The consumer group Center for Science in the Public Interest re-filed a petition that calls for USDA to classify four strains of antibiotic-resistant salmonella bacteria as a food adulterant. If it took that step, USDA would have to test for the pathogens and could recall contaminated meat without waiting for reports of human illness, said NBC News. CSPI acted following an outbreak of foodborne illness caused by antibiotic-resistant salmonella that sickened 630 people over a 16-month period.
USDA rejected a similar petition in July, saying it did not provide enough data to show salmonella qualified as an adulterant under federal law. CSPI , in its new petition, argues the antibiotic-resistant strains are a “poisonous or deleterious substance.” CSPI points to the dramatic drop in E coli O157 infections since it was declared an adulterant in 1994 and say the same impact could occur with salmonella. Poultry is blamed for one-fifth of U.S. deaths from salmonella.
Some food scientists say it would be impossible to eliminate salmonella from meat. A zero-tolerance regulation would shatter the industry, they say. Food safety expert Craig Hedberg said “we’re better off trying to identify where the problems are and manage those problems.” Foster Farms, the processor involved in the outbreak, says it spent $75 million to reduce salmonella levels in its chicken. A food safety consultant said one-fourth of chicken meat could be pulled from the market if salmonella becomes an adulterant, driving up consumer prices. The NBC story was developed in partnership with FERN.