OIG Inspector General Questions USDA E. coli Sampling, Recommends Redesign

In a testimony before the food agency subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations Phyllis K. Fong, Inspector General of the Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) discussed its budget request and recent audit and investigative activities. In a focus on USDA, Fong questioned beef trim sampling practices, recommending that the agency redesign its methodology.

One such assessment audit focused on Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) sampling of beef trim for E. coli. Currently, inspectors take 60 samples from large lots of beef trim to test. "We found, however, that this procedure does not yield a statistical precision that is reasonable for food safety," she said. "Although 60 samples may be adequate to detect widespread contamination, more are needed when E. coli is less prevalent."

FSIS’ current sampling methodology results in detection of E. coli less than half the time when it is present in one percent of a beef trim lot, Fong explained, adding, "Accordingly, we recommended that the agency place its testing process on sounder statistical ground by redesigning its sampling methodology to account for varying levels of contamination."

In related audit work, OIG initiated a review of the agency’s E. coli testing protocols to ensure that beef trim is effectively collected and analyzed.

Other USDA assessments included:

• an audit to evaluate USDA’s controls over in-shell eggs to detect Salmonella and other contaminants, and to evaluate the effectiveness of USDA’s coordination with FDA to ensure that eggs are wholesome.
• cases where companies schemed to mislead the public and government about the origin of marketed food. For example, to obtain federal clean health certificates from USDA, one California company falsely claimed its products—chili peppers—were grown in the U.S. The peppers were actually imported from India and China, which should have made them subject to more stringent USDA inspections. The company was fined $50,000 and ordered 3 years’ probation for making false statements.
• an ongoing audit of USDA funding of research projects involving genetically engineered animals and insects to assess whether USDA’s regulatory framework provides the department sufficient authority to control the research under its purview.
• evaluation of USDA’s controls for preventing the inadvertent release of genetically engineered animals and insects.

Read the full testimony at USDA.