By Jamie Martin
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has unveiled a proposed rule designed to tackle Salmonella contamination more effectively in raw poultry products. This initiative is the result of a three-year effort by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to refine their approach to controlling Salmonella, a significant cause of foodborne illness.
Salmonella infections, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), afflict over 1 million Americans annually, with a significant number of these cases linked to poultry consumption.
Despite a decrease in contamination rates, the number of illnesses has remained steady, prompting this new regulatory push.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighted the proposal as a historic step toward safer poultry products.
The proposed standards would prevent the sale of chicken and turkey products containing detectable levels of certain Salmonella serotypes if they exceed 10 colony forming units per gram. This measure aims to ensure a substantial decrease in Salmonella-related illnesses.
The proposal also mandates that poultry producers develop a microbial monitoring program to continuously assess and prevent pathogen contamination throughout the production process.
This comprehensive strategy represents a move towards data-driven, science-based policies that will involve stakeholder feedback to finalize the regulations.
The USDA is now seeking public comments on the proposal, encouraging stakeholders to participate in shaping effective and sustainable food safety measures that ensure the health and safety of American consumers.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: National