USDA opens new food safety lab

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has officially opened a new, modernized Midwestern Food Safety Laboratory in Normandy, Mo., according to an announcement from Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins on July 15.

Located at 7654 Natural Bridge Road in Normandy, the new laboratory is part of the USDA’s recently launched plan to further fight foodborne illness.

“President Trump is committed to ensuring American consumers have the safest, most abundant and affordable food supply in the world,” Rollins said. “When it comes to food safety, USDA is charting a bold new course in giving consumers confidence their meat, poultry and egg products meet our best-in-class food safety standards.”

At the opening of the laboratory, Rollins outlined the agency’s plans for bolstering food safety in the United States. Details of the plans are as follows:

1. Enhancing microbiological testing and inspection oversight.

The first USDA objective Rollins shared is implementing a Listeria testing method that provides quicker results and detects a broader set of Listeria species.