EXPLORATORY ASSESSMENT FOR PATHOGEN PREVENTION IN US CATFISH

The food commodity of catfish has been added to the list of foods that are within the USDA¿s responsibility of inspection. FSIS collects samples of meat and poultry products to estimate the national prevalence and levels of bacteria of public health concern, and is referred to as a baseline study. It has been determined that the agency needs to collect microbiological data regarding the presence and levels of various bacteria in order to determine a baseline for these microbes on catfish. In addition, because some of the bacteria to be tested are not part of the usual microbiological testing regiment and because the sample type is new to the agency, it is necessary to develop new methods of sample preparation and sample analysis to be used for this baseline and by the agency during its regulatory efforts to examine catfish.