USDA Strengthens Safety Standards in Poultry

In an effort to curb increasing food contamination cases, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced new safety standards for chickens and turkeys.

The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said the regulations will help the poultry industry reduce salmonella and campylobacter contamination cases.

The standards would hold poultry slaughterhouses more accountable by decreasing the number of samples allowed to test positive for pathogens.

The FSIS estimates 39,000 illnesses can be avoided each year under the campylobacter standards while the salmonella guidelines will annually reduce cases of illness by 26,000 within two years.

The federal agency expects 90% of poultry establishments to meet the revised standard by the end of 2010.