Which product category is covered by the Salmonella and Campylobacter performance standards?

• A. Raw chicken and not ready-to-eat comminuted poultry
• B. Fresh beef
• C. Fresh pork
• D. Ready-to-eat poultry

Answer: (C)

Performance standards for Salmonella and Campylobacter are applied to specific raw meat and poultry product categories to push down the prevalence of these pathogens through validated controls and periodic verification. Fresh pork is one of the product categories covered by these standards, so facilities producing fresh pork must meet the established performance criteria and implement process controls to reduce contamination. This helps address cancerous risks from Salmonella and Campylobacter associated with pork products and protects public health.

Other choices point to categories governed by different sets of standards or programs. Raw poultry categories and ready-to-eat products involve separate regulatory focus, and fresh beef is not the category these particular Salmonella and Campylobacter performance standards target.