The U.S. Department of Agriculture has withdrawn a proposed rule that would have set stricter limits on salmonella levels in raw poultry, the agency announced Thursday.
Originally introduced in 2022 under the Biden Administration, the plan aimed to prevent food poisoning by requiring poultry companies to control salmonella levels and test for six specific strains most associated with illness. Poultry exceeding contamination thresholds would have been recalled or prohibited from sale.
In a notice posted by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, officials said they are stepping back to “further assess” their strategy, citing more than 7,000 public comments received on the proposal. They added they will review whether current regulations need updating.
The CDC estimates salmonella causes 1.35 million infections and about 420 deaths in the U.S. annually, with poultry linked to tens of thousands of cases each year.
The move drew praise from the National Chicken Council, which called the rule “legally unsound” and argued it would have raised food costs without improving public health. “We remain committed to reducing salmonella, but support regulations based on sound science,” said Ashley Peterson, the group’s senior vice president.
However, food safety advocates criticized the withdrawal. Former USDA official Sandra Eskin, who helped draft the rule, said it shows the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative under the Trump Administration “does not care about the thousands of people who get sick from preventable foodborne salmonella infections.”
Sarah Sorscher of the Center for Science in the Public Interest also warned that scrapping the rule will lead to more Americans falling ill: “Shipping more salmonella to restaurants and grocery stores is certain to make Americans sicker.”
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