USDA’s New Rule Protects Iowans From Salmonella In Chicken
It seems that there is always a recall that has to do with salmonella. We recently saw the effects salmonella can have when a woman went viral on social media for not realizing her peanut butter was recalled.
To help keep people safe, it United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced they are making efforts to reduce Salmonella illnesses.
In a news release from the USDA, said Sandra Eskin, USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety announced;
Today’s announcement is an important moment in U.S. food safety because we are declaring Salmonella an adulterant in a raw poultry product. This is just the beginning of our efforts to improve public health.
So, what does this mean?
An adulterant is a substance that’s found within another substance. In this case, the two substances are Salmonella and the breaded or stuffed chicken.
By declaring Salmonella and adulterant, FSIS is able to ensure that breaded and stuffed chicken that are highly contaminated are not sold to the public. According to the USDA, since 1998, these products have led to 14 Salmonella outbreaks and around 200 illnesses.
The level of Salmonella needed to consider the product “adulterated” is going to be very low.
FSIS will be looking for public comment on what the standard should be before publishing the notice in the Federal Register.
This announcement comes as part of FSIS’s announcement back in October 2021 that stated the organization was reevaluating its strategy for controlling Salmonella in poultry. The USDA will continue to look into ways to reduce salmonella in poultry.