USDA proposed regulatory framework to reduce salmonella risks in poultry products
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) released a proposed regulatory framework for a new strategy to control Salmonella contamination in poultry products and reduce foodborne illnesses attributed to these products. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that Salmonella bacteria cause approximately 1.35 million human infections and 26,500 hospitalizations in the United States every year. Of those infections, over 23% are attributed to poultry consumption. Data from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) shows the total cost for foodborne Salmonella infections in the United States is a staggering $4.1 billion annually and the cost for the loss of productivity to the economy is $88 million. These are real costs to real people that can and should be prevented.
The proposed framework consists of three key components that, together, support a comprehensive approach to controlling Salmonella in poultry.
-Requiring that incoming flocks be tested for Salmonella before entering an establishment;
-Enhancing establishment process control monitoring and FSIS verification; and
-Implementing an enforceable final product standard.
The agency is hosting a virtual public meeting on Nov. 3, 2022, to seek input from stakeholders on the proposed framework.
