Strengthening Poultry Inspection: Salmonella Policy and Food Safety

Subject: Strengthening Salmonella Standards in Poultry Inspection

To: Dr. José Emilio Esteban, Under Secretary for Food Safety, USDA

From: Kathleen Peterson, University of Washington Student

Date: 22 November 2023

Policy: Poultry Products Inspection Act – Required Salmonella Sampling

Dear Dr. Esteban,

I am writing to raise concerns regarding the current implementation of the Poultry Products Inspection Act and to encourage a reevaluation of salmonella sampling standards in poultry production. While the Act establishes federal oversight of poultry inspection, current protocols may not adequately address the prevalence of salmonella contamination in retail poultry products. Strengthening required sampling standards would better align inspection practices with modern production scale and public health needs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that approximately one in twenty-five packages of chicken may contain Salmonella. This statistic highlights an ongoing gap between inspection efforts and contamination outcomes. Although the Food Safety and Inspection Service conducts microbiological testing, salmonella sampling is not consistently mandated across broiler production in the same way it is in parts of the European Union. EU Regulation 2160/2003 requires structured salmonella monitoring and intervention measures to reduce contamination risks.

Given the scale of U.S. poultry production, nearly nine billion chickens annually, processing conditions create opportunities for widespread contamination if controls are insufficient. Post-slaughter washing systems, shared processing equipment, and high production speeds increase the importance of standardized pathogen monitoring.

To address these concerns, several policy improvements should be considered. First, mandatory and standardized salmonella sampling requirements for broiler flocks would create clearer accountability across production facilities. Second, updated inspection protocols that reflect current scientific findings would strengthen public health protections. Third, increased consumer education regarding safe poultry handling practices would help reduce foodborne illness risk at the household level. Finally, incorporating public and scientific input into future revisions of inspection standards would ensure that policies remain transparent and evidence-based.

Modernizing salmonella monitoring under the Poultry Products Inspection Act would reinforce consumer confidence and better protect public health. Strengthened standards would help ensure that inspection practices reflect both the scale of production and evolving scientific knowledge.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Peterson

University of Washington

References

Barbut, Shai, and Emily M Leishman. Quality and Processability of Modern Poultry Meat, October 14, 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9597840/.

“Comparison of the Regulatory Framework and Key Practices in the Poultry Meat Supply Chain in the EU and USA.” Avec, August 2016. https://www.avec-poultry.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Etude-ADAS-Final-Low-res..pdf.

“Dr. José Emilio Esteban.” Food Safety and Inspection Service. Accessed November 22, 2023. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/contactus/jose-emilio-esteban.

“How Meat Chickens Are Raised, Treated, and Killed.” The Humane League, December 7, 2020. https://thehumaneleague.org/article/meat-chickens.

“Food Safety.” U.S. Government Accountability Office . Accessed November 12, 2023. https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-02-59.

“Poultry Processing: Questions & Answers | Food Safety and Inspection Service.” Food Safety and Inspection Service. Accessed November 12, 2023. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/poultry/poultry-processing-questions-answers.

“Salmonella and Food.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, June 5, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/communication/salmonella-food.html#:~:text=CDC%20estimates%20that%20Salmonella%20causes,if%20it%27s%20not%20cooked%20thoroughly.

“CHAPTER 10—POULTRY AND POULTRY PRODUCTS INSPECTION.” United States Code. Accessed November 12, 2023. https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=%2Fprelim%40title21%2Fchapter10&edition=prelim.