USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation announce the completion of a research project evaluating whether “combos” can reasonably be treated as independent lots, specifically when it comes to food safety, particularly Salmonella. The research is part of the Association’s comprehensive research program, which encompasses all phases of poultry and egg production and processing, and is made possible in part through proceeds from the International Poultry Expo, part of the International Production & Processing Expo.

Project #744: Discerning Lot-to-Lot Independence, Variability and Commercial Feasibility of a Lot Definition Using Statistical Approaches and Biomapping Data in the Secondary Processing Room

(Dr. Marcos Sanchez-Plata, International Center for Food Industry Excellence, Department of Animal Science, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas)

A critical challenge in secondary poultry processing is the lack of a scientifically validated definition for an “independent lot,” particularly considering proposed regulatory changes that reflect product contamination as a performance standard for plant categorization. This project sought to determine whether combos can be justified as independent lots—a distinction that is essential for accurate process verification, regulatory compliance and avoiding arbitrary and costly product holds or disposition decisions.

The findings indicate that combos cannot consistently be treated as separate, independent units, as contamination levels may increase significantly over the course of a production day. These insights provide processors with a stronger basis for targeting cleaning and sanitation efforts more effectively. Overall, the results support moving away from a one-size-fits-all definition of a “lot” and instead adopting a more flexible, plant-specific approach.

The research summary can be found on the USPOULTRY website. Information on other Association research may also be obtained by visiting the USPOULTRY website.