Location: WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced its decision to withdraw a proposed rule designed to limit salmonella bacteria levels in poultry, marking a setback for efforts aimed at reducing foodborne illnesses linked to contaminated meat.

Details of the Proposed Regulation

The regulation, first introduced last year after an extensive development period of three years, aimed to impose specific thresholds on salmonella levels in poultry products. Published in August, the proposal would have required manufacturers to test for six specific strains of salmonella most commonly associated with foodborne illness, particularly those found in chicken and turkey.

Under the proposed rules, any poultry deemed to exceed salmonella standards or harbor one of the dangerous strains would have been prohibited from sale and subject to recall.

Reasons for Withdrawal

On Thursday, officials from the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service confirmed the withdrawal after evaluating feedback from over 7,000 public comments. The USDA indicated a commitment to reviewing the current salmonella regulations to determine if updates are necessary.

Impact of Salmonella Infections

According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), salmonella causes approximately 1.35 million infections annually in the U.S., leading to about 420 deaths. The USDA attributes around 125,000 infections to chicken and approximately 43,000 to turkey each year.

Reactions from Stakeholders

The withdrawal of the proposed rule received mixed reactions:

• Industry Response: The National Chicken Council, an advocacy group for the poultry industry, welcomed the decision. They asserted that the proposal was legally flawed, misinterpreted scientific data, and would have resulted in greater costs and increased food waste without delivering significant public health benefits. “We remain committed to further reducing salmonella and fully support food safety regulations and policies that are based on sound science,” stated Ashley Peterson, the group’s senior vice president of science and regulatory affairs.
• Food Safety Advocates: In contrast, some food safety proponents criticized the USDA’s choice. Sandra Eskin, a former USDA official who contributed to the original proposal, expressed disappointment, stating, “The withdrawal sends the clear message that the Make America Healthy Again initiative does not care about the thousands of people who get sick from preventable foodborne salmonella infections linked to poultry.”

Historical Context and Future Considerations

This recent move mirrors past USDA actions, notably similar protocols established for E. coli in 1994 following severe outbreaks tied to ground beef, which significantly reduced related foodborne illnesses by over 50%. Experts note that the agency has historically avoided imposing limits on salmonella due to the lack of sufficient tracking technology.

Additionally, the USDA has recently postponed the enforcement of a regulation that governs salmonella levels in specific breaded and stuffed raw chicken products, extending the enforcement date to November 3 from the originally scheduled May 1.

For further details, refer to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service’s announcement, published on April 24, 2025.