USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service 

Annual Sampling Summary Report 

Fiscal Year 2023 

U.S. Department of Agriculture 

Food Safety and Inspection Service 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents 

Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 3 

Summary of Sampling ................................................................................................................................... 3 

1. Domestic Microbiological Sampling.................................................................................................. 3 

Raw Beef Products ................................................................................................................................ 3 

Raw Pork Products ................................................................................................................................ 9 

Raw Poultry Products..........................................................................................................................10 

Ready-to-Eat (RTE) Products...............................................................................................................15 

2. Domestic Chemical Residue Sampling ............................................................................................17 

National Residue Program ..................................................................................................................17 

a. Surveillance Sampling Plan .........................................................................................................17 

b. Inspector-Generated Sampling Plan ...........................................................................................22 

3. Import Sampling..............................................................................................................................27 

a. Import Microbiological Sampling................................................................................................27 

b. Import Residue Sampling............................................................................................................30 

4. Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) Initiatives................................................................................32 

5. National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS)...................................................32 

6. Other Sampling ...............................................................................................................................33 

Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................34 

2 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) inspects meat, poultry, 

and egg products to ensure that the food produced is safe, wholesome, and properly labeled. 

Verification activities serve to protect the public from foodborne hazards. A key FSIS inspection 

verification activity is the sampling of product for microbiological contaminants or chemical residues. 

Each new fiscal year (FY), FSIS develops its Annual Sampling Plan in alignment with the Agency’s 

Strategic Plan goals, outcomes, objectives and measures, as well as the Agency’s Annual Plan. The 

Annual Sampling Plan identifies changes planned to FSIS sampling programs and describes the Agency’s 

overall strategy for directing its sampling resources. This report, the FY 2023 Annual Sampling 

Summary Report, summarizes the activities and provides an overview of results for the products the 

Agency sampled during FY 2023 (October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023). 

FSIS routinely evaluates sampling data, posts these data (including establishment-specific datasets) to 

the FSIS website, and shares data through quarterly letters directly with regulated establishments. These 

data include FSIS pathogen verification data, FSIS National Residue Program data, and import data. 

These data are used in a variety of ways, including monitoring the effectiveness of Hazard Analysis and 

Critical Control Points plans, informing Agency policymaking, estimating public health impact, and 

advising strategic and performance planning. 

Summary of Sampling 

Each sampling project has a unique description name and alphanumeric data system code; both are 

commonly used when discussing sampling projects and are included in this report. For microbiological 

analyses, FSIS analyzes sampling data and calculates either percent positive or prevalence. “Percent 

positive” is defined as the percentage of samples of a specific FSIS-regulated product where a specific 

pathogen is detected. “Prevalence” is defined as the estimated proportion, nationally, of a specific FSISregulated product with a specific pathogen. In FY 2023, microbiological sampling results include 

Salmonella isolates (the top three serotypes) that are associated with given FSIS-regulated products. 

Additionally, indicator organisms (Aerobic and Enterobacteriaceae) are summarized for applicable 

commodities in this report. More information on sampling definitions can be found on the FSIS website 

sampling results data dictionary. 

This report separates sampling results into various sections: domestic microbiological sampling, 

domestic chemical residue sampling as conducted through the National Residue Program, import 

sampling, and all other sampling. FSIS continues to focus on its mission to protect public health and 

prevent foodborne illness in several different ways. Each section in the report below identifies any new 

sampling activities designed to further food safety and policy changes. 

1. Domestic Microbiological Sampling 

Raw Beef Products 

FSIS collects raw beef samples from Federally inspected establishments and retail firms to verify that 

products are not adulterated and that establishments have systems in place to address pathogens. FSIS 

schedules sample collection monthly by randomly selecting establishments from the current population 

that produce eligible products ( 

3 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 1) . The frequency of sampling at any establishment is based on the volume of eligible products 

(FSIS Directive 10,010.1). On February 1, 2023, the Agency expanded its routine verification testing for 

six Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli that are adulterants (non-O157 STEC; O26, O45, O103, O111, 

O121, or O145), in addition to the adulterant Escherichia coli (E. coli ) O157:H7, to ground beef, bench 

trim, and other raw ground beef components in addition to raw beef manufacturing trimmings in official 

establishments (FRN FSIS-2010-0023). FSIS also began testing for these non-O157 STEC in ground beef 

samples that are collected at retail stores and collected imported raw beef products. 

In FY 2023, changes in the Beef product sampling included: 

• Expanding non-O157 STEC analysis to all raw beef products previously analyzed only for E. 

coli O157:H7, 

• Discontinuing the beef manufactured trimmings cloth comparison study, 

• Replacing the N60 excision sampling technique with the cloth sampling technique for 

routine verification sampling of domestic beef manufacturing trimmings and bench trim 

(FRN FSIS–2022–0019), 

• Investigating options for enumeration of positive Salmonella samples, and 

• Increasing allocations for exploratory beef carcass sampling (pre- and post-evisceration) 

samples due to additional establishment(s) operating under beef modernization waivers1 . 

Follow-up samples are a tool FSIS uses to verify whether the establishment has taken effective 

corrective action in response to an initial STEC positive detected through routine FSIS verification 

testing. FSIS collects raw beef follow-up samples in response to a STEC-positive finding from routine 

sampling. Raw beef follow-up samples (including samples collected from retail) are analyzed for all 

adulterant STEC and Salmonella. For ground beef product or bench trim samples that are positive for 

STEC, FSIS also collects follow-up samples from suppliers when suppliers provide source materials (Table 

4). 

For more information on source materials sampled, the sample project summary, sample method, and 

product sampled, see the FSIS Directive 10,010.1 Informational Dashboard and select the appropriate 

sample code for more information. 

1 Establishments currently participating in the Salmonella Initiative Program (SIP), a regulatory waiver program 

(https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/2022-06/SIP-waiver_table.pdf). 

4 
 

 

 

Table 1. FSIS’ Raw Beef Verification Sampling 

FSIS has five verification sampling codes and corresponding follow-up sampling codes. 

Raw Beef Sampling Sample Project Description Corresponding Follow-Up 

Verification Code Sampling Code 

MT43 Raw ground beef MT53 or MT441 

MT60_C2 Beef manufacturing trimmings produced from MT53 

cattle slaughtered onsite 

MT64 Raw ground beef components other than trim, MT53 

produced from cattle slaughtered onsite 

MT65_C2 Bench trim produced from cattle not MT52 or MT53 

slaughtered onsite 

MT05 Raw ground beef in commerce MT06 1FSIS also conducts MT44T_C follow-up sampling for positive samples not from FSIS verification sampling (e.g., traceback 

related to outbreaks). 2FSIS revised the project code to include “_C” in February 2023 for project which adopted the cloth sampling methodology. 

5 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 2. FY 2023 Summary of FSIS’ Raw Beef Verification Sampling Programs 

FY 2023 results for FSIS’ five verification sampling codes for detecting E. coli O157:H7 and/or non-O157 STECs (including O26, O45, O103, O111, 

O121, and O145) and Salmonella (including the top 3 serotypes for each sampling project) in raw beef product samples. 

Number of Number of Top 3 Salmonella Prevalence or Product Name and Number Type of Pathogen Establishments Samples serotypes per sampling Percent Positive Project Code Positive Calculation2 

Sampled Analyzed project1 Calculation 

E. coli O157:H7 1,093 3,523 2 N/A Prevalence 0.06% 

Raw Ground Beef 

MT43 Salmonella spp. 1,292 11,147 108 

Montevideo (19) 17.6% 

Muenchen (12) 11.1% 

Anatum (8) 7.41% 

Prevalence 0.97% 

STEC3 1,241 7,624 21 N/A Prevalence 0.28% 

Beef Manufacturing 

Trim 

MT60_C4 

Salmonella spp. 

STEC 

937 

1,334 

3,441 

4,588 

49 

14 

Dublin (7) 14.3% 

Montevideo (6) 12.2% 

Anatum (3) 6.12% 

N/A 

Prevalence 

Prevalence 

1.42% 

0.31% 

Raw Ground Beef 

Components other 

than Trim 

MT64 

E. coli O157:H7 

Salmonella spp. 

STEC 

62 

116 

111 

443 

1,314 

871 

1 

62 

6 

N/A 

Montevideo (12) 19.4% 

Anatum (10) 16.1% 

Muenchen (6) 9.68% 

N/A 

Percent Positive 

Percent Positive 

Percent Positive 

0.23% 

4.72% 

0.69% 

E. coli O157:H7 269 477 0 N/A Percent Positive 0.00% 

Bench Trim 

MT65_C Salmonella spp. 699 1,408 8 

Dublin (1) 12.5% 

Infantis (1) 12.5% 

Muenster (1) 12.5% 

Percent Positive 0.57% 

STEC 430 931 6 N/A Percent Positive 0.64% 

E. coli O157:H7 191 191 1 N/A Percent Positive 0.52% 

Raw Ground Beef In- Montevideo (2) 18.2% 

Commerce Salmonella spp. 504 506 11 Anatum (1) 9.1% Percent Positive 2.17% 

MT05 Bareilly (1) 9.1% 

STEC 314 315 1 N/A Percent Positive 0.32% 

1 Percent of each serotype = (Number of isolates of the serotype/total number of Salmonella from the sampling project). The numerator is within parentheses. 

2 Percent positive is 100*(the total number of positive samples divided by the total number of tested samples). Prevalence is a calculated percentage that takes into account 

establishment production volumes and the volume of contaminated product. See the sampling results data dictionary on the FSIS website for a detailed description of prevalence. 

3 STEC (Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli) includes non-O157 STEC; O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, or O145. 

4 FSIS revised the project code to include “_C” in February 2023 for the project, which adopted the cloth sampling methodology. 

5 MT05 ground beef samples are collected from retail firms, not Federal establishments. 

6 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 3. FY 2023 Summary of FSIS’ Beef Sanitary Indicator Organisms 

FY 2023 results for FSIS’ beef sanitary indicator organisms (Aerobic count MPN/ml) in raw beef product 

samples. 

Product Name and 

Project Code 

Number of 

Establishments 

Sampled 

Number of 

Samples 

Analyzed 

Number of 

Samples 

Detected 

Mean Plate 

Count1 (MPN/mL) 

Percent 

Detection2 

Beef Slaughter Waiver 

Sampling - Postintervention/Pre-chill 9 563 164 4.7 x 104 29.1% 

MT_PRECH 

Beef Slaughter Waiver 

Sampling - Preevisceration/Post-hide 9 564 553 3.9 x 104 98.0% 

removal 

MT_PSTHR 

1 Mean of the results of every sample (greater than 10 MPN/ml) in countable range with +/- std). 

2 Percent detection (% of samples greater than 10 MPN/ml detected over number of positive samples divided by the total 

number of tested samples). 

7 
 

 

 

Table 4. FY 2023 Summary of FSIS’ Beef Follow-Up Sampling Programs 

FY 2023 follow-up testing results in raw beef product samples in response to samples positive for either E. coli O157:H7 or non-O157 STEC in the 

verification sampling projects are shown. 

Product Name and Project Code1 Pathogen 

Number of 

Establishments 

Sampled 

Number of 

Samples 

Analyzed 

Number 

Positive 

Percent Positive 

Calculation 

Raw Ground Beef 

MT44 

E. coli O157:H7 

Salmonella spp. 

STEC 

2 

9 

8 

27 

123 

96 

0 

1 

0 

0.00% 

0.81% 

0.00% 

Trim and Components Salmonella spp. 11 98 7 7.14% 

MT52_C STEC 13 116 3 2.59% 

MT44T_C 

Salmonella spp. 

STEC 

1 

2 

16 

16 

0 

0 

0.00% 

0.00% 

Beef Manufacturing Trim Salmonella spp. 44 469 16 3.41% 

MT53_C STEC 64 613 4 0.65% 1

No MT06 samples were collected in FY 2023. 

8 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raw Pork Products 

FSIS tests raw pork product samples for Salmonella and aerobic count indicator organisms. FSIS began 

sampling raw pork products in May 2015 (80 FR 3940) to test for pathogens of public health concern. 

FSIS collects samples from eligible establishments producing greater than 6,000 pounds of comminuted 

product and eligible establishments producing greater than 50,000 pounds per day of pork cuts, both 

intact and non-intact (Table 5). In FY 2023, no changes were made to pork product sampling for 

Salmonella. However, aerobic count testing was suspended in February 2023. 

Table 5. FSIS’ Raw Pork Sampling 

FSIS has two raw pork sampling codes. FSIS does not conduct follow-up sampling for pork products. 

Raw Pork Sample Project Description 

Sampling Code 

HC_PK_CUT01 Intact and Non-Intact Pork Cuts 

HC_PK_COM01 Comminuted Pork 

Table 6. FY 2023 Results for FSIS’ Raw Pork Sampling Program 

FY 2023 results for sampling in raw pork products to detect Salmonella are shown below. 

Product Name Number of Number of Top 3 Salmonella Percent Number and Pathogen Establishments Samples serotypes per sampling Positive Positive Project Code Sampled Analyzed project1 Calculation 

Comminuted Anatum (129) 12.0% Salmonella Pork 318 6,208 1,079 I 4,[5],12:i:- (96) 8.90% 17.4% 

spp. HC_PK_COM01 Infantis (78) 7.23% 

Intact and Non- I 4,[5],12:i:- (20) 11.8% Intact Pork Salmonella 106 2,347 170 Derby (17) 10.0% 7.24% Cuts spp. Infantis (17) 10.0% HC_PK_CUT01 1 Percent of each serotype = (Number of isolates of the serotype/total number of Salmonella from the sampling project). The 

numerator is within parentheses. 

9 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 7. FY 2023 Summary of FSIS’ Raw Pork Indicator Organisms 

FY 2023 results for FSIS’ pork indicator organisms (Aerobic count MPN/g) in raw pork product samples. 

Product Name and 

Project Code 

Number of 

Establishments 

Sampled 

Number of 

Samples 

Analyzed 

Number of 

Samples 

Detected 

Mean Plate 

Count1 (MPN/g) 

Percent 

Detection2 

Comminuted Pork 

HC_PK_COM01 205 2, 031 2,031 1.4 x 104 100% 

Intact and Non-Intact 

Pork Cuts 64 761 760 2.6 x 104 99.9% 

HC_PK_CUT01 

1 Mean of the results of every sample (greater than 10 MPN/g) in countable range with +/- std). 

2 Percent detection (% of samples greater than 10 MPN/g detected over number of positive samples divided by the total 

number of tested samples). 

Raw Poultry Products 

FSIS samples Federally inspected poultry establishments to verify whether eligible products meet 

applicable Salmonella performance standards (81 FR 7285).2 Eligible products were scheduled for 

sampling 1 to 5 times per month throughout the year (based on the volume of product produced at 

establishments), thereby allowing FSIS to define a category3 for each product, based on 10 to 60 sample 

results. All samples are tested for Salmonella and Campylobacter (Table 8). Other products (quarter or 

half chicken carcasses and mechanically separated chicken and turkey) were also sampled but at lower 

numbers per establishment (Table 8). These other products are under exploratory sampling and not 

under performance standards. In April and August 2022, issued new sampling instructions to the field 

(FSIS Notice 21-22, which was replaced by FSIS Notice 44-22). The notices added a new hot rehang 

sampling point to collect information on aerobic counts, Salmonella presence and enumeration for 

comparison with the existing post-chill sampling location. 

2 Product eligibility described at FSIS Establishment Eligibility Criteria for the Salmonella Verification Sampling Program and FSIS 

Scheduling Algorithm for the Salmonella Verification Sampling Program for Raw Meat and Poultry (usda.gov) 

3 Salmonella Verification Testing Program Monthly Posting | Food Safety and Inspection Service (usda.gov) 

10 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 8. FY 2023 Sampling Result Summary for FSIS’ Raw Poultry Sampling Programs 

FY 2023 sampling results for Salmonella and Campylobacter in raw poultry product samples are shown. Results do not include follow-up sample 

data. 

Number Prevalence or Product Name Number of of Number Top 3 Salmonella serotypes Type of Percent and Pathogen Establishments Samples Positive per sampling project1 Calculation Positive Project Code Sampled Analyzed Calculation 

Kentucky (232) 44.6% Chicken Whole Salmonella spp. 213 9,725 520 Infantis (107) 20.6% Prevalence 5.35% 

Carcasses Typhimurium (60) 11.5% HC_CH_CARC01 Campylobacter spp. 213 9,678 2,418 N/A Prevalence 25.0% 

Chicken Quarter 

or Half Carcasses 

EXP_CPT_QH01 1 

Salmonella spp. 

Campylobacter spp. 

70 

69 

96 

95 

15 

46 

Kentucky (4) 26.7% 

Typhimurium (4) 26.7% 

Infantis (3) 20.0% 

N/A 

Percent Positive 

Percent Positive 

15.6% 

48.4% 

Chicken Parts - Infantis (398) 31.8% 

Legs, Breasts, Salmonella spp. 489 14,629 1,250 Kentucky (288) 23.0% Prevalence 8.54% 

Wings Enteritidis (281) 22.5% 

HC_CPT_LBW01 Campylobacter spp. 489 14,566 2,841 N/A Prevalence 19.5% 

Comminuted 

Chicken 

HC_CH_COM01 

Salmonella spp. 

Campylobacter spp. 

73 

73 

1,869 

1,856 

530 

144 

Infantis (217) 40.9% 

Enteritidis (100) 18.9% 

Kentucky (87) 16.4% 

N/A 

Prevalence 

Prevalence 

28.4% 

7.76% 

Mechanically Infantis (62) 61.4% 

Separated Salmonella spp. 29 117 101 Kentucky (11) 10.9% Percent Positive 86.3% 

Chicken2 Schwarzengrund (9) 8.91% 

EXP_CH_MSK01 Campylobacter spp. 29 117 77 N/A Percent Positive 65.8% 

Turkey Whole 

Carcasses 

Salmonella spp. 43 1,564 5 Hadar (4) 80.0% 

Muenchen (1) 20% Prevalence 0.32% 

HC_TU_CARC01 Campylobacter spp. 43 1,562 10 N/A Prevalence 0.64% 

11 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number Prevalence or Product Name Number of of Number Top 3 Salmonella serotypes Type of Percent and Pathogen Establishments Samples Positive per sampling project1 Calculation Positive Project Code Sampled Analyzed Calculation 

Comminuted 

Turkey 

HC_TU_COM01 

Mechanically 

Separated 

Turkey2

EXP_TU_ 

MSK01 

Salmonella spp. 

Campylobacter spp. 

Salmonella spp. 

Campylobacter spp. 

40 

40 

13 

13 

1,246 

1,234 

101 

101 

220 

27 

60 

24 

Hadar (48) 21.8% 

Infantis (25) 11.4% 

Agona (22) 10.0% 

N/A 

Schwarzengrund (11) 18.3% 

Uganda (10) 16.7% 

Agona (7) 11.7% 

N/A 

Prevalence 

Prevalence 

Percent Positive 

Percent Positive 

17.7% 

2.19% 

59.4% 

23.8% 

Heavy Fowl 

Carcasses 

Salmonella spp. 3 157 3 Enteritidis (2) 66.7% 

Hadar (1) 33.3% Percent Positive 1.91% 

HC_HF_CARC01 Campylobacter spp. 3 157 47 N/A Percent Positive 29.9% 

Exploratory 

Young Chicken 

Carcass Rehang 

Sampling2 

EX_CHCAR_RH1 

Salmonella spp. 199 879 592 

Kentucky (223) 37.7% 

Infantis (190) 32.1% 

Typhimurium (55) 9.30% 

Percent Positive 67.4% 

1 Percent of each serotype = (Number of isolates of the serotype/total number of Salmonella from the sampling project). The numerator is within parentheses. 

2 Exploratory sampling projects. 

12 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 9. FY 2023 Summary of FSIS’ Raw Poultry Sanitary Indicator Organisms 

FY 2023 results for FSIS’ poultry indicator organisms (Aerobic count MPN/ml) in raw poultry product samples. 

Product Name and Project 

Code Indicator 

Number of 

Establishments 

Sampled 

Number of 

Samples 

Analyzed 

Number of 

Samples 

Detected 

Mean Plate Count1 

(MPN/mL) 

Percent 

Detection2 

Chicken Whole Carcasses Aerobic count 200 848 596 4.2 x 103 70.3% 

HC_CH_CARC01 Enterobacteriaceae 200 836 155 1.1 x 103 18.5% 

Exploratory Young Chicken Aerobic count 199 833 832 9.4 x 104 99.9% 

Carcass Rehang Sampling 

EX_CHCAR_RH1 Enterobacteriaceae 199 820 811 2.6 x 103 98.9% 

Sampling for Ground and 

other Comminuted Chicken Aerobic count 66 1,101 1,099 2.9 x 105 99.8% 

HC_CH_COM01 

Follow-up sampling of 

Comminuted Chicken Aerobic count 1 1 1 6.9 x 104 100% 

F_CH_COM01 

Sampling for Chicken Parts 

HC_CPT_LBW01 Aerobic count 468 9,674 8,238 9.7 x 104 85.2% 

Sampling for Ground and 

other Comminuted Turkey Aerobic count 39 618 616 3.1 x 105 99.7% 

HC_TU_COM01 

1 Mean of the results of every sample (greater than 10 MPN/ml) in countable range with +/- std). 

2 Percent detection (% of samples greater than 10 MPN/ml detected over number of positive samples divided by the total number of tested samples). 

13 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 10. FY 2023 Follow-Up Sampling Result Summary for FSIS’ Raw Poultry Sampling Programs 

FY 2023 follow-up sampling results for Salmonella in raw poultry product samples are shown below. Follow-up sampling is assigned when an 

establishment does not meet a Salmonella performance standard (i.e., is in Category 3). FSIS Salmonella follow-up sampling results provide a 

snapshot of a specific establishment’s performance based on intensified sample collection after the establishment implemented corrective 

actions, which can assist FSIS personnel during a Public Health Risk Evaluation or Food Safety Assessment. For this reason, the aggregated set of 

data reflects FSIS’ efforts to collect follow-up samples but does not provide overall information about individual establishment performance. 

Product Name and 

Project Code Pathogen 

Number of 

Establishme 

nts Sampled 

Number of 

Samples 

Analyzed 

Number 

Positive 

Top 3 Salmonella 

serotypes per sampling 

project1 

Type of Calculation 

Percent 

Positive 

Calculation 

Chicken Whole 

Carcasses 

F_CH_CARC01 

Salmonella spp. 30 425 71 

Kentucky (39) 54.9% 

Infantis (12) 16.9% 

Typhimurium (7) 9.86% 

Percent Positive 16.7% 

Chicken Parts - Legs, 

Breasts, Wings 

F_CPT_LBW01 

Salmonella spp. 67 1,063 187 

Infantis (61) 32.6% 

Enteritidis (49) 26.2% 

Kentucky (35) 18.7% 

Percent Positive 17.6% 

Comminuted 

Chicken 

F_CH_COM01 

Salmonella spp. 12 159 53 

Infantis (23) 43.4% 

Kentucky (13) 24.5% 

Enteritidis (7) 13.2% 

Percent Positive 33.3% 

Turkey Whole 

Carcasses 

F_TU_CARC01 

Salmonella spp. 1 4 0 N/A Percent Positive 0.00% 

Comminuted Turkey 

F_TU_COM01 Salmonella spp. 9 143 35 

Hader (9) 25.7% 

Infantis (5) 14.3% 

Schwarzengrund (4) Percent Positive 24.5% 

11.4% 

1 Percent of each serotype = (Number of isolates of the serotype/total number of Salmonella from the sampling project). The numerator is within parentheses. 

14 
 

 

 

 

Ready-to-Eat (RTE) Products 

FSIS conducts microbiological testing of all RTE meat, poultry, and egg products for Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) and Salmonella, which are 

adulterants in these products. FSIS collects RTE product samples and environmental swab samples under various RTE sampling programs; see 

RTE Meat and Poultry Products Microbiological Sampling Programs. 

Table 11. FY 2023 Ready-to-Eat Product Sampling Results 

FY 2023 sampling results for FSIS RTE microbiological sampling programs are reported for Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) and Salmonella, if 

applicable. 

Number of Number of Top 3 Salmonella Product Name and Project Number Percent Positive Pathogen Establishments Samples serotypes per sampling Code Positive Calculation Sampled Analyzed project1 

Post-lethality exposed (PLE) 

and non-PLE products 

selected randomly 

RTEPROD_RAND 

Listeria 

monocytogenes (Lm) 

Salmonella spp. 

2,255 

2,255 

7,089 

7,086 

14 

2 

N/A 

Anatum (1) 50.0% 

I4,[5],12:i- (1) 50.0% 

0.20% 

0.03% 

PLE products selected by risk 

RTEPROD_RISK 

Intensified Verification 

Testing (IVT/for-cause) food 

contact surface samples 

INTCONT 

Listeria 

monocytogenes (Lm) 

Salmonella spp. 

Listeria 

monocytogenes (Lm) 

Salmonella spp. 

1,739 

1,737 

41 

5 

7,916 

7,912 

874 

35 

14 

3 

16 

0 

N/A 

Anatum (1) 33.3% 

Muenster (1) 33.3% 

Uganda (1) 33.3% 

N/A 

N/A 

0.18% 

0.04% 

1.83% 

0.00% 

IVT non-food contact 

environmental 

Listeria 

monocytogenes (Lm) 41 445 24 N/A 5.39% 

INTENV Salmonella spp. 5 56 0 N/A 0.00% 

IVT product 

INTPROD 

Listeria 

monocytogenes (Lm) 41 415 6 N/A 1.45% 

15 
 

Number of Number of Top 3 Salmonella Product Name and Project Number Percent Positive Pathogen Establishments Samples serotypes per sampling Code Positive Calculation Sampled Analyzed project1 

Routine risk-based Lm 

(RLm/risk-based) food 

contact surfaces 

RLMCONT 

RLm non-food contact 

environmental (composite of 

5-swabs) 

RLMENVC2 

Salmonella spp. 

Listeria 

monocytogenes (Lm) 

Listeria 

monocytogenes (Lm) 

5 

226 

226 

35 

2,818 

283 

0 

9 

16 

N/A 

N/A 

N/A 

0.00% 

0.32% 

5.65% 

RLm product (composite of 

five 25-gram products from 

same lot) 

RLMPRODC 

Listeria 

monocytogenes (Lm) 226 283 1 N/A 0.35% 

1 Percent of each serotype = (Number of isolates of the serotype/total number of Salmonella from the sampling project). The numerator is within parentheses. 

2 Includes two RLMENVR noncomposited brine samples that were negative. 

16 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 12. RTE Egg Products FY 2023 Sampling Results 

FY 2023 microbiological sampling of liquid and dried pasteurized egg products tested for 

Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) and Salmonella are shown. 

Number of Number of Percent Product Name and Establishments Pathogen Samples Number Positive Positive Project Code with Samples Analyzed Calculation Analyzed 

Listeria 

Egg Product Sampling monocytogenes 22 257 0 0.00% - Dried Egg Products (Lm) 

EGG_DY_MIC01 Salmonella spp. 22 257 0 0.00% 

Egg Product Sampling Listeria 

- Liquid / Frozen Egg monocytogenes 48 1,232 1 0.08% 

Products (Lm) 

EGG_LQ_MIC01 Salmonella spp. 48 1,232 0 0.00% 

2. Domestic Chemical Residue Sampling 

National Residue Program 

The U.S. National Residue Program (NRP) guides the sampling of domestic and imported meat, poultry, 

and egg product samples for chemical residue testing: see Residue Chemistry. Information about the 

sampling of imported product is below. The NRP includes surveillance sampling, inspector-generated 

sampling, and special project sampling in both Federal and State-inspected slaughter establishments. 

In FY 2023, changes in the NRP include: 

• Suspension of nitrofuran sampling and testing in domestic (whole chicken sampling) and 

imported poultry products, 

• reduction of domestic Siluriformes sampling, and 

• reduction of domestic young turkey sampling. 

Additionally, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and metal residue datasets are being released 

quarterly. Datasets can be found by visiting the Chemical Residues and Contaminants page. 

a. Surveillance Sampling Plan 

Surveillance sampling is the scheduled sampling of specified slaughter subclasses at the time of 

slaughter after a carcass has passed antemortem inspection. In FY 2023, 8 analytical methods were used 

to screen for approximately 250 different veterinary drugs, pesticides, and environmental contaminants. 

In FY 2023, detected residue violations (30) consisted of the following residues: metolachlor (4), 

piperonyl butoxide (4), moxidectin (3), sulfamethazine (2), flunixin (2), and one instance each for 

acephate, carbadox, ciprofloxacin, florfenicol, gamithromycin, ivermectin, meloxicam, metronidazole, 

penicillin, prednisone, simazine, spectinomycin, sulfadimethoxine, sulfanilamide, and tildipirosin. In 

some cases, sample violations were associated with multiple residues in a single sample and multiple 

tissue types from a single animal. 

17 
 

Table 13. Summary of FY 2023 NRP Surveillance Sampling Residue Results 

FY 2023 the summary of surveillance sampling results from FSIS inspector-collected muscle, kidney, and liver tissue from carcasses and parts is 

shown. 

Number of Samples Analyzed by Animal Class 

Animal 

Category 

Animal 

Category Total 

Samples 

Number of NonDetect Samples 

Number of NonViolative Positive 

Samples 

Number of 

Violative Samples 

Beef Cows 886 877 5 4 

Bob Veal 391 373 10 8 

Dairy Cows 844 840 3 1 

Bovine Formula-Fed Veal 86 86 0 0 

Heifers 430 427 2 1 

Non-Formula-Fed Veal 57 57 0 0 

Steers 451 447 4 0 

Feral Swine 77 77 0 0 

Porcine Market Swine 

Roaster Swine 

907 

321 

901 

320 

5 

0 

1 

1 

Sows 846 840 5 1 

Young Chickens 441 438 3 0 Poultry Young Turkeys 351 348 3 0 

Goats 301 298 0 3 

Other 

Species 

Lambs 

Mature Sheep 

Siluriformes (Catfish) 

93 

102 

481 

92 

102 

473 

0 

0 

1 

1 

0 

7 

Egg Products 189 186 3 0 

Annual Total 7,254 7,182 44 28 

18 
 

 

 

Table 14. FY 2023 Number Collected NRP Surveillance Sampling Residues by Chemical Method 

FY 2023 the number of collected surveillance sampling residue sampling summary is shown, reflecting the number of samples (carcasses) 

analyzed per chemical method per animal class. 

Animal 

Category 

Animal 

Class Aminoglycosides Antifungal 

Dyes 

Number of Samples Analyzed per Chemical Method 

Carbadox Metals MRM1 Nitrofurans Pesticides PFAS2 Speciation 

Beef Cows 884 -- -- 190 886 -- 652 -- --

Bob Veal 389 -- -- 130 391 -- 327 -- --

Dairy Cows 843 -- -- 169 844 -- 608 -- --

Bovine Formula-Fed Veal 86 -- -- 1 86 -- 41 -- --

Heifers 429 -- -- 139 430 -- 328 -- --

Non- Formula Fed Veal 57 -- -- -- 57 -- 18 -- --

Steers 451 -- -- 142 451 -- 328 -- --

Feral Swine -- -- -- -- -- -- 77 74 --

Porcine Market Swine 

Roaster Swine 

905 

--

--

--

--

321 

188 

--

906 

--

--

--

695 

--

194 

--

--

--

Sows 844 -- -- 150 845 -- 650 199 --

Young Chickens 440 -- -- 188 441 5 253 245 -- Poultry Young Turkeys 351 -- -- 107 351 6 216 1 --

Goats 300 -- -- -- 301 -- 75 -- -- Other Lambs 93 -- -- -- 93 -- 78 -- -- Species Mature Sheep 102 -- -- -- 102 -- 71 -- --

Siluriformes (Catfish) -- 410 -- 409 481 69 312 109 3 

Egg Products -- -- -- -- 185 -- 177 -- --

Annual Total 6,174 410 321 1,813 6,850 80 4,906 822 3 1 MRM: multiresidue method 

2 PFAS: polyfluoroalkyl substances. 

19 
 

 

Table 15. Summary FY 2023 Surveillance Sampling Residue Violations by Animal Class 

List of FY 2023 surveillance sampling residue violations, including specific compound, concentration, tolerance, and regulatory citation by animal 

class is shown. 

Animal Tolerance Authority1 

Tissue Compound Concentration Units Category Level Value (CFR Citation) 

Beef Cow Liver Sulfamethazine 0.465 PPM 0.100 21 CFR 556.670 

Beef Cow Liver Sulfamethazine 11.0 PPM 0.100 21 CFR 556.670 

Muscle Sulfanilamide * PPM 0.050 40 CFR 180.360 

Beef Cow Liver Florfenicol 5.63 PPM 3.70 21 CFR 556.283 

Muscle Florfenicol 1.33 PPM 0.30 21 CFR 556.283 

Beef Cow Muscle Piperonyl Butoxide 0.116 PPM 0.100 40 CFR 180.127 

Bob Veal Kidney Spectinomycin * * * 21 CFR 556.600 

Bob Veal Kidney Penicillin 1.22 PPM 0.05 21 CFR 556.510 

Muscle Penicillin 0.061 PPM 0,05 21 CFR 556.510 

Bob Veal Muscle Gamithromycin * * * 21 CFR 556.292 

Bob Veal Muscle Prednisone * * * Not Approved1 

Bob Veal Muscle Tildipirosin * * * 21 CFR 556.733 

Bob Veal Muscle Flunixin * * * 21 CFR 556.286 

Bob Veal Muscle Meloxicam * * * Not Approved1 

Bob Veal Muscle Flunixin * * * 21 CFR 556.733 

Dairy Cow Liver Sulfadimethoxine 0.224 PPM 0.100 21 CFR 556.640 

Goat Muscle Piperonyl Butoxide 0.228 PPM 0.100 40 CFR 180.127 

Goat Muscle Moxidectin * * * 21 CFR 556.426 

Goat Muscle Ivermectin; Moxidectin * * * 21 CFR 556.426 

Heifer Muscle Piperonyl Butoxide 0.481 PPM 0.100 40 CFR 180.127 

Lamb Muscle Moxidectin 110 PPB 50.0 21 CFR 556.426 

Market Swine Muscle Piperonyl Butoxide 0.168 PPM 0.100 40 CFR 180.127 

Roaster Swine Liver Carbadox 64.7 PPB 30.0 21 CFR 556.570 

Siluriformes Muscle Metronidazole * * * Not Approved1 

Siluriformes Muscle Metolachlor * * * 40 CFR 180.368 

20 
 

 

 

Animal Tolerance Authority1 

Tissue Compound Concentration Units Category Level Value (CFR Citation) 

Siluriformes Muscle Metolachlor * * * 40 CFR 180.368 

Siluriformes Muscle Acephate * * * 40 CFR 180.108 

Siluriformes Muscle Metolachlor * * * 40 CFR 180.368 

Siluriformes Muscle Metolachlor * * * 40 CFR 180.368 

Siluriformes Muscle Simazine 0.0134 PPM * 40 CFR 180.213 

Sow Muscle Ciprofloxacin * * * Not Approved1 

* Violative residue results were detected but not quantified 

1 Reference to either Title 21 (veterinary drugs) or Title 40 (pesticides) of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). In cases, where the residue detected is not approved for the 

animal class, the violations is listed as “Not Approved” 

PPB – parts per billion (μg/kg) 

PPM – parts per million (mg/kg) 

CFR – Code of Federal Regulations 

21 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

b. Inspector-Generated Sampling Plan 

FSIS inspectors collect samples for residue testing when they suspect that animals presented for 

slaughter may have violative levels of chemical residues. If an inspector suspects that there is misuse of 

drugs that cannot be detected by the Kidney Inhibition Swab (KISTM) test in livestock, the samples are 

sent directly to the laboratory for analysis. KIS tests are not performed in poultry, exotic animals 

slaughtered under voluntary inspection, or Siluriformes fish per FSIS Directive 10,800.2. If an inspector 

suspects the misuse of a drug in these slaughter classes, samples are sent directly to the laboratory for 

analysis. These samples are reported under the inspector-generated program (FSIS Directive 10,800.1). 

In FY 2023, 115,853 Kidney Inhibition Swab (KISTM) tests were conducted on animals selected by FSIS 

(Table 16). Of these, 1,972 samples were submitted to FSIS field laboratories for further analysis, and 

383 chemical residue violations were reported from 306 samples (multiple residue violations may be 

found in the same sample). 

• Inspectors performed 100,444 in-plant KISTM tests in bovine slaughter classes (beef cows, bob veal, 

bulls, dairy cows, formula-fed and non-formula-fed veal, and steers), resulting in 302 violative 

samples (0.3%). 

• Dairy cows and bob veal account for 78% of the in-plant KISTM test and 72% of the violations 

reported under the inspector-generated sampling plan. 

• Desfuroylceftiofur (the primary metabolite of ceftiofur) and penicillin accounted for 48% and 16% of 

the violations reported in 190 dairy cows, respectively. 

• Of the 46 bob veal violations, 50% of the violations were associated with neomycin. 

• Inspectors performed 13,811 in-plant KISTM tests in swine slaughter classes (market swine, sows, 

roaster swine, boar swine, and feral swine), resulting in four violative samples (0.03%). 

• The predominant violative residues in the inspector-generated samples were ceftiofur (n=115), 

penicillin (44), and flunixin (41), which account for 30%, 11%, and 11% of total violative residues, 

respectively. 

22 
 

 

 

Table 16. Summary of FY 2023 Inspector-Generated Sampling (KISTM) Test and Confirmatory Tests 

FY 2023 summary of KISTM tests, number of in-plant screens with negative results, number of carcasses sent to FSIS laboratory for confirmation, 

and the number of carcasses (i.e., samples) with violations for each animal class. 

KISTM Test 

Animal Category Animal Class Total Number of 

In-plant 

Carcasses 

Number of In-plant 

Negative 

Carcasses 

Number of 

Samples 

Analyzed in FSIS 

Labs 

Number of 

Samples with 

Confirmed Lab 

Violations 

Beef Cows 10,173 9,969 204 39 

Bison 4 4 0 0 

Bob Veal 9,428 9,324 104 46 

Buffalo 1 1 0 0 

Bulls 1,382 1,330 52 7 

Bovine Dairy Cows 

Formula-fed Veal 

68,771 

65 

67,603 

59 

1,168 

6 

170 

0 

Heavy Calves 150 146 4 1 

Heifers 3,374 3,275 99 9 

Non-Formula-fed Veal 488 448 40 15 

Steers 6,608 6,403 205 15 

Yak 1 1 0 0 

Boar/Stag Swine 63 63 0 0 

Porcine Market Swine 9,001 8,945 56 0 

Roaster Swine 1,435 1,430 5 1 

Sows 3,312 3,295 17 3 

Goats1 282 280 2 0 

Other Species Lambs 915 905 10 0 

Mature Sheep 400 400 0 0 

Annual Total 115,853 113,881 1,972 306 1 Includes both young and adult goats 

23 
 

 

 

 

Table 17. Summary of FY 2023 Inspector-Generated Sampling Residue Violation Results by Chemical Residue and Animal Class 

FY 2023 summary of chemical residue violations reported within the inspector-generated sampling. 

Animal Class 

Chemical Residue Beef 

Cows 

Bob 

Veal Bull/Stag Dairy Cows 

Heavy 

Calves Heifers Non-Formulafed Veal 

Market 

Swine 

Roaster 

Swine 

Sows Steers Total 

Ampicillin -- 1 -- 14 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 15 

Ciprofloxacin -- 7 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 1 9 

Desethylene 

Ciprofloxacin -- 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 

Desfuroylceftiofur 10 1 1 91 -- 4 -- -- -- 1 7 115 

Dihydrostreptomycin -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 

Dimetridazole 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 

Doramectin 5 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 5 

Doxycycline -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 

Enrofloxacin -- 5 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 5 

Eprinomectin -- 1 -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- 2 

Florfenicol 2 3 1 1 1 3 2 -- -- -- -- 13 

Florfenicol Amine -- 4 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 4 

Flunixin 6 9 2 18 -- 1 -- 2 3 41 

Gentamycin Sulfate 1 1 -- 3 -- 1 -- 1 -- -- -- 7 

Meloxicam -- -- -- 4 -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 5 

Neomycin -- 23 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 23 

Oxytetracycline 5 1 -- 1 -- 1 -- -- -- -- -- 8 

Penicillin 5 2 1 31 -- -- -- -- 1 1 3 44 

Phenylbutazone -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 

Spectinomycin -- 6 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 6 

Sulfadimethoxine 1 2 -- 20 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 23 

Sulfamethazine 3 4 2 4 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- 14 

Sulfamethoxazole -- 5 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 5 

24 
 

Animal Class 

Chemical Residue Beef 

Cows 

Bob 

Veal Bull/Stag Dairy Cows 

Heavy 

Calves Heifers Non-Formulafed Veal 

Market 

Swine 

Roaster 

Swine 

Sows Steers Total 

Sulfathiazole -- 2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 2 

Tildipirosin -- 2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 2 

Tilmicosin 7 -- 3 1 -- 2 12 -- -- -- 2 27 

Tylosin 1 1 -- -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- 3 

Annual Total 47 81 11 190 2 11 16 2 1 5 17 383 

25 
 

Table 18. Summary of FY 2023 Inspector-Generated Sampling 

FY 2023 summary of suspect animal samples sent directly to any FSIS laboratory (inspector-generated sampling) for analysis. 

Number of Non- Number of Animal Number of Non- Animal Class Total Samples Violative Positives Violative Category Detect Samples Samples Samples 

Beef Cows 29 23 5 1 

Bob Veal 1 1 0 0 

Bull/Stag 9 9 0 0 

Dairy Cows 30 29 0 1 

Bovine Formula-fed Veal 1 0 1 0 

Heavy Calves 1 1 0 0 

Heifers 30 27 3 0 

Non-Formula-Fed Veal 1 1 0 0 

Steers 315 301 11 3 

Boar/Stag Swine 1 1 0 0 

Porcine Market Swine 

Roaster Swine 

228 

1 

217 

1 

10 

0 

1 

0 

Sow 1 1 0 0 

Poultry Young Chickens 1 1 0 0 

Goats 12 12 0 0 

Other Species Lamb 51 49 0 2 

Mature Sheep 4 3 1 0 

Annual Total 716 677 31 8 

26 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Import Sampling 

a. Import Microbiological Sampling 

FSIS conducts point-of-entry reinspection of imported meat, poultry, and egg products. This activity is a 

reinspection of products that have already been inspected and passed by an equivalent foreign 

inspection system. Thus, imported product reinspection is a means of verifying the equivalence of a 

foreign country’s inspection system on an ongoing basis. 

On February 1, 2023, the Agency expanded its routine verification testing for six Shiga toxin-producing 

Escherichia coli (STEC) that are adulterants (non-O157 STEC; O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, or O145), in 

addition to the adulterant Escherichia coli (E. coli ) O157:H7, to ground beef, bench trim, and other raw 

ground beef components in addition to raw beef manufacturing trimmings in official establishments 

(FRN FSIS-2010-0023). FSIS also began testing for these non-O157 STEC in applicable samples it collects 

of imported raw beef products. 

In FY 2023, changes in import product sampling include: 

• Expand non-O157 STEC analysis to all raw beef products previously analyzed only for E. coli 

O157:H7, 

• Discontinue imported Siluriformes microbiological sampling, 

• Suspend nitrofuran sampling and testing in imported poultry products, and 

• Realign imported Siluriformes chemical residue sampling. 

27 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 19. Summary of FY 2023 Microbiology Sampling of Imported Products 

FY 2023 microbiological sampling results for imported products by inspection level. The values shown here summarize results over all countries 

and do not reflect the percent positive for individual countries. Additionally, no direct comparisons should be made to domestic sampling 

because sampling for imported product varies based on the volume of shipments received by country and product. 

Normal Increased1 Intensified2 

Product Name and Project Number of Number of Number of Pathogen Number Number Number Annual Total Code Samples Samples Samples Positive Positive Positive Analyzed Analyzed Analyzed 

Imported Raw Beef E. coli O157:H73 274 -- 1 -- 3 -- 278 

Manufactured Trimmings or 

Components for use in Ground STEC3 1,009 1 2 -- 21 -- 1,032 

Beef or Beef Products 

Salmonella spp. 1,029 3 2 -- 21 2 1,052 MT51 

Imported Raw Ground or E. coli O157:H73 18 -- -- -- -- -- 18 

Comminuted Beef or Veal 

Product STEC3 36 -- -- -- -- -- 36 

MT08 Salmonella spp. 54 -- -- -- -- -- 54 

Micro Pathogen Sampling of 

RTE Products 

Listeria 

monocytogenes 2,643 3 7 -- 154 1 2,804 

IMVRTE Salmonella spp. 2,642 2 7 -- 154 1 2,803 

Imported Egg Products 

EGGIMP 

Listeria 

monocytogenes 

Salmonella spp. 

90 

90 

--

--

10 

10 

--

--

--

--

--

--

100 

100 

Imported Raw and NRTE Salmonella spp. 655 147 -- -- -- -- 655 

Poultry Products Campylobacter 649 95 -- -- -- -- 649 IMP_Poultry 

Imported Raw Pork Product Salmonella spp. 331 3 -- -- -- -- 331 IMP_Pork 

1Increased is a level of reinspection above the normal level that is directed by a FSIS management decision. Under increased reinspection, FSIS may hold, on a case-by-case basis, 

lots of imported meat, poultry, or egg products pending receipt of a laboratory analysis. If FSIS does not place the product on hold, the importer of record is still required to hold 

or control product tested for adulterants by FSIS and is not to allow such product to enter commerce unless and until negative results are received. 

28 
2Intensified is a level of reinspection that is implemented automatically by the Public Health Information System (PHIS) when a Type of Inspection PHIS task is reported as “Fail.” 

Under intensified reinspection, FSIS holds the sampled lot at the official import inspection establishment pending receipt of laboratory analysis. The sampled lot is not allowed to 

move off-site to be held. 3Starting February 1, 2023 all imported raw beef products are analyzed for all seven adulterant STEC serogroups, therefore reporting of Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli and nonO157 STEC are combined as STEC see FRN FSIS-2010-0023. 

29 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

b. Import Residue Sampling 

Imported meat, poultry, and egg products are sampled through the point-of-entry Import Reinspection Sampling Plan, a chemical residue 

monitoring program that is conducted to verify whether foreign inspection systems in exporting countries are equivalent to U.S. standards. 

There were no import residue sampling violations during FY2023. 

Table 20. Summary of FY 2023 Residue Sampling of Imported Products 

Normal Increased1 Intensified2 

Non- Number of Number of Number of Non-Violative Project Code Analyte Violative Violative Violative Annual Total 

Samples Samples Samples Positives Positives Samples Samples Analyzed Analyzed Analyzed Samples Samples 

Imported Antifungal Dyes, 

Siluriformes Fish Metals, MRM, 142 -- -- -- -- -- -- 142 Products Nitrofurans, 

IMPFISH_CH3 Pesticides 

Imported - Metals 

IMPMETALS Metals 262 -- -- -- -- -- -- 262 

Nitrofurans 

IMPNITROFUR4 Nitrofurans 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 

Imported -

Pesticide 

IMPPESTICIDE 

Pesticides 509 -- -- -- 5 -- -- 514 

Imported Egg 

Products -

Chemistry 

IMPRESEGG 

Pesticides 37 -- -- 10 -- -- -- 47 

Imported Fresh 

Products 

IMPRESFRESH 

Aminoglycosides 

, MRM 775 2 -- 1 -- -- -- 776 

Imported 

Processed Products Avermectins 22 -- -- -- -- -- -- 22 

30 
 

 

 

Normal Increased1 Intensified2 

Non- Number of Number of Number of Non-Violative Project Code Analyte Violative Violative Violative Annual Total 

Samples Samples Samples Positives Positives Samples Samples Analyzed Analyzed Analyzed Samples Samples 

- Residue Eastern 

Lab IMPRESPR_EL 

Imported 

Processed Products 

- Residue Sulfonamides 33 -- -- -- -- -- -- 33 

Midwestern Lab 

IMPRESPR_MWL 

Annual Total 1,781 2 0 11 5 0 0 1,797 1Increased is a level of reinspection above the normal level that is directed by a FSIS management decision. Under increased reinspection, FSIS may hold, on a case-by-case basis, 

lots of imported meat, poultry, or egg products pending receipt of a laboratory analysis. If FSIS does not place the product on hold, the importer of record is still required to hold 

product tested for adulterants by FSIS and is not to allow such product to enter commerce unless and until negative results are received. During FY 2023, there were no violative 

samples and no non-violative samples at increased level of inspection. 2Intensified is a level of reinspection that is implemented automatically by the Public Health Information System (PHIS) when a Type of Inspection PHIS task is reported as “Fail.” 

Under intensified reinspection, FSIS holds the sampled lot at the official import inspection establishment pending receipt of laboratory analysis. The sampled lot is not allowed to 

move off-site to be held. 3As of October 1, 2022, IMPFISH_CH replaces IMPFISH_CH_E and IMPFISH_CH_W sampling projects. 

4IMPNITROFUR is discontinued per FSIS Notice 64-22: Suspension of Young Chicken Carcass Sampling and Raw Poultry Products Testing for Nitrofuran Residues. 

MRM: multiresidue method 

31 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) Initiatives 

WGS-related projects align with the goals and objectives of the FSIS Strategic Plan and other policies. 

FSIS engages with Federal partners to establish, advance, and apply whole genome sequencing (WGS) 

data to ensure and strengthen regulatory functions. FSIS laboratories perform WGS on all positive 

sample isolates for all pathogens from FSIS-regulated products. In FY 2023, this amounted to 16,193 

bacterial isolate sequences uploaded to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). To 

enhance transparency and use of the data, FSIS updated its publicly available establishment-specific 

datasets to include the FSIS number and date-stamped allele codes (FSIS Constituent Update, May 20, 

2022). The FSIS Number provides a way to link FSIS sequence metadata to already publicly available 

sequence data on NCBI, and the allele codes provide a discrete reportable result to compare FSIS 

isolates to each other. 

5. National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) 

The National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) is an interagency collaborative 

partnership with State and local public health departments, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration 

(FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

(USDA). This national public health surveillance system tracks changes in antimicrobial susceptibility of 

select foodborne enteric bacteria found in ill people (CDC), retail meats (FDA), and food animals (USDA 

FSIS). The NARMS program at FSIS historically focused on two sampling points: samples collected from 

intestinal (cecal) content; and carcass, food commodity or product samples. Antimicrobial Susceptibility 

Tests (AST) are routinely conducted on all NARMS isolates, and WGS is conducted on a selected number 

of isolates. AST information provides phenotypic resistance information, determined using 

epidemiological cut-off values or clinical breakpoints to interpret data. WGS information provides 

genotypic resistance information, which is the presence of acquired genes and mutations known to 

enable a bacterium to grow in the presence of higher antimicrobial concentrations. These data may be 

accessed at the FDA NARMS Integrated Data Dashboards. 

In FY 2023, changes in the NARMS Sampling plan includes: 

• Suspension of NARMS veal [Bob Veal, Formula-Fed Veal, and Non-Formula-Fed Veal] expansion 

sampling based on data (480 samples), 

• Suspension of NARMS sheep expansion sampling based on data (100 samples), 

• Suspension of NARMS lamb expansion sampling based on data (100 samples), and 

• Suspension of NARMS goat expansion sampling based on data (100 samples). 

32 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 21. Summary of FY 2023 NARMS Sampling Program 

FY 2023 NARMS samples analyzed, isolates recovered, and further characterized. 

Sampling Code Samples 

Scheduled 

Samples 

Analyzed 

Total Isolates 

Retrieved 

Isolates Characterized 

Salmonella Campylobacter E. coli Enterococcus 

Cecal Sampling 

NARMS_BC 

Beef Cows 456 204 248 

AST: 38 AST: 58 AST: 72 AST: 79 

WGS: 37 WGS: 58 WGS: 38 WGS: 16 

NARMS_DC 

Dairy Cow 980 663 795 

AST: 198 AST: 209 AST: 208 AST: 194 

WGS: 193 WGS: 202 WGS: 102 WGS: 36 

NARMS_HF 

Heifer 456 296 349 

AST: 49 AST: 83 AST: 87 AST: 87 

WGS: 49 WGS: 80 WGS: 53 WGS: 9 

NARMS_ST 

Steer 1,368 347 369 

AST: 118 AST: 169 AST: 55 AST: 53 

WGS: 113 WGS: 160 WGS: 28 WGS: 8 

NARMS_MS 

Market Swine 860 568 715 

AST: 217 AST: 133 AST: 220 AST: 196 

WGS: 214 WGS: 125 WGS: 151 WGS: 65 

NARMS_SW 

Sow 410 405 692 

AST: 218 AST: 63 AST: 207 AST: 192 

WGS: 212 WGS: 61 WGS: 139 WGS: 69 

NARMS_YC 

Young Chicken 690 572 933 

AST: 244 AST: 250 AST: 224 AST: 224 

WGS: 232 WGS: 239 WGS: 141 WGS: 81 

NARMS_YT 

Young Turkey 435 385 662 

AST: 49 AST: 134 AST: 207 AST: 202 

WGS: 49 WGS: 126 WGS: 159 WGS: 88 

1Siluriformes NARMS samples are sourced from the Siluriformes microbiology sampling project, EXP_FI_MIC01, and not scheduled 

independently. See Table 5 for more information. 

6. Other Sampling 

FSIS conducts other sampling programs and special projects in response to investigations or other 

rapidly evolving events to protect consumers and ensure food safety on an as-needed basis (Table 22). 

Flexibility within FSIS laboratories provides the Agency with the ability to adapt and rapidly respond to 

emerging issues. These projects may include for-cause and inspector-generated sampling, such as: 

• advanced meat recovery (AMR) sampling to verify that industry is preventing beef spinal cord 

material from entering the food supply and being misrepresented as meat; 

• animal species identification sampling to verify species claims of meat, poultry, and egg 

products; 

• food chemistry sampling to identify economic fraud or other chemical residues; 

• compliance testing to evaluate products in commerce that are suspected to be adulterated or 

misbranded; 

• abnormal container testing when inspection program personnel observe an abnormal container 

being used for thermally processed products; 

• sampling in support of foodborne disease outbreaks or natural disaster investigations; and 

33 
 

 

• pathology testing to identify diseases, parasites, and related conditions in response to in-plant 

public health veterinarian findings from meat and poultry carcasses and parts. 

FSIS also conducts some routine sampling to verify that products are properly labeled. 

Table 22. Summary of FY 2023 Other Sampling 

Project Name and 

Project Code Samples Collected 

Advanced Meat Recovery Product 

AMR01 59 

Investigative Sampling 

COMPLIAN 48 

Label Verification of Antibiotic Free 

EXP_LV_ABX 211 

Label Verification of Hormone Free 

EXP_LV_HORM 1 

Label Verification of Sodium and Fat Content 

EXP_LV_NUTR 106 

Label Verification of Soy Free 

EXP_LV_SOY 14 

Abnormal Container 

ABNCONT 3 

Import – Abnormal Container 

IMPABNCONT 3 

Import – Advanced Meat Recovery Product – Beef 

IMPAMRBEEF 3 

Import – Species Identification 

IMPSPECIESID 240 

Foodborne Illness and Outbreak Sampling 

OUTBREAK 459 

Pathology – Collector Generated 

PATHOLOGY 2,816 

Conclusion 

In FY 2023, FSIS conducted meat, poultry, and egg products sampling verification to ensure that the food 

produced was safe, wholesome, and properly labeled to protect the public from foodborne hazards. 

FSIS, being a science-based agency, utilizes data to guide decision-making and foster ongoing 

improvements in food safety processes. FSIS evaluates these sampling data and shares the data, 

including analyses, on the FSIS website. Data sharing and transparency are critical steps to ensure public 

awareness of the food safety measures implemented. 

34