FSIS designates a poultry operation as Category 3 if establishments have exceeded the Salmonella or Campylobacter maximum allowable percent positive during any completed 52-week moving window over the last three months.

• A. Category 3
• B. Category 2
• C. Highly variable process control
• D. Category 1

Answer: (A)

FSIS uses a three-category system to classify poultry operations based on how often Salmonella or Campylobacter tests come back positive, using a rolling 52-week window. The idea is to look at a full year of data and see if, within that moving window, the percent positive ever exceeds the maximum allowable threshold. If such an exceedance occurs in any completed 52-week window within the last three months, the operation is designated as Category 3. This indicates higher risk and prompts stricter enforcement and corrective actions. In contrast, staying within limits overall would align with Category 1, while intermediate concerns would fall into Category 2.