FSIS selected ______ as the target organism because it is a commonly reported cause of foodborne illness and is present in all major species.

• A. Campylobacter
• B. Salmonella
• C. Listeria
• D. E. coli

Answer: (B)

The main idea being tested is why FSIS chooses a single organism as the target for its pathogen-control programs. That organism is selected because its presence across the supply chain can reflect the overall level of contamination and sanitation across multiple animal species, and because it causes a substantial burden of illness.

Salmonella fits best because it is a commonly reported cause of foodborne illness and is present in all major species. This combination makes it a practical, measurable benchmark for process controls and sanitation across a wide range of meat and poultry products. By focusing on Salmonella, FSIS can set universal performance standards and track progress in reducing contamination where it matters most for public health.

Campylobacter is indeed a major pathogen, especially in poultry, but it is not as consistently distributed across all major species. Listeria can be widespread in environments and ready-to-eat foods, but its presence in animal reservoirs across all major species is less uniform. E. coli includes many strains, some pathogenic, but using Salmonella as the primary target aligns with the highest overall public health burden and the broadest cross-species surveillance.