A Wing and a Prayer: New Salmonella Rule Coming Through

USDA’s Food and Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) is trying to gobble up salmonella. 

Hatching a new plan: A proposed rule released by FSIS is from a three-year effort to prevent salmonella contamination at poultry slaughter and processing locations, by requiring them to develop a microbial monitoring system.

Contamination station: This rule, which is open for comment for 60 days, would apply to raw chicken carcasses, chicken parts, ground chicken, and ground turkey. The proposal says if any of those products register salmonella at a level of 10 colony forming units per gram or milliliter, they would not be able to enter the market.

Salmonella showdown: Some, like the USDA undersecretary for food safety, say the proposed salmonella framework is based on data and scientific studies. But others in the industry are saying the proposed rule is winging it.

Soundbite: “We support changes in food safety regulations that are based on sound science, robust data, and are demonstrated to positively impact public health. We are concerned this proposal is not based on any of those. — Ashley Peterson, senior VP of scientific and regulatory affairs at the National Chicken Council

The council also says the rule will increase the price of chicken for grocery buyers.

Sunny side down: There are more than 1M salmonella cases in the U.S. every year. While the USDA is proposing the rule, those in the poultry industry say they’ve always committed to investing in salmonella research and on-farm prevention.

Maybe this is why the chicken crossed the road: to get away from salmonella.