Understanding the new USDA policy to decrease salmonella in raw poultry

A fresh regulation proposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture seeks to safeguard customers from foodborne diseases by significantly decreasing salmonella in poultry items that reach supermarket shelves and consumers’ homes.

Following three years of reassessing its approach to controlling salmonella rates in poultry, the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the USDA announced a new suggestion on Monday requiring poultry corporations to maintain salmonella levels below a specific threshold and ensure they examine for six specific types of bacteria in raw chicken and turkey items.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack expressed in a statement that the newly suggested framework “represents a groundbreaking step forward to combat” salmonella contamination in poultry and anticipates it will prevent tainted meat from reaching stores to reduce the number of recalls and diseases.

“This suggested framework offers a systematic method to address salmonella contamination during poultry slaughter and processing, which incorporates enforceable criteria that will result in safer food for consumers and fewer illnesses,” he stated.

Citing the Poultry Products Inspection Act, the FSIS stated that this regulation would “set up final product standards based on these Salmonella levels and serotypes” and prevent contaminated raw chicken and turkey products from entering the retail market.

FSIS also suggested revisions to regulations that would mandate all poultry slaughter establishments to “create a microbial monitoring program to prevent pathogen contamination throughout the slaughter system.”

“The suggested Salmonella framework is based on data and thorough scientific evaluation, and it incorporates input from extensive stakeholder involvement,” USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. José Emilio Esteban mentioned in a statement. “We urge all interested stakeholders to submit comments and pertinent data on the proposal as we strive to finalize data-driven, science-based regulatory policies to address Salmonella in poultry.”