USDA plays a role in ensuring that virtually all foods produced and eaten in the United States are safe to consume. Our primary responsibility, however, is to make sure America’s supply of meat, poultry and processed egg products is safe, wholesome and correctly labeled and packaged.
Since 2009, we’ve made some of the most significant changes to America’s food safety system since the 1950s. These changes include more effective testing, greater focus on mislabeling and more rigorous scientific processes to ensure the high quality and safety of products before they reach consumers. Together, they represent critical contributions to the health and safety of all Americans. In fact, our estimates indicate that the total number of illnesses attributed to USDA-regulated products fell more than 12 percent from 2009 to 2015.
You can also dive deeper into how stronger and more effective policies implemented over the past eight years will go a long way in protecting public health from the Administrator of USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, Al Almanza.
Join us throughout the month of July as we explore the incredible progress we’ve made since 2009 to update and modernize America’s food safety system and standards. Follow along on usda.gov, on the USDA blog and by using #USDAResults, or catch up on Chapter VII on our Medium site.
In July we’ll explore the incredible progress we’ve made since 2009 to update and modernize America’s food safety system and standards.
The chicken, steaks, ribs and hamburger you’re grilling today get much more scrutiny than the ones you would have purchased eight years ago.
The U.S. Food Safety System Has Come A Long Way in 50 Years
By the time this blog posts today, most readers will have already enjoyed at least one meal. Over their breakfast—fresh fruit, a bacon and egg sandwich, or maybe a grab-n-go energy bar—Americans were probably thinking about all the tasks that meal would fuel them to do for the day, and not whether their food could make them ill. But a strong and diligent network of public servants at the federal, state and local levels were thinking about how to protect you from foodborne illness over their breakfasts this morning, and they’re still thinking about it now.
Does Your Smoked Brisket Make the Grade?
I live for barbeque season. There’s nothing like the satisfaction of getting that meat done just right, and nothing like the gratification that comes with sharing it with friends and family gathered on a sunny summer’s day.
USDA Launches a One Stop Shop for its “One Health” Approach to Zoonotic Threats
At USDA, we use a One Health approach that embraces the idea that problems arising at the intersection of the health of humans, animals, and the environment can be solved only through a coordinated multidisciplinary approach. This approach embraces the idea that a disease problem impacting the health of humans, animals, and the environment only can be solved through improved communication, cooperation, and collaboration across disciplines and institutions.
Celebrating the Highbush Blueberry’s Centennial
You probably don’t think there’s anything special about picking up a tub of fresh blueberries at the store or the farmers market—the quality of the product, the freshness and the convenience of it all. If only you had to go pick the fruit from the wild yourself!
Grilling Frozen Burger Patties without Turning Them into Crunchy Messes
If you are going to be grilling frozen hamburger patties, here's how to do it successfully and safely. (Gary Crawford and Marianne Gravely)
The Essential Thing All Outdoor Grillers Should Have and Use
Many of us outdoor barbecuers don't use the most essential grilling tool of all. (Gary Crawford and Marianne Gravely)
Actuality: Export Opportunities for U.S. Products in Cuba
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack telling the Hispanic-American Entrepreneurship Summit in Washington, D.C. about the opportunities for exporting U.S. agricultural products to Cuba.
Actuality: Recommended Cooking Temperatures for Grilling Safety
Marianne Gravely with the USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline giving the recommended safe cooking temperatures for various meat products.
Tools To Develop Export Markets For US Ag Goods
USDA market development programs work with commodity groups and trade organizations to open and expand markets overseas for their products. (Rod Bain and Deputy Under Secretary Alexis Taylor)
What USDA Science Brings To Your Breakfast Table – Fruit
Research connected to the Agriculture Department is assuring your breakfast-time orange juice and fruit are safe, nutritious and delicious. (Rod Bain and Steve Shafer of the Agricultural Research Service)
The Ground Level Support For US Ag Exports
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service offices and staff worldwide play an instrumental role in assuring our nation's ag exports continue to enter global markets. (Rod Bain and Deputy Under Secretary Alexis Taylor)
Hispanic U.S. Businesses Have Growing Export Possibilities
Top U.S. officials say U.S. businesses owned by Hispanics have a growing opportunity to export their products and services. (Gary Crawford, Jeff Zients, Sec'y Tom Vilsack and Amb. Michael Froman)
Vilsack, McAuliffe, Haslam Convene on Drug Abuse Issue (Associated Press)
Kicking off a national tour on opioid addiction, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack brought together the governors of Tennessee and Virginia on Thursday to talk about stemming Appalachia's drug abuse epidemic. The town hall reinforced President Barack Obama's call for Congress to pump $1.1 billion more into substance abuse treatment. It also was an opportunity to show that governors of opposite parties want to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, despite Republican efforts to stop them.
Federal official touts benefits of Trans-Pacific Partnership in Memphis (Memphis Business Journal)
If Congress passes the Trans-Pacific Partnership, U.S. consumers could see produce prices go down, and U.S. exporters could expand to new markets with reduced tariffs on American goods.
USDA's work to keep pollinators buzzing (NJ.com)
During National Pollinator Week and in advance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) seventh annual Pollinator Week Festival, the USDA is announcing initiatives in support of the President's National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honeybees and Other Pollinators, announced just over one year ago.
USDA announces key measures to improve pollinator health (Cape Gazette)
A review of USDA's most popular conservation program found that farmers and ranchers across the country are creating at least 15 million acres of healthy forage and habitat for pollinators, and the department has also entered into a new partnership with leading honey bee organizations that will help ensure future conservation projects continue to provide benefits to these important species.
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