The retracted rule aimed to reduce the estimated 125,000 Salmonella infections from chicken by 43,000 from Türkiye each year.
The USDA announced Thursday that it would withdraw the proposed rules requiring poultry companies to limit the presence of salmonella bacteria on its products, and end previous Biden administration efforts to reduce foodborne diseases related to contaminated meat.
USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) said the decision will continue following a review of more than 7,000 public comments submitted in response to the proposed regulations published in August 2024.
The retracted rules would have required poultry companies to request that salmonella bacteria be below a certain threshold and test the six most related strains. Products that exceed the standard or contain any of these stocks will be prohibited from being sold and subject to recall.
FSIS explained that the proposed framework targets raw chicken, chicken parts, crushed chicken, and ground turkey products contaminated with specific salmonella levels and serotypes. The agency also proposed stricter monitoring, sampling and record-breaking requirements for poultry processors, pursuant to the same notice.
The agency said it received 7,089 comments on the proposal, including feedback from industry trade associations, large and large poultry processors, consumer advocacy groups, academics and state officials.
Deciding to withdraw
The main issues raised included questions about the legal authority of FSIS, the scientific basis for the proposed standards, economic impacts and potential burdens on small producers, according to FSIS notifications.
“While FSI continues to support its goal of reducing salmonella diseases related to poultry products, the agency believes the comments have raised several important issues that will ensure further consideration,” FSIS said in its withdrawal notice.
Peterson criticized the proposed framework as “legally unhealthy” based on “science misconceptions” and “does not have any meaningful impact on public health.”
She added that “extraordinary amounts of food waste” and higher costs for producers and consumers, according to the National Chicken Council.
“We appreciate today’s announcement by FSIS and share our goal of protecting public health,” Peterson said, adding that the council looks forward to working with agents on future policy.
The Associated Press said Sandra Eskin, a former USDA official who helped draft the plan, was a former USDA official who helped draft the plan.
Science Center Sarah Sauché, Sarjar of Science Center in the Public Interest, compared the proposed rules to the 1994 ban on certain E. coli strains of ground beef, calling it a missed opportunity for a critical food safety victory. “Anyway: shipping more salmonella to restaurants and grocery stores certainly makes Americans sick,” said Sorscher, according to the Associated Press.
From NTD News
