Which of the following is an eligible FSIS sampling category for products?

• A. Young chicken carcasses
• B. Battered chicken patties
• C. NRTE comminuted chicken
• D. Young turkey carcasses

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that FSIS defines product sampling categories by the form and processing status of the product. Carcasses represent an eligible category because sampling can directly target the primary, unprocessed form of the animal to monitor contamination at the point of processing. Among the options, a young chicken carcass fits this category perfectly: it is an unprocessed raw poultry product that inspectors can sample as part of routine product surveillance. The other options involve products that are either processed or not in the same product form: battered chicken patties are formed, ready-to-eat items; NRTE comminuted chicken is not ready-to-eat and is a processed product requiring different sampling considerations; and young turkey carcasses, while still carcasses, are not the chicken category used in this particular product-sampling context. Thus, the eligible category here is the young chicken carcass.