Which trio of pathogens was targeted for reducing illnesses from USDA regulated products under the FY 2018-2022 Strategic Plan Goal 7?

• A. Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli
• B. Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes
• C. Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli
• D. Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter, Salmonella

Answer: (C)

Focusing on three pathogens that contribute the most to illness from USDA-regulated products is the main idea here. The FY 2018–2022 Strategic Plan Goal 7 targeted reducing illnesses caused by Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli across the meat, poultry, and other FSIS-regulated foods.

Salmonella is one of the most common causes of domestically acquired foodborne illness and is linked to a wide range of products, including poultry, eggs, beef, and pork. Listeria monocytogenes is particularly dangerous for pregnant individuals, newborns, older adults, and the immunocompromised, and it poses a serious risk in ready-to-eat products and environments where post-processing contamination can occur. Escherichia coli, encompassing pathogenic strains that can cause severe disease and outbreaks, also represents a substantial burden across various regulated foods.

These three pathogens were prioritized because they collectively account for a large public health burden and there are established, measurable control strategies within the USDA-regulated supply chain. This makes them the most practical and impactful trio to target for reducing foodborne illness under that goal.

Other options introduce pathogens or narrower E. coli subtypes that are not the trio specified for Goal 7, or include Campylobacter, which is important in other contexts but not the primary trio identified for that goal.