Under the Modernization of Poultry Slaughter Final Rule (2014), which poultry group continues to be subject to generic E. coli testing?

• A. Ratites
• B. Chickens
• C. Turkeys
• D. Ducks

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how testing requirements shifted under the Modernization of Poultry Slaughter Final Rule. Generic E. coli testing is used as a simple indicator of overall process hygiene in slaughter operations. With modernization, most poultry groups moved toward a pathogen-focused, performance-based approach and routine generic E. coli testing was eliminated for them. Ratites remain subject to this generic E. coli testing because their production and processing system hasn’t been fully incorporated into the new pathogen-centered framework, so the indicator test continues to be used as a measure of sanitation performance for this group. In short, this group keeps using the indicator test while others have moved to different regulatory testing standards.