In a significant policy reversal, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced it will not move forward with proposed regulations aimed at limiting salmonella bacteria in poultry products, a decision that halts efforts by the Biden Administration to curb foodborne illness linked to contaminated meat.
The USDA, on Thursday, withdrew a rule that had been under development for three years, which aimed to hold poultry companies accountable for keeping salmonella levels below a specified threshold.
The proposal, initially put forth in August, would have mandated testing for six strains of salmonella bacteria associated with illness in chicken and turkey, and if any product exceeded the allowable levels, it would be subject to recalls.
According to estimates from the USDA, the plan sought to prevent approximately 125,000 infections from chicken and 43,000 from turkey each year.
In total, salmonella is responsible for around 1.35 million infections and approximately 420 deaths annually in the U.S., as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The USDA cited public feedback as a primary reason for withdrawing the proposed rule, referencing around 7,000 comments received from the public.
Officials indicated they would reassess existing salmonella regulations in the future.
The National Chicken Council, a leading industry trade group, welcomed the withdrawal, arguing that the proposed rule was legally unsound and interpreted science incorrectly.
They asserted that the regulations would have resulted in increased production costs and heightened food waste without significantly improving public health.
Ashley Peterson, the Council’s senior vice president of science and regulatory affairs, remarked that they remain dedicated to reducing salmonella and supporting food safety regulations rooted in sound scientific principles.
Conversely, the decision has faced sharp criticism from food safety advocates.
Among them is Sandra Eskin, a former USDA official who played a role in drafting the original plan.
Eskin condemned the reversal, stating that it suggests the Biden Administration’s initiative to prioritize public health is not concerned with the thousands of people who fall ill due to preventable salmonella infections linked to poultry.
Sarah Sorscher, from the Center for Science in the Public Interest, echoed these frustrations, likening the proposed rule to a landmark decision made in 1994 when certain strains of harmful E. coli bacteria were banned from ground beef.
She emphasized that allowing more salmonella in food supplies will unequivocally lead to increased illness among Americans.
Adding to the ongoing discussion about salmonella in poultry, earlier this month, the USDA announced a six-month delay in enforcing regulations that limit salmonella levels in certain breaded and stuffed raw chicken products.
Originally set to take effect on May 1, enforcement is now scheduled to begin on November 3, covering products like frozen chicken cordon bleu and chicken Kiev, which have been linked to at least 14 salmonella outbreaks and 200 illnesses since 1998, according to the CDC.
This decision highlights the ongoing tension between food safety regulation and industry concerns, as well as the complexities of managing public health in agricultural practices.
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