Food Safety and Inspection Service

FSIS protects public health by preventing illness from meat, poultry, and egg products. We do this by ensuring these products are safe, wholesome and properly labeled. FSIS is part of a national science-based system to ensure food safety and food defense. FSIS ensures food safety through the authorities of the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, and the Egg Products Inspection Act; as well as humane animal handling through the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act. Science Leading the Way in Food Safety for More Than 150 Years Several events in the latter half of the 1800s set the stage for developing the earliest standards for food processing. The Journey to Safe Food 1862 President Abraham Lincoln signs into law an act of Congress establishing the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 1868 The refrigerated rail car is developed allowing the meat packing industry to operate year-round. 1860s Import of livestock to the US increases and drives the US livestock and meat processing industries to lobby for meat inspection. 1883 Harvey W. Wiley, M.D. becomes the nation's chief chemist (at what is now USDA) and begins his crusade for passing the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. Addressing Challenges with Strategic Planning The agency’s 2023-2026 Strategic Plan will guide our priorities in the coming years. The below goals set forth in our plan align with USDA’s annual plans and provide a framework for understanding how FSIS fulfills our mission and addresses 21st century public health challenges. Defining Our Future Prevent Foodborne Illness Protect public health by preventing contamination in regulated products. Transform Inspection Strategies, Policies, and Scientific Approaches to Improve Public Health Adopt innovative approaches to improve safety and humane handling based on science & data. Achieve Operational Excellence Maintain a well-trained, engaged workforce and improve processes and services. Core Values Each FSIS staff member dedicates themselves to ensuring public safety. They exhibit the core values — accountable, collaborative, solution-oriented, empowered — that contribute to our strength as an agency and support each other in the work we do for the nation.