USDA pulls rule to limit salmonella levels in raw poultry

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said Thursday it is withdrawing a Biden-era proposed rule that would limit salmonella levels in raw poultry. 

The rule would have required corporations to test contamination levels in chicken and poultry infected with strains tied to the meat-borne disease. If poultry plants reported significant bacteria detected, the stock would risk being pulled from store shelves and be subject to a recall under the proposed rule. 

USDA officials said they pulled the rule due to concerns submitted during the public comment period.

“While FSIS [Food Safety and Inspection Service] continues to support the goal of reducing Salmonella illnesses associated with poultry products, the Agency believes that the comments have raised several important issues that warrant further consideration,” the agency wrote in its notification on the Federal Register. 

The USDA said the legal authority to control final product standards was questioned by critics in addition to the economic impact of additional regulation. 

However, the Trump administration’s shift away from regulatory framework comes months after a massive outbreak across nine states last year, followed by another flare in March.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that salmonella causes about 1.35 million infections in the United States every year.

“The USDA’s decision is disappointing and troubling given the large number of poultry plants that have been found to pose a higher risk of triggering a Salmonella outbreak,” Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, said in a statement to The Hill. 

“Combined with recent staff and budget cuts, the delay in the implementation of the food traceability rule, and the elimination of critical food safety advisory committees, the administration is sending the message that consumers will be on their own when it comes to protecting their families from foodborne illness,” he added.