The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has decided not to move forward with a proposed rule that would have placed stricter limits on salmonella bacteria in poultry products. This decision effectively halts a Biden administration initiative aimed at reducing food poisoning cases linked to contaminated meat.
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on Thursday that it is withdrawing the rule, which had been under development for three years. The agency cited the large volume of public comments received—more than 7,000—and stated that it will “evaluate whether it should update” current salmonella regulations.
Details of the Proposed Rule
The rule proposed by the Biden administration would have required poultry companies to meet stricter standards for salmonella levels in their products. Key elements of the proposal included:
- Salmonella Limits: Poultry companies would have been required to keep salmonella bacteria levels below a specified threshold.
- Testing for Specific Strains: Companies would have been required to test for the presence of six specific salmonella strains most commonly associated with human illness.
- Product Restrictions: Poultry exceeding the limits or containing any of the specified strains would not have been allowed to be sold and would have been subject to recall.
The USDA estimated that the rule could have significantly reduced the number of salmonella infections caused by poultry consumption.
Industry Response and Concerns
The National Chicken Council, an industry trade group, welcomed the USDA’s decision. The organization had argued that the proposed rule was “legally unsound,” misinterpreted scientific data, and would have led to increased costs and food waste without a significant improvement in public health. The group stated its commitment to reducing salmonella and supporting food safety regulations based on “sound science.”
Food Safety Advocacy Groups Criticize the Decision
Food safety advocates have strongly criticized the USDA’s withdrawal of the proposed rule. They argue that the decision prioritizes industry concerns over public health and will lead to more Americans becoming ill from salmonella-contaminated poultry. These groups contend that the rule would have been a significant step forward in food safety, similar to past measures that have successfully reduced other foodborne pathogens.
Salmonella Statistics and Impact
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), salmonella causes an estimated 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the United States each year. Most of these infections are foodborne.