Lawmakers move to block USDA's 'Salmonella Rule'
Representatives Tracey Mann and Steve Womack have introduced legislation to block the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) proposed Salmonella rule. The USDA developed this framework in July to reduce Salmonella in raw poultry products. The rule would require final products to contain no more than 10 colony-forming units of Salmonella per gram, and any detectable serotype of public health concern would be barred from commerce.
The National Chicken Council (NCC) supports the bill, arguing that the USDA’s proposal offers no public health benefits, is legally flawed, and would impose excessive costs. The NCC contends that the framework mischaracterizes Salmonella in raw poultry, misinterprets scientific data, and is impractical given current technological limitations. They warn of potential supply chain disruptions, increased food waste and costs, environmental challenges, and national security risks.
However, we believe the USDA’s requirements are grounded in science. The economic burden of Salmonella infections is significant, and food products should be free of pathogens that pose public health risks.
