Constituent Update - October 23, 2026

Save the Date: FSIS to Host Open House at Midwestern Laboratory

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will host an Open House on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at the agency's newest laboratory facility, the FSIS Midwestern Laboratory, located at 7654 Natural Bridge Rd., Normandy, Mo. 63121.

The Open House will give stakeholders, partners, educators, students, and community members an opportunity to learn about FSIS laboratory science and the agency's public health mission. Attendees will hear from agency leadership about how the new facility expands FSIS laboratory capabilities and supports future growth, while also gaining insight into the critical role laboratory testing plays in ensuring the safety of the nation's food supply.

The event will feature opportunities to meet with FSIS leadership and laboratory staff, explore student and career opportunities within the agency, and tour the new laboratory facility.

Additional information, including how to register, will be provided in an upcoming issue of the Constituent Update.

FSIS Posts Updated Quarterly Humane Handling Datasets

Today, the quarterly humane handling inspection datasets were updated on the FSIS website. The datasets include: (1) the number of administrative enforcement actions taken, (2) the number of humane handling verification tasks performed, (3) the number of humane handling verification tasks that resulted in a noncompliance record (NR), and (4) the number of hours spent observing and verifying the humane treatment of livestock. This posting contains the most recent four quarters of data by district, HACCP size, and quarter.

FSIS Posts Quarterly Sampling Data

FSIS has updated the following quarterly sampling data sets:

• Quarterly Sampling Results: The quarterly sampling report was updated to include results through the fourth quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2026. Quarterly, FSIS calculates prevalence, volume weighted percent positive, or percent positive calculations for microbial pathogens in FSIS regulated products that are currently sampled through existing sampling projects using the prior 12 months of sampling data.
• Quarterly Sampling Reports for Salmonella Serotype Information: The quarterly sampling report for Salmonella serotype information was updated to include results through the third quarter of FY 2026. This post includes quarterly Salmonella serotype data for Salmonella isolates collected from FSIS product categories.

Stakeholder Engagement

USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Mindy Brashears delivers a keynote address at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in River Falls, Wis. (Photo by Senior Policy Advisor Dr. Christine Alvarado)

On Oct. 20, USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Mindy Brashears visited the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, where she met with Food Science Students and delivered a keynote presentation to students, university personnel, and interested stakeholders. During her keynote address, Dr. Brashears highlighted FSIS priorities and initiatives, discussed Wisconsin's significant contributions to agriculture, and emphasized the importance of supporting the state's small and very small meat and poultry establishments through USDA resources and outreach. She also shared her career journey, discussed opportunities in food science, and answered students' questions about careers in public service and the food industry. The visit underscored the importance of science, industry engagement, and workforce development in helping ensure a safe and wholesome food supply.

On Oct. 21, Administrator Dr. Justin Ransom was in Arlington, Va., addressing the 15th Annual Food Safety Consortium alongside Acting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Deputy Commissioner for Food Dr. Donald Prater. Dr. Ransom shared updates on FSIS' current efforts to protect public health and highlighted the agency's ongoing collaboration with FDA to keep the nation's food supply safe. The session concluded with a fireside chat with Dr. Ransom and Dr. Prater, moderated by Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports.

Available for Public Comment

FSIS seeks public comments on proposed rules and notices, which are viewable on the FSIS Federal Register & Rulemaking webpage. FSIS is currently seeking comments on the following:

• Until November 6: Proposed Additions to the Laboratory Sampling Datasets. Email [email protected] and include "Product Name Addition" in the subject line.
• Until November 9: Notice of Request to Renew an Approved Information Collection: Mechanically Tenderized Beef Products.
• Until November 13: Proposed Updates to Import Datasets. Email [email protected] and include "Import Dataset Enhancements" in the subject line.

Policy Update

FSIS notices and directives on public health and regulatory issues are available on the FSIS Policy webpage. The following policy update was recently issued:

FSIS Directive 5300.1: Managing the Establishment Profile in the Public Health Information System - Revision 2

Export Requirements Update

The Library of Export Requirements has been updated for products for the following:

FSIS:

• Singapore

APHIS:

• Azerbaijan
• Japan
• China
• Japan
• Kazakhstan

Complete information for FSIS products can be found at the FSIS Import & Export Library.

Complete information for APHIS products can be found at Export Restrictions on U.S. Animal Products for Human Consumption website. Select the countries listed above from the drop down menu for complete information.