USDA unveils new plan to combat foodborne illness
Modern lab, tougher rules aim to boost meat safety
18 July 2025
4 minute read
By: US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins launched a comprehensive plan to strengthen the Department of Agriculture’s efforts to combat food-borne illness earlier this week. The announcement was made at the opening of the USDA’s new, modernised Midwestern Food Safety Laboratory in Normandy, Missouri.
The plan aims to enhance the capabilities of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), which is responsible for ensuring that meat, poultry and egg products in the United States are safe, wholesome and properly labelled. FSIS will continue to work closely with partners such as the US Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to safeguard the entire food supply chain.
“President Trump is committed to ensuring American consumers have the safest, most abundant and affordable food supply in the world,” said Secretary Rollins. “When it comes to food safety, USDA is charting a bold new course in giving consumers confidence their meat, poultry and egg products meet our best-in-class food safety standards.”
Rollins emphasised the importance of collaboration across the Trump administration, state governments and food producers "from farm to table" to reduce foodborne illness and protect public health.
Enhancing testing and inspection oversight
FSIS is advancing its Listeria testing methods to produce faster results and identify a broader range of Listeria species. These enhancements help pinpoint conditions where Listeria monocytogenes can thrive in facilities producing ready-to-eat (RTE) products, allowing industry and FSIS to identify sanitation issues more effectively.
In support of these efforts, FSIS opened its new 70,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art laboratory in Normandy, replacing the outdated facility in St. Louis. This modernised lab will play a key role in analysing verification samples for foodborne pathogens and chemical residues, while helping streamline FSIS’s laboratory network.
The agency has also expanded its in-person Food Safety Assessments (FSAs), prioritising RTE meat and poultry establishments. In the first half of 2025, FSIS completed 440 FSAs, a 52% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
New tools and training for inspectors
FSIS has implemented a new weekly questionnaire for frontline inspectors to track risk factors related to Listeria monocytogenes in all RTE establishments. To date, inspectors have submitted approximately 53,000 weekly reports, generating more than 840,000 data points. This information enables timely action to address emerging food safety concerns.
The agency has also updated its inspector training, including Listeria-specific content delivered to over 5,200 personnel since January. New guidelines help inspectors identify systemic issues in food safety systems, beyond isolated non-compliances.
Refocusing efforts to reduce Salmonella illnesses
The USDA has withdrawn the previous administration’s proposed Salmonella Framework, citing stakeholder concerns over regulatory burden and its potential impact on small poultry growers and processors. FSIS is now pursuing a more practical, science-based approach that balances public health goals with industry realities. Listening sessions with key stakeholders will guide the development of this revised strategy.
Strengthening partnerships with states
In May, Secretary Rollins announced $14.5 million in additional funding to reimburse states for their meat and poultry inspection programs and called on Congress to provide more sustainable support. This funding benefits over 1,500 American businesses, particularly small and very small processors.
USDA also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture to improve cooperation moving forward. FSIS has renewed cooperative agreements with all 29 states operating state meat and poultry programs, clarifying oversight expectations and strengthening inspector training and coordination.
As part of enhanced oversight of Talmadge-Aiken (TA) cooperative programs, FSIS completed in-person reviews at 320 of 414 TA establishments (77%) in the first six months of 2025.
Increasing enforcement to ensure compliance
FSIS has taken 103 enforcement actions in 2025 to protect consumers—an increase of 36% over the same period last year. The agency is also requiring field supervisors to conduct follow-up visits when systemic issues are identified during FSAs. These follow-ups reinforce compliance and may lead to enforcement actions if problems are not resolved.
Secretary Rollins emphasised that this multi-pronged plan is essential to modernising food safety in the United States: “We’re empowering inspectors, modernising our science, and partnering across jurisdictions to ensure consumers can trust the food on their tables.”
