Industry and Advocacy Responses
The USDA halted a proposed rule to limit salmonella in poultry, citing over 7,000 public comments. The National Chicken Council praised the decision, calling the proposed rule legally unsound and costly, with no significant public health benefit.
Critics, including former USDA official Sandra Eskin and Sarah Sorscher from the Center for Science in the Public Interest, condemned the withdrawal as neglecting public health and allowing more salmonella in the food supply, potentially leading to increased illnesses.
Regulatory Delay and Public Health Concerns
The USDA also postponed the enforcement of a final rule on salmonella levels in certain breaded and stuffed raw chicken products from May 1 to November 3, covering products linked to salmonella outbreaks.
The proposed regulation, aimed at reducing salmonella infections and deaths annually, was part of a broader effort to enhance food safety. The decision to withdraw has raised concerns among public health advocates about the impact on foodborne illness rates.