The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has withdrawn a plan to limit salmonella levels in raw poultry, halting efforts to reduce food poisoning from contaminated meat. The proposed rule aimed to keep salmonella bacteria at certain thresholds and test for six strains most associated with illness.
According to the USDA, feedback from over 7,000 public comments led to the decision not to implement the rule. Industry groups, including the National Chicken Council, praised the withdrawal, citing concerns about costs and lack of impact on public health. However, food safety advocates criticized the move, arguing it would lead to more illnesses.
The salmonella rule was seen as a potential victory in preventing foodborne illnesses, similar to a 1994 ban on certain strains of E. coli bacteria from ground beef. The USDA has delayed the enforcement of another regulation, which will regulate salmonella levels in certain breaded and stuffed raw chicken products starting November 3.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that around 1.35 million people contract salmonella each year, most through food, resulting in about 420 deaths.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/poultry-salmonella-food-poisoning-usda-081dafd3c8a75c3ef2203d260584a893