On October 14, 2022, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) proposed a new regulatory framework for controlling Salmonella contamination in poultry products and reducing foodborne illnesses resulting from these products.
The Consequences of Salmonella Contamination
Salmonella is a gram-negative rod bacterium belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family of bacteria. To date, over 2500 different serotypes or serovars have been identified within two species, Salmonella bongori, and Salmonella enterica. Salmonella is a bacterium that is ubiquitous and hardy. It can survive for several weeks in a dry environment and several months in water. Infection with Salmonella causes Salmonellosis. The symptoms are typically acute onset fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and sometimes vomiting. In general, symptoms of Salmonellosis develop 6–72 hours (usually 12–36 hours) after ingestion, and the illness lasts 2–7 days.
The consequences of foodborne illness can be devastating, both personally and financially, for individuals and their families—the cost of foodborne illness ripples through the economy.
In the United States, Salmonella bacteria cause approximately 1.35 million human infections and 26,500 hospitalizations each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates. Infections caused by poultry consumption account for over 23% of those infections. USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) reports that foodborne Salmonella infections in the United States cost an astounding $4.1 billion annually and attribute $88 million to the loss of productivity to the economy.
USDA's new comprehensive approach to controlling Salmonella
USDA's proposed framework results from months of information gathering and discussions with stakeholders, researchers, and scientists. The proposal presents a comprehensive approach to controlling Salmonella in poultry with three key components:
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Requiring the testing of incoming flocks for Salmonella before entering an establishment
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Enhancing establishment process control monitoring and FSIS verification
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Implementing an enforceable final product standard
The proposed framework intends to move away from hazard-based regulation but instead focus on risk-based regulation. The USDA FSIS places greater emphasis on measuring levels of Salmonella and highly virulent strains of Salmonella than simply determining if Salmonella is present or not to reduce illnesses associated with poultry. FSIS proposed to set the limit at one colony forming unit (CFU) of Salmonella per gram for breaded and stuffed raw chicken products, a level the agency believes will reduce the risk of illness. The USDA looked at relevant literature and a risk assessment to determine that unit number and arrive at that proposed level. Furthermore, the framework under consideration also addresses cross-cutting issues such as testing for Salmonella, the impact on small and very small establishments, and data sharing.
A proposition backed by scientific evidence
Additionally, FSIS is collecting scientific evidence relevant to the approaches presented in the framework proposal.
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The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) is spearheading what types of microbiological criteria FSIS might use to prevent better Salmonella infections associated with poultry products.
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FSIS is also completing a risk profile for pathogenic Salmonella subtypes in poultry and is collaborating on quantitative risk assessments for Salmonella in chicken and turkey that will address key risk management questions associated with this framework.
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FSIS also expanded its exploratory sampling program for young chicken carcasses to generate microbial data to help inform future policies.
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FSIS is transitioning from using presence-based tests to tests that quantify the amount of all Salmonella
In November, the USDA will host a public meeting to address their decisions and invite representatives from industry, consumer groups, and other interested parties to attend. Stakeholders are encouraged to submit written comments in advance of the meeting. The USDA FSIS will then begin drafting rules and other policies during the early part of 2023.
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