Food & Agriculture

CFA Asks USDA to Consider Stricter Limits on Salmonella in Frozen, Breaded Chicken Products

CFA submitted the following comments on the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service’s (FSIS’) proposed rule to prohibit certain Salmonella contamination in raw chicken products that many consumers mistake as already cooked. The comments express support for the FSIS rule, which will be the first time ever that the agency regulates Salmonella in raw poultry as an adulterant. However, it urges the agency to set more stringent limits on the amount of Salmonella bacteria that is allowed before a product is considered adulterated. Under the agency’s proposed standard, compliant products could nevertheless harbor sufficient quantities of Salmonella to make many consumers sick. A zero tolerance standard would better protect consumers, and would likely result in more widespread food safety benefits.