USDA-FSIS Initiates Year-Long Survey of Dioxins in Cattle, Swine, and Catfish Starting November

Commencing on November 1, 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA's FSIS) will launch a comprehensive one-year sampling program focused on domestic beef, pork, and Siluriformes fish, commonly known as catfish. This initiative aims to assess the levels of dioxins and dioxin-like compounds present in these products. The survey is a key component of FSIS's ongoing efforts to monitor dioxin levels in regulated items, shedding light on potential changes in human exposure to dioxin-like compounds through dietary consumption.

Dioxins represent a group of compounds that raise public health concerns and are typically found in the environment at very low concentrations as persistent contaminants. The sampling will be carried out by FSIS in-plant personnel (IPP), while the analysis of the collected samples will be conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS). This recently announced survey marks the latest installment in FSIS's recurring five-year cycle of dioxin surveys, a collaborative effort that involves federal partners such as ARS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

To ensure transparency, FSIS intends to publish the survey results on its Chemical Residues and Contaminants webpage, where they will be accessible alongside findings from previous surveys. Specific guidelines and instructions for livestock (cattle and swine) and Siluriformes fish have been issued to inspection program personnel in FSIS notices.