USDA Withdraws Proposed Regulations to Limit Salmonella in Poultry Products

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the cancellation of its plans to impose restrictions on salmonella levels in chicken and turkey products, marking a significant shift in the Biden administration's efforts to combat foodborne illnesses. After three years of developing a proposed regulation, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service stated last week that they are withdrawing the rule, partly due to extensive public feedback, which included over 7,000 comments.

The proposed regulation aimed to require poultry producers to maintain salmonella contamination below certain thresholds and to test for six primary strains associated with foodborne illnesses. Should products test positive for these strains or exceed the Salmonella limits, they would be prohibited from sale and subject to recall. The goal was to prevent an estimated 125,000 salmonella infections from chicken and 43,000 from turkey annually.

Salmonella is responsible for approximately 1.35 million infections and around 420 deaths each year in the United States, according to the CDC. The industry-led opposition, notably from the National Chicken Council, argued that the regulation was overly strict, misunderstood science, and would increase costs and food waste without providing significant health benefits. Ashley Peterson, a vice president of the council, emphasized their commitment to scientifically grounded food safety improvements.

Conversely, food safety advocates criticized the withdrawal, highlighting concerns that it could lead to more salmonella infections. Sandra Eskin, a former USDA official involved in drafting the rule, and Sarah Sorscher of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, stressed that relaxing regulations might make Americans more susceptible to foodborne illnesses.

Additionally, the USDA has delayed enforcement of a final rule governing salmonella levels in certain raw chicken products, such as breaded and stuffed poultry items, which have been linked to multiple outbreaks. Originally scheduled for enforcement on May 1, the compliance date has been postponed to November 3.

This development underscores ongoing debates over food safety regulations and industry protections, with public health advocates calling for stricter measures to reduce foodborne illnesses linked to poultry. For more details on salmonella symptoms and prevention, visit Mayo Clinic’s resource on the subject.

Source: MedicalXpress