The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) says a shift in the way poultry inspections are carried out will save money for the industry and government while improving food safety. The proposed change would place more inspection emphasis on areas of the poultry production system that pose the greatest risk.

“The new inspection system will reduce the risk of foodborne illness by focusing FSIS inspection activities on those tasks that advance our core mission of food safety,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says. “By revising current procedures and removing outdated regulatory requirements that do not help combat foodborne illness, the result will be a more efficient and effective use of taxpayer dollars.”

The proposal, currently in a public comment period, would also remove some duties from FSIS employees that are not directly related to food safety.