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USDA Withdraws Salmonella Reduction Proposal for Poultry

The decision, citing financial and operational burdens, sparks concerns over delayed food safety reforms as industry groups applaud the rollback.

FILE - Workers process chickens at a poultry plant in Fremont, Neb., on Dec. 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)
Chickens sit at a poultry farm. March 12, 2025. REUTERS/Diego Vara/File Photo
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Overview

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture officially withdrew a proposed rule aimed at reducing Salmonella contamination in poultry products, citing significant financial and operational challenges.
  • The withdrawn rule would have introduced stricter testing standards and mandated preventive measures in poultry processing facilities to curb Salmonella outbreaks.
  • Consumer advocacy groups, including Consumer Reports, criticized the decision, warning it weakens the USDA's ability to prevent foodborne illnesses linked to Salmonella, which causes 1.35 million infections annually in the U.S.
  • Industry organizations like the National Chicken Council and The Meat Institute praised the rollback, arguing the proposed measures would have imposed unnecessary costs without meaningful public health benefits.
  • The withdrawal follows broader reductions in food safety oversight, including the elimination of USDA advisory committees and the FDA's suspension of dairy testing programs.