USDA Establishes RSS Feeds, Twitter Accounts in Effort to Broaden Audience

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently updated its news information services by establishing RSS feeds and Twitter accounts for some of its major divisions, including the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) and Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES). The department has joined several other government agencies in
revamping its media outreach efforts, responding in part to the availability of new social networking sites in which a wide spectrum of consumers, interested citizens and industry stakeholders are participating. In what the White House web blog has described as “a smart match,” FSIS has thus far used its Twitter account to “tweet” about recalled products, the importance of food safety precautions during natural disasters and newly available resources. See Meatingplace.com, March 30, 2009.