Simplified framework for predicting changes in public health from performance standards applied in slaughter establishments

Selection of microbiologic standards for application to raw meat and poultry commodities should consider the public health benefits of such standards. This study describes a simplified framework for quantifying the public health benefits of a microbiologic performance standard. An example, based on the newly implemented Salmonella performance standard for raw broiler chicken carcasses in the United States, provides projections for annual human Salmonella illnesses avoided by industry compliance with the standard, as well as a measure of industry burden to achieve such compliance. In this example, illnesses avoided are proportional to reductions in the industry's frequency of contaminated carcasses.