On Nov. 1, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service will begin a one-year sampling program of domestic beef, pork and Siluriformes fish to determine levels of dioxins and dioxin-like compounds. This survey is part of FSIS’ effort to monitor dioxin in regulated products to provide insight on changes in human exposure to dioxin-like compounds through the diet.

FSIS, in conjunction with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center in Fargo, North Dakota, is conducting the FY 2024 Dioxin Survey to determine levels of dioxins and dioxin-like compounds in the U.S. domestic beef and pork products FSIS regulates.

Dioxins are a group of compounds of public health concern. These compounds are ubiquitous but generally occur at very low levels throughout the environment as persistent environmental contaminants.

Fat and liver samples will be collected in federally inspected establishments and the survey data will be used to determine if dioxin levels in beef and pork remain low and if further reduction is possible.

This study will include steers, heifers and market swine. Samples will be taken at the end of the production line, just prior to the final rinse. Back fat samples will be collected from steers and heifers; liver samples will be collected from some steers and heifers. Subcutaneous belly fat will be collected from market hogs.

FSIS in-plant personnel will collect the samples and the Agricultural Research Service will analyze the samples. This is the latest survey in the recurring five-year cycle of dioxin surveys that FSIS conducts with other federal partners, including ARS, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration.

FSIS intends to publish the results of this survey on the Chemical Residues and Contaminants page of FSIS website, alongside previous survey results.