The U.S. Department of Agriculture has officially withdrawn a proposed rule that would have required poultry producers to limit dangerous salmonella bacteria in their products, halting a major food safety initiative started under the Biden administration.
The decision follows more than 7,000 public comments and strong opposition from industry stakeholders, including powerful lobbying groups like the National Chicken Council. The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said it would reassess its approach, adding that the proposed rule may have placed too heavy a burden on small producers.
Originally introduced in August 2023, the plan aimed to cut salmonella-related illnesses by 25% by setting strict thresholds for contamination in raw chicken and turkey. It would have required producers to test for six high-risk salmonella strains, and any meat testing above limits would be subject to recall.
Each year, more than 1.3 million people in the U.S. suffer from salmonella infections, according to CDC data. Poultry accounts for a significant portion of these cases, with an estimated 125,000 linked to chicken and 43,000 to turkey annually. Public health advocates viewed the proposed rule as a long-overdue step to address this persistent issue.
Critics, however, including top industry executives, warned the rule would raise food costs, increase waste, and hurt small poultry processors without significantly improving public safety. The National Chicken Council praised the withdrawal, calling the proposed rule “legally unsound” and based on flawed science.
But food safety advocates expressed disappointment and concern. Sandra Eskin, a former USDA official who helped shape the policy, said the reversal signals a retreat from the government’s responsibility to protect consumers from preventable foodborne illnesses.
“This sends a clear message that food safety is being deprioritized,” Eskin said. “Thousands of Americans suffer from salmonella each year, and this rule was a chance to turn the tide.”
The rollback also raises questions about political influence on food safety regulation. Pilgrim’s Pride, one of the largest poultry producers in the U.S. and the top donor to former President Trump’s inaugural committee, had executives involved with lobbying efforts to kill the rule. The company previously agreed to a $100 million settlement over antitrust allegations in the poultry industry.
Public health groups like the Center for Science in the Public Interest warned that removing these safeguards could lead to more contaminated poultry reaching grocery shelves and restaurants. “Make no mistake,” said CSPI’s Sarah Sorscher. “More salmonella in the food supply means more sick Americans.”
In a related move, the USDA recently postponed enforcement of a separate rule targeting salmonella in breaded and stuffed raw chicken products like frozen cordon bleu and chicken Kiev. Originally set for May 1, enforcement has been delayed until November.
With pressure mounting from both sides, the USDA now finds itself at the center of a broader debate about balancing industry interests with public health. Whether the agency will revisit the withdrawn rule or propose a new framework remains unclear.
The rollback signals a major shift in the government’s approach to salmonella regulation, one that may leave many consumers wondering how safe their poultry products really are.