U S a : Notice for Melamine Testing of Meat and Poultry Products

FSIS Issues Notice for Melamine Testing of Retail Meat and Poultry Products

(Public Notice from USA Department of Agriculture, Food Safety Inspection Service. Dec. 12, 2008)

In light of recent disclosures of melamine found in certain imported food products, FSIS has determined that it is prudent to conduct sampling to assess any reasons for concern about the presence of this chemical in meat and poultry products. 

Since FDA's import alert issued on November 12, the Agency has developed a validated testing methodology and issued a notice to investigators that will collect the samples. 

Investigators from the Compliance and Investigations Division of the Office of Program Evaluation, Enforcement and Review, will collect certain types of products at retail stores and send samples to FSIS laboratories to test for the presence of melamine.

The Agency will focus on meat and poultry products that contain milk-derived ingredients such as non-fat dried milk, casein, whey, evaporated milk and milk powder. 

FSIS intends to begin random retail sampling in the next two weeks, with a total of 45 samples per week over a 12-week period.

To review this notice in detail, visitwww.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISNotices/97-08.pdf (PDF Only).