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FSIS Dioxin Survey for Meat & Poultry
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Issue
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) conducted a survey to
gather information on dioxin in U.S. meat and poultry products. Data
from this survey will be used to determine whether the amount of dioxin
present in meat and poultry remains low and whether steps can be taken
to reduce dioxin further. The information from the proposed survey will
be used by FSIS as it considers approaches to managing dioxin risks in
the future.
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What Can I Do?
All people have some level of dioxin present in the body. While there are no treatments to completely rid the body of dioxin, intake may be reduced by following the Federal dietary guidelines. The guidelines call for reducing dietary fat consumption by choosing lean meats, poultry, fish, and low-fat dairy products.
Questions and Answers About Dioxins (Oct 2003)
Prepared by the Interagency Working Group on Dioxin
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Dioxins
Dioxins are a group of compounds that share a similar chemical structure and common
characteristics. Low levels of dioxin are found in the environment all over the world.
Dioxin is released into the environment through natural processes, such as forest fires
and volcanic eruptions, and through industrial processes, such as the burning of fuels
or chemical manufacturing. The level of dioxin present in the environment is called the
background level.
Dioxin accumulates in fat tissue in the human body. Studies have shown that, over time,
exposure to dioxin may have long term, adverse health effects. While dioxin may be taken
in by breathing or absorption through the skin, the primary means of exposure is believed
to be through the consumption of animal fats. Dioxin is stored in the fatty tissue of fish,
meat, and poultry. It is also found in products from these animals, such as dairy products
and eggs.
Previous Dioxin Survey
In the mid-1990s, as a part of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) dioxin reassessment,
FSIS and EPA conducted a survey to gather information on dioxin in beef, pork, and poultry products.
Approximately 50 market cattle, 50 market hogs, and 54 young chickens/turkeys, were sampled.
While the majority of the tests showed results within the background range, two samples from the
young chickens/turkeys class indicated elevated levels of dioxin. These findings prompted an
investigation by FSIS, EPA, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services'
(HHS) Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The elevated levels were traced to ball clay, an anti-caking agent used in animal feed. FDA removed
the feed in question from commerce and banned the future use of ball clay in feed. Further testing
was conducting before the poultry products involved were released for consumption, and no meat or
poultry products were recalled.
New Survey
After the survey in the 1990s, FSIS decided to conduct periodic surveys of dioxin in meat and
poultry products. The new dioxin survey will update and expand upon the information gathered in the
1990s. The dioxin survey will be conducted under the FSIS National Residue Program (NRP).
Under the NRP, FSIS conducts testing for residues from pesticides, animal drugs, or potentially
dangerous chemicals. Samples are taken for monitoring, surveillance, enforcement, and exploratory
projects testing. The dioxin survey will be an exploratory project under the NRP because the
survey has been initiated to gather information on dioxin in meat and poultry.
The survey will be directed by a Dioxin Survey Oversight Committee that includes participants
from FSIS, EPA, FDA, and USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS).
A total of 500 fat samples will be taken at slaughter from meat and poultry at federally
inspected establishments. Of this total, 136 samples will be taken from market cattle,
144 from young chickens, 136 from market hogs, and 84 from young turkeys. These sample
numbers are statistically representative of production in each slaughter class.
All of the samples will be analyzed by the ARS laboratory in Fargo, North Dakota.
FSIS has worked with FDA and EPA to develop follow-up criteria if unusual results are found.
FSIS will investigate if a result is chemically unusual or if a significantly elevated dioxin
level is detected. The follow-up investigation will involve gathering information about the
sampled animal and the environment in which the animal was raised. This information will
help FSIS understand factors that might contribute to elevated dioxin levels in meat and
poultry products.
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