

public the types of sampling data FSIS collects, consistent engagement of a broader array of subject matter experts 

from across FSIS, and enhanced communication with stakeholders. FSIS will also conduct several training sessions with 

FSIS staff that highlight all employees’ responsibilities under FOIA, ensuring knowledge of FSIS processes and 

requirements, and improving the quality and timeliness of FOIA responses. 

Evaluation and Audit: FSIS continues to use enterprise-wide approaches to process and program evaluations, audit 

recommendations, and other areas to improve how FSIS does business. For example, in FY 2018, the agency plans 

to conduct at least three new evaluations, several surveys, and other analyses in high-priority areas to help enhance 

program or process efficacy. 

 

Financial Systems: FSIS will continue work on building or modifying interfaces and automating business processes, 

increasing analysis capabilities, and gaining efficiencies in transforming complex financial data into practical 

information. This includes completing several large Department-wide and FSIS-specific projects related to budgeting 

and financial management, such as the implementation of a new Department-wide relocation tracking and execution 

system and a major Financial Reporting Improvements Optimization project. The agency will also continue to support 

the modernization of its export certificate process and industry billing processes.
28 GOAL 3: Achieve Operational Excellence 

OUTCOME 3.2: IMPROVE PROCESSES AND SERVICES 

 

RESULT 15 Improve Service Delivery

In parallel with Result 14, this Result focuses on the delivery of high-quality 

services in a responsive manner—particularly, but not only, in acquisition 

management, human resources, and IT. FSIS continues to develop and maintain a 

more robust service standard that is more attuned to individual and 

organizational needs. In addition, FSIS has emphasized more and better 

communication across mission and servicing organizations to ensure 

informational needs are met, mutual accountabilities are clearly known, and 

outcomes are shared and mutually beneficial. 

The agency will leverage progress from FY 2017 activities to enhance customer 

satisfaction in HR, procurement processes, and IT governance analyses in FY 2017 

into FY 2018. In HR, FSIS will utilize the results of the Departmental competency 

gap assessment for HR specialists to develop approaches to close gaps and thus 

improve the quality of recruiting and staffing service delivery. Additionally, FSIS 

will maintain or improve upon its survey results for hiring managers and 

applicants as provided through the Office of Personnel Management. In IT, FSIS 

will improve its approval process and customer support procedures to increase 

customer satisfaction and workforce productivity. For example, FSIS plans to use 

recent survey results to inform how to make improvements to the customer 

experience when requesting new hardware or software. It further includes 

working with FSIS program areas to launch and implement innovative ways to 

visually display information to support decision making. 

In FY 2018, FSIS will analyze data from recent surveys on services within FSIS; 

these data will inform decisions on potential enhancements and whether the 

agency may, for example, have sufficient demand to develop and offer courses 

on specific skills within FSIS, rather than individually or in specific program areas 

on an ad hoc basis. Further, FSIS will use survey data on employee preferences 

related to course access and delivery. The agency also gathered new data on 

employee views of the individual development plan process that may inform 

decisions on how programs may enhance their processes, as well as several other 

areas. FSIS will use the survey information to continue to incorporate on-demand, 

online resource information and customer feedback materials into the IPP Help 

and new Supervisor Help button to increase customer satisfaction.

Strategic Plan Measure and 

FY 2018 Target

• 60% satisfaction with key 

 FSIS services (3.2.2.1)

FY 2018 Annual Plan 

Measure and Target

• Improve timeliness and 

 thoroughness of IT 

 representative support after 

 escalation subscores for IT 

 desk by 1.5% to 54.5%
29

CROSS-CUTTING 

RESULT 16 Enhance Collaboration With Our Partners

FSIS maintains a multitude of partnerships and collaborations, many of which are 

referenced throughout this Annual Plan. The information below represents 

activities in this area beyond those in Results 1 through 15, especially those 

related to foodborne illness surveillance and monitoring, interagency data and 

analysis coordination, and additional scientific activities. 

Foodborne Illness Surveillance and Monitoring

PulseNet: Continue to engage and participate in this molecular subtyping 

network through data sharing, participation in meetings and trainings (both as 

trainees and serving as faculty), and network enhancements (software validations 

and multi-agency pilot projects). FSIS will continue collaborations with public 

health partners at CDC through annual in-person visits with PulseNet and NARMS 

staffs to exchange ideas and knowledge concerning technologies and public 

health concerns.

Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet): Continue 

engagement in the recently launched multi-year FoodNet Population Survey to 

more precisely estimate the burden of acute diarrheal illness, to describe the 

frequency of important exposures, and to assess diarrheal illness, 

healthcare-seeking behaviors, and food consumption and handling practices. 

When the survey is completed, FSIS will use the data to assess consumer 

behavior related to key food safety steps and engage with partner foodborne 

illness outbreak investigators using the data to explore potential sources of 

infection.

Partnership for Food Protection (PFP):33 Continue involvement in PFP’s 

Surveillance, Response, and Post-response workgroups in FY 2018 in working on 

best practices and new and ongoing deliverables.

Interagency Data and Risk Analysis Coordination

Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration (IFSAC): In FY 2018, FSIS will 

chair the Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration, as well as continue to 

actively participate in the IFSAC Steering Committee and Technical Work Group. 

This includes work on ongoing projects to incorporate multi-ingredient foods into 

foodborne illness attribution estimates; new projects using WGS to estimate 

Salmonella Enteritidis attribution; hosting technical webinars; and publishing work 

on harmonized attribution estimates in peer-reviewed journals and on the IFSAC 

website. 

33The Partnership for Food Protection (PFP) is a group of professionals from Federal, State, and local governments with roles in protecting the food supply 

and public health. PFP is the structure used to coordinate representatives with expertise in numerous specialties—food, feed, epidemiology, 

laboratory, animal health, environment, and public health—to integrate activities in the food safety system. PFP is led by a Governing Council of members 

from Federal, State, and local agencies, for which FSIS has a non-voting representative; Governing Council is responsible for oversight and management 

of the overall Partnership.

RESULT 16 FSIS FY 2018 Annual Plan
30 RESULT 16 

Interagency Risk Assessment Consortium (IRAC): In FY 2018, FSIS will continue 

to co-chair the Interagency Risk Assessment Consortium Policy Council with FDA, 

providing leadership IRAC decision making and governance among 22 Federal 

agencies and sub-agencies. FSIS will also actively participate in the IRAC Technical 

Committee to strengthen cross-agency coordination and communication with the 

sharing of information, data, modeling, and tools to support national assessments 

of existing and emerging food safety risks and exposure to foodborne hazards. In 

FY 2018, FSIS’ primary focus will be to further working group efforts to advance 

the conduct of food safety risk assessments through the application of whole 

genome sequence data. 

Interagency Collaboration on Genomics for Food and Feed Safety (Gen-FS):34

In FY 2018, FSIS will continue to engage Gen-FS’ shared vision to further 

strengthen coordination, data leveraging, and harmonization of activities across 

partners, and formalize the most current Gen-FS charter.

Additional Scientific Activities

FSIS Research Priorities: FSIS reviews and updates its Research Priorities annually. 

Recent updates focus on humane handling, allergens, and foodborne outbreaks 

associated with rotisserie chicken and roaster swine. In FY 2018, these updates 

will be communicated to USDA ARS and USDA National Institute of Food and 

Agriculture as well as government, academic, and industry food safety 

researchers. These efforts facilitate research that provides a science-based 

foundation for FSIS policy development and implementation. In addition, FSIS 

will explore options to collaborate with food safety research partners to develop 

multiple species identification methodology into a single analytical platform.

Advisory Committees: In FY 2018, FSIS will act in accordance with direction from 

USDA in continuing to lead the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological 

Criteria for Foods with FDA, CDC, and the U.S. Departments of Commerce and 

Defense, and to provide administrative staff support to committee and 

subcommittee meetings. FSIS will similarly act as directed by the Department on 

leading and providing administrative support for the National Advisory 

Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection.

34Gen-FS is an interagency group with agency leaders from FDA, CDC, FSIS, ARS, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the National Center for 

Biotechnology Information at the National Institutes of Health, with the primary function to coordinate, strengthen, and lead U.S. WGS efforts among 

Federal and State partners and further improve public health. The group works on crosscutting priorities for molecular sequencing of foodborne and 

other zoonotic pathogens causing human illness—for data collection and analysis and for the use of these data in support of surveillance and outbreak 

investigation activities. 
FSIS FY 2018 Annual Plan 31

Notes
32

Notes
FSIS CORE VALUES

ACCOUNTABLE

FSIS holds itself accountable in fulfilling its regulatory 

mission and in serving the public interest.

COLLABORATIVE

FSIS actively promotes and encourages collaboration 

within our agency and with our partners to prevent 

illness and protect public health.

EMPOWERED

FSIS employees are empowered with the necessary 

training, tools, and approaches they need to make and 

carry out informed decisions that protect public health 

and promote food safety.

SOLUTIONS-ORIENTED

FSIS is committed to deploying effective, 

evidence-based solutions to ensure that the Nation’s 

food supply is safe.

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. 

November 2017