US Agency Proposes New Rule for Salmonella Presence in Raw Poultry Products

Chickens gather around a feeder at a farm. (File photo, Scott Olson/Getty Images)

An agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) unveiled a proposed policy on Monday aimed at reducing salmonella contamination from raw poultry products.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) seeks to prevent raw chicken carcasses, chicken parts, ground chicken, and ground turkey products from having any type of salmonella that is at or exceeds the 10 colony forming units per gram/ml level, according to a July 29 USDA statement.

Salmonella bacteria cause more than a million human infections in the United States annually, with food being the leading source of these infections, the statement said. Among foodborne infections, poultry is a major component.

The FSIS estimates that 125,000 salmonella illnesses are linked to chicken and almost 43,000 are associated with turkey annually. Under the proposal, the presence of certain strains of salmonella, such as Typhimurium and Enteritidis, would be banned.

In addition, poultry establishments will be required to develop a microbial monitoring program to prevent pathogen contamination.

“Far too many consumers become sick from poultry contaminated with Salmonella, and today’s announcement marks a historic step forward to combat this threat,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in the statement.

“This proposed framework is a systematic approach to addressing Salmonella contamination at poultry slaughter and processing, which includes enforceable standards that will result in safer food for consumers and fewer illnesses.”

The new proposal follows a final determination issued by the FSIS earlier this year that limited salmonella presence in raw breaded stuffed chicken products such as chicken cordon bleu and chicken Kiev.

At the time, industry groups expressed opposition to these standards. National Chicken Council (NCC) President Mike Brown said that the rules have the “potential to shutter processing plants, cost jobs, and take safe food and convenient products off shelves.”

“We’re also surprised by FSIS’s victory lap here when the agency has no idea if this will move the needle on public health,” he said in April.

NCC estimated that the rule on breaded chicken would result in the yearly loss of 200 million servings of the product, with 500 to 1,000 people losing their jobs.

The industry would suffer annual losses that would be “significantly higher” than what USDA estimates, the group said.

“It is likely that this proposal would drive smaller producers of this product out of business entirely,” NCC said.

Comments may be submitted online via the federal eRulemaking portal, available at www.regulations.gov.

Poultry Salmonella Outbreaks

Consumer advocacy group Consumer Reports “lauded” the new USDA regulations. Salmonella contamination is widespread in chicken products due to “crowded and filthy” conditions in which the birds are raised, the group said.

An investigation conducted by Consumer Reports in 2022 found that nearly a third of ground chicken samples contained salmonella. The majority were from just three strains, including Typhimurium and Enteritidis.

“The USDA’s new framework is a momentous and significant step toward protecting consumers from harmful Salmonella bacteria,” said Brian Ronholm, director of food policy for Consumer Reports.

“Far too much poultry contaminated with dangerous Salmonella ends up on the market and winds up on our plates, sickening hundreds of thousands of people every year.”

According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, salmonella infections cause 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths annually in the United States.

Multiple poultry-linked salmonella outbreaks have occurred over the past year. In June, the CDC issued an alert on an outbreak of at least 195 illnesses and 50 hospitalizations across 38 states.

“Backyard poultry, such as chickens and ducks, can carry Salmonella germs even if they look healthy and clean. These germs can easily spread to anything in the areas where the poultry live and roam,” the agency said. It asked people to be “safe around backyard flocks.” The investigation is active.

In June last year, the Washington State Department of Health issued a similar salmonella warning. More than 23 percent of the infections were attributed to consuming poultry such as chicken and ducks.

“If you have a backyard flock, take steps to protect yourself and your family from salmonella infection,” Washington State Chief Science Officer Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett said in a statement.

“Always wash your hands with soap and water after you’ve touched poultry, soil, or objects they’ve had contact with.”