Salmonella Cases Statistics in US 2026 | Key Facts

Salmonella Cases in US 2026

Salmonella infections continue to represent one of the most significant public health challenges facing the United States in 2026, maintaining their position as a leading cause of foodborne illness despite decades of prevention efforts. As of January 2026, multiple active outbreak investigations are underway across the nation, with recent cases linked to contaminated dietary supplements and raw oysters affecting dozens of states. The bacterial pathogen shows no signs of declining prevalence, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting that salmonella remains responsible for approximately 1.35 million infections annually in the United States, leading to 26,500 hospitalizations and tragically claiming 420 lives each year.

The challenge of controlling salmonella cases in the US 2026 is compounded by the fact that only a small fraction of actual infections are ever diagnosed and reported to health authorities. The CDC estimates that only 1 in every 30 salmonella infections is actually identified through laboratory testing, meaning the true burden of disease is substantially higher than official statistics suggest. This underreporting occurs because most people who contract salmonellosis experience relatively mild symptoms lasting 4 to 7 days and recover without seeking medical attention or submitting samples for testing. Additionally, the 3 to 4 week lag time between when someone becomes ill and when their case is confirmed as part of an outbreak means that current outbreak numbers represent infections that occurred weeks or even months earlier, making real-time tracking and containment extraordinarily difficult.

Salmonella 2026 Statistics and Interesting Facts in US

Data source: CDC, USDA FSIS, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, National Chicken Council

The stark reality that 1.35 million Americans contract salmonella infections each year underscores the massive scale of this public health problem. The 26,500 annual hospitalizations demonstrate that while many cases are mild, a significant number of infections become severe enough to require medical intervention and inpatient care. The 420 annual deaths may seem relatively small compared to total infections, but each represents a preventable tragedy, with vulnerable populations including children under 5, adults over 65, and immunocompromised individuals facing disproportionately higher risks of severe outcomes including sepsis and meningitis.

The 1 in 30 diagnosis ratio reveals one of the fundamental challenges in understanding and controlling salmonella—the vast majority of infections remain invisible to surveillance systems. This means that for every laboratory-confirmed case reported to health authorities, approximately 29 additional people experienced illness but were never tested, creating a massive iceberg effect where official statistics represent only the tip of the true disease burden. The ongoing January 2026 outbreak linked to Live It Up Super Greens supplement powder affecting 45 people across 21 states demonstrates how contamination can occur in unexpected product categories beyond traditional high-risk foods like poultry and eggs. Similarly, the December 2025 raw oysters outbreak with 64 cases across 22 states shows higher-than-expected hospitalization rates compared to typical oyster-related salmonella outbreaks.

Annual Salmonella Infection Burden in US 2026

Data source: CDC Burden of Foodborne Illness estimates, USDA FSIS, Food Safety and Inspection Service

The 1.35 million annual salmonella infections place this bacterium squarely among the most common causes of foodborne illness in America, competing with norovirus and Campylobacter for the dubious distinction of sickening the most people each year. While norovirus causes more total illnesses, salmonella leads all pathogens in deaths resulting from domestically acquired foodborne infections, with 420 fatalities annually representing approximately 45% of all deaths caused by the seven major foodborne pathogens tracked by the CDC. This lethality reflects salmonella’s ability to cause invasive infections that spread beyond the gastrointestinal tract into the bloodstream and other organs.

The 23% of cases attributed to poultry consumption—translating to more than 310,500 infections annually—highlights chicken and turkey as the single largest food category contributing to salmonella illness under USDA jurisdiction. What makes this particularly frustrating for public health officials is that between 2017 and 2021, USDA testing documented a 50% reduction in salmonella-positive chicken samples, yet this impressive decrease in contamination at the processing plant level has not translated into any measurable reduction in human illnesses. Infection rates have remained essentially stagnant for two decades, suggesting that contamination occurring elsewhere in the supply chain, cross-contamination during food preparation, or improper cooking practices may be sustaining illness rates despite improvements at the slaughter facility level.

The 86 multistate outbreaks between 2012 and 2023 that sickened 18,031 people represent only the most visible and serious events that warranted multistate investigations led by the CDC. Thousands of additional local outbreaks affecting smaller numbers of people occur each year but don’t trigger federal investigation and coordination. The fact that laboratory surveillance systems captured 14 cases per 100,000 population during the 2004-2011 period—a rate that has remained largely unchanged—demonstrates the challenge of moving the needle on salmonella prevention despite massive investments in food safety infrastructure and regulations.

January 2026 Salmonella Outbreak Cases in US

Data source: CDC Investigation Update January 14, 2026; FDA Outbreak Investigation; Minnesota Department of Health

The Live It Up Super Greens dietary supplement outbreak represents an unusual and concerning case of salmonella contamination affecting a product category not traditionally associated with high risk for this pathogen. The 45 confirmed cases across 21 states emerged from illnesses with onset dates spanning more than four months, from late August through the end of December 2025, suggesting either prolonged low-level contamination in production or distribution of contaminated batches with long shelf lives. The 12 hospitalizations among 45 cases translates to a 26.7% hospitalization rate, which is notably higher than the typical rate for salmonella outbreaks and may reflect either a particularly virulent strain, delayed diagnosis allowing infections to progress to more severe stages, or demographic characteristics of the affected population.

The contamination source was traced to Super Greens supplement powder manufactured by Superfoods, Inc. and sold under the Live It Up brand in both original and wild berry flavors. Whole genome sequencing of bacterial isolates from patient samples revealed they were genetically closely related, providing strong evidence that all cases stemmed from the same contamination source rather than coincidental separate infections. The company initiated a voluntary recall on January 14, 2026, after being informed of the outbreak by the FDA, pulling products with expiration dates ranging from August 2026 through January 2028 and lot numbers beginning with the letter “A,” along with all stick pack formats within those expiration windows.

The online distribution model—primarily through the company’s own website along with major e-commerce platforms including Amazon, eBay, and Walmart—means contaminated products may be present in households across the country, not just in the 21 states where confirmed cases occurred. The CDC and FDA have advised consumers to immediately discard or return any recalled products and thoroughly clean any surfaces or containers that may have contacted the powder using hot soapy water. Fortunately, whole genome sequencing revealed that bacterial isolates from all 45 cases showed no predicted antibiotic resistance, meaning the infections, while sometimes severe enough to require hospitalization, should respond to standard antibiotic therapy when needed, though most salmonella infections resolve without antibiotic treatment.

December 2025 Raw Oysters Salmonella Outbreak in US 2026

Data source: CDC Investigation Update December 23, 2025; CIDRAP; Gizmodo

The raw oysters outbreak affecting 64 people across nearly half of U.S. states demonstrates the persistent food safety risks associated with consuming shellfish without cooking. The outbreak’s timeline spanning more than five months from late June through late November 2025 suggests either multiple contaminated batches distributed over an extended period or a contaminated growing area that continued supplying the market throughout the summer and fall. The 31.3% hospitalization rate is significantly elevated compared to typical salmonella outbreaks and even higher than other oyster-related salmonella events, raising questions about whether the particular strain involved (Salmonella Telelkebir) may be more virulent or whether the consumption pattern (raw, without any heat treatment) allowed higher bacterial loads to cause more severe infections.

The demographic pattern of cases provides interesting insights into oyster consumption behaviors and outbreak dynamics. The median age of 52 years skews substantially older than many foodborne illness outbreaks, likely reflecting the demographics of raw oyster consumers who tend to be adults dining in upscale restaurants or purchasing premium seafood. The finding that nearly two-thirds of patients were male may reflect either gender differences in raw oyster consumption patterns or potentially differences in dining behaviors. The overwhelming concentration among White patients (85%) likely reflects socioeconomic factors associated with access to restaurants serving raw oysters and cultural food preferences.

The geographic distribution with Pennsylvania reporting 10 cases, New York with 7, and New Jersey and Virginia each reporting 6 cases suggests contaminated oysters may have been distributed primarily to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions, though the 22-state span indicates nationwide distribution occurred. Of the 27 patients interviewed about food consumption, 20 (74%) reported eating raw oysters in the week before becoming ill, providing strong epidemiological evidence linking oysters to the outbreak even before any specific supplier or growing area could be identified. As of the latest update, CDC and FDA were still working to determine if a common oyster source could be identified, and no recall had been announced, meaning potentially contaminated oysters may still be entering the market.

Salmonella Serotypes and Illness Patterns in US 2026

Data source: CDC 2019 Burden Study, Marler Clark, Illinois Department of Public Health, Minnesota Department of Health

The concentration of infections among just five serotypes accounting for 62% of all cases demonstrates that despite the existence of more than 2,500 different salmonella serotypes worldwide, a relatively small number dominate human disease. Salmonella Enteritidis leading at 23% of all infections reflects its strong association with eggs and egg products, one of the most common vehicles for salmonella transmission to humans. The continued prominence of Salmonella Typhimurium at 11% and its monophasic variant at 7% (combined 18%) demonstrates the enduring public health importance of this serotype family, which has evolved variants that can be more difficult to detect using some traditional typing methods.

The extraordinarily high infection rate among infants under 1 year old—exceeding 110 cases per 100,000 population—is roughly eight times higher than the overall national rate of approximately 14 cases per 100,000. This dramatic elevation in infant susceptibility reflects multiple factors: their developing immune systems provide less protection against bacterial infections, their lower stomach acid production allows more bacteria to survive transit to the intestines, and their frequent exposure to contaminated environments as they explore the world by putting objects in their mouths. The similar rates between boys (110.81) and girls (108.81) suggest this vulnerability is biological rather than behavioral in origin.

State-level reporting from Minnesota (approximately 1,000 annual cases) and Illinois (1,500-2,000 annual cases) provides granular data showing how salmonella burden varies geographically. Minnesota’s population of about 5.7 million experiencing roughly 1,000 confirmed cases translates to approximately 17-18 cases per 100,000, slightly above the national average, while Illinois with about 12.7 million residents reporting 1,500-2,000 cases works out to 12-16 per 100,000, close to the national baseline. These figures represent only laboratory-confirmed cases, so applying the 1-in-30 diagnosis ratio suggests the true burden in Minnesota may approach 30,000 total infections annually and Illinois could see 45,000-60,000 total infections when accounting for unreported cases.

Poultry Contamination Statistics in US 2026

Data source: USDA FSIS, Food Safety News, Civil Eats, National Chicken Council

The persistent 8% salmonella contamination rate in chicken parts, while below the 15.4% performance standard threshold, still means that statistically 1 in every 12-13 packages of chicken parts Americans purchase contains salmonella bacteria. This contamination rate has proven stubbornly resistant to further reduction after the impressive 50% decrease between 2017 and 2021, with FSIS data showing no further significant improvements from 2021 through 2024, creating a plateau that has frustrated food safety regulators. The ground chicken contamination rate at exactly the 25% performance standard is particularly concerning because it means 1 in every 4 packages of ground chicken may contain the pathogen, and ground products pose especially high risks because the grinding process can distribute bacteria throughout the product rather than confining it to surfaces.

The identification of approximately 75 poultry processing plants operating in Category 3 status (failing to meet salmonella performance standards) for at least five of the previous six months represents a significant regulatory challenge. These facilities—representing about 8% of the nation’s roughly 900 poultry plants—are producing chicken and turkey that consistently tests positive for salmonella at rates exceeding federal standards, yet FSIS lacks authority to force them to stop production or prevent the sale of their products. Major brands including Butterball, Cargill, Perdue, and Costco’s Lincoln Premium Poultry have operated facilities in Category 3 status for multiple consecutive years, demonstrating that violations are not isolated incidents but rather reflect systemic contamination control failures.

The case of Lincoln Premium Poultry, the facility Costco built specifically to supply its popular rotisserie chickens, rating as Category 3 for 92% of the evaluation period is particularly striking given that this was a purpose-built modern facility designed with food safety in mind. Similarly, Pitman Farms, the exclusive processor for Mary’s Free Range Chicken and other specialty “premium” poultry brands, failing standards 77% of the time demonstrates that even facilities catering to higher-end markets struggle with salmonella control. The profound disconnect between the 50% reduction in plant-level contamination and the complete lack of decline in human illnesses over 20 years suggests that contamination occurring after products leave processing plants—during transportation, retail handling, home storage, or preparation—may be sustaining infection rates despite improvements at the slaughter facility level.

Salmonella Outbreak Investigation Process in US 2026

Data source: CDC Foodborne Outbreaks, National Outbreak Reporting System

The 3-to-4-week lag between when a person becomes sick and when their case is confirmed as part of a multistate outbreak means that by the time health officials recognize a pattern and issue public warnings, the contaminated food causing infections has often already been consumed or discarded. This investigative timeline begins with patients experiencing symptoms 6 to 72 hours after exposure, but many people never seek medical care. For those who do visit a doctor, samples must be collected and sent to laboratories for testing—adding 2-3 days. Positive results are then reported to state health departments, which submit DNA fingerprint data to CDC’s PulseNet system for comparison with other cases across the country, requiring another 1-2 days of processing time.

Pattern recognition through PulseNet’s whole genome sequencing analysis typically takes 2-4 weeks as enough cases accumulate to identify a cluster that appears genetically related, suggesting a common source. Once CDC epidemiologists recognize a potential outbreak, they begin interviewing patients about their food consumption in the 7 days before illness, collecting detailed information about where they shopped, what restaurants they visited, and what specific items they ate. This interview data is analyzed to identify foods consumed significantly more often by sick people than would be expected in the general population, providing clues about potential contaminated products.

The fact that CDC typically coordinates between 17 and 36 multistate foodborne illness investigations each week demonstrates the enormous ongoing burden of foodborne disease in America and the constant surveillance and response efforts required. Most of these investigations never result in public outbreak notices because either the number of cases remains small, the contaminated food is identified and removed before widespread exposure occurs, or investigators cannot definitively identify a specific food source. The 1-in-30 diagnosis ratio means that for every outbreak that becomes visible through reported cases, many additional people suffered illness but never contributed to the recognition or investigation of the outbreak, creating a massive reservoir of hidden disease that complicates public health protection efforts.

Food Sources of Salmonella Infections in US 2026

Data source: USDA FSIS, CDC, Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration

Chicken and turkey accounting for more than 23% of salmonella cases means poultry products alone are responsible for well over 300,000 infections annually, making them the single largest controllable source of salmonella exposure under federal regulation. The 1 in 25 packages of chicken (more than 4%) at grocery stores being contaminated with salmonella creates countless opportunities for cross-contamination in home kitchens when raw chicken juices contact cutting boards, countertops, utensils, or other foods that may be consumed without further cooking. Even conscientious home cooks may unknowingly spread bacteria when they handle raw chicken and then touch cabinet handles, refrigerator doors, or faucet knobs before washing their hands.

Eggs and egg products represent another major source of salmonella transmission, with contamination occurring either on the shell from fecal material or inside the egg when infected ovaries of laying hens deposit bacteria directly into the egg during formation. The widespread use of eggs in foods consumed raw or lightly cooked—including homemade mayonnaise, Caesar salad dressing, cookie dough, and soft-cooked preparations—creates exposure pathways that cooking cannot eliminate. The August 2025 outbreak linked to eggs from Country Eggs, LLC that sickened 105 people across 14 states demonstrates how contamination at a single supplier can have nationwide impact through distribution networks.

The 3,796 illnesses linked to backyard poultry between 1991 and 2016 highlight an often-overlooked source of salmonella exposure as more Americans keep chickens in suburban and urban settings. These infections typically occur not from consuming eggs or meat but from direct contact with live birds or environmental contamination in areas where chickens are kept. Children are particularly vulnerable because they may handle baby chicks or ducklings without understanding the need for thorough handwashing afterward. The emergence of contaminated dietary supplements as an outbreak source in January 2026 expands the range of products consumers must consider as potential salmonella vehicles beyond traditional food categories.

Vulnerable Populations and Salmonella Severity in US 2026

Data source: CDC, Minnesota Department of Health, Illinois Department of Public Health

Children under 5 years old face elevated salmonella risk due to their still-developing immune systems that lack the full complement of antibodies and immune responses that protect adults from bacterial infections. Their behaviors—including frequent hand-to-mouth contact, crawling on floors where contaminated food may have been handled, and limited understanding of hygiene—create additional exposure pathways. The extraordinarily high 110+ cases per 100,000 infants under 1 year translates to more than 1 in every 900 babies contracting salmonella annually, reflecting both their extreme biological vulnerability and their exposure through contaminated breast milk pumping equipment, bottles, or introduction of solid foods.

Adults 65 and older experience declining immune function as a natural part of aging, a process called immunosenescence that reduces the body’s ability to mount rapid and effective responses to bacterial invaders. This age group also has higher rates of underlying health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and chronic kidney disease that further compromise their ability to fight off infections. The 420 annual deaths from salmonella infections occur disproportionately in this age group, particularly among those in nursing homes or assisted living facilities where outbreaks can spread quickly through shared dining facilities.

Immunocompromised individuals—including cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients taking anti-rejection medications, and people living with HIV/AIDS—face dramatically elevated risks of invasive salmonellosis where bacteria escape the intestinal tract and enter the bloodstream. In healthy adults, salmonella infections typically remain confined to the gastrointestinal system, causing diarrhea, cramping, and fever that resolve within a week. For immunocompromised patients, the same bacterial exposure can lead to bacteremia (bloodstream infection), meningitis (brain and spinal cord infection), or localized infections in bones, joints, or other organs. These invasive infections require aggressive antibiotic treatment and often prolonged hospitalization, with case-fatality rates substantially higher than uncomplicated gastroenteritis.

Prevention Strategies and Food Safety Measures in US 2026

Data source: CDC Food Safety recommendations, USDA FSIS Safe Food Handling

Cooking chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F represents the single most effective method for preventing salmonella infections from poultry, as this temperature instantly kills all salmonella bacteria present in the meat. The challenge is that achieving 165°F throughout requires using a meat thermometer rather than relying on visual cues like color or texture, since even slightly undercooked portions at 160°F may harbor surviving bacteria capable of causing illness. The widespread practice of cutting into chicken to check if juices run clear is unreliable because color changes occur at different temperatures than complete pathogen elimination, and the cutting process can spread bacteria from undercooked interior portions to the outside of the meat.

Preventing cross-contamination is equally critical because even properly cooked food can become contaminated after cooking through contact with surfaces, utensils, or hands that touched raw products. The CDC’s strong recommendation to never wash raw chicken before cooking contradicts many home cooks’ intuitions and traditional practices, but research demonstrates that water splashing from rinsed chicken can spray salmonella bacteria up to 3 feet in every direction, contaminating countertops, dish racks, nearby foods, and even clean dishes. Using separate cutting boards designated exclusively for raw meat and poultry prevents bacteria from raw products from contaminating vegetables, bread, or other items consumed without further cooking.

Refrigeration within 2 hours (or 1 hour when ambient temperature exceeds 90°F, such as at summer picnics) slows bacterial multiplication and reduces the risk that small numbers of salmonella bacteria present in food will grow to levels capable of causing illness. The “danger zone” between 40°F and 140°F represents the temperature range where bacteria multiply most rapidly, potentially doubling their population every 20-30 minutes under optimal conditions. Foods left at room temperature for extended periods can accumulate bacterial loads high enough to overwhelm the immune system’s defenses and cause infection even if the food is subsequently cooked, because heat kills bacteria but doesn’t eliminate the toxins some strains produce during growth.

Recent Major Salmonella Outbreaks in US 2025-2026

Data source: CDC Outbreak Reports, FDA Recalls, USDA FSIS Alerts

The 551-person cucumber outbreak in summer 2025 represents one of the largest salmonella outbreaks in recent years, with fresh cucumbers from Untamed Brands distributed through major grocery chains sickening people across 45 states and the District of Columbia. The 117 hospitalizations (21% hospitalization rate) demonstrate the severity of illness this outbreak caused, substantially higher than the typical salmonella hospitalization rate of around 20%. Fresh produce outbreaks present particular challenges for public health officials because vegetables are often consumed raw, eliminating the kill step that cooking provides, and contamination can occur at multiple points from field to table—through contaminated irrigation water, improper worker hygiene, cross-contamination during processing, or temperature abuse during transportation and retail display.

The August-September 2025 egg outbreak linked to Country Eggs, LLC sickened 105 people across 14 states, with 40 hospitalizations representing a concerning 38% hospitalization rate. This outbreak prompted recalls of eggs sold under multiple brand names including Coburn Farms, Country Eggs, Sunshine Farms, and others distributed through major retailers. Egg-associated outbreaks are particularly troublesome because eggs can become contaminated internally when laying hens have ovarian infections with salmonella, meaning even eggs with clean, intact shells may harbor bacteria inside. The widespread use of eggs in partially cooked preparations—from sunny-side-up breakfast eggs to homemade Caesar dressing—creates numerous exposure pathways that proper refrigeration and cooking would eliminate.

The devastating 2023-2024 cantaloupe outbreak that ultimately sickened 407 people across 44 states with 158 hospitalizations and 6 deaths stands as the deadliest salmonella outbreak in recent years. Whole and pre-cut cantaloupes from Malichita brand distributed through multiple retail chains were contaminated with Salmonella Sundsvall and several other serotypes. The 6 fatalities serve as tragic reminders that while most salmonella infections resolve without medical intervention, vulnerable individuals can experience life-threatening complications. The textured rind of cantaloupes creates hiding places for bacteria that are difficult to remove even with washing, and cutting through the rind can transfer surface bacteria into the edible flesh, particularly problematic when melons are pre-cut and stored at retail or consumed quickly after cutting at home without adequate refrigeration.

Economic Impact of Salmonella in US 2026

Data source: USDA Economic Research Service, CDC Economic Analysis, Academic Studies

The $2.5 billion annual economic burden of salmonella infections represents only a conservative estimate that likely understates the true costs by focusing primarily on direct medical expenses and documented lost productivity. The $365 million in direct medical costs includes emergency department visits, physician consultations, diagnostic testing including stool cultures and blood work, prescription medications including antibiotics and anti-nausea drugs, and hospitalization expenses for the 26,500 people requiring inpatient care each year. These hospitalization costs alone account for the majority of direct medical expenses, with average stays lasting 4-7 days and generating bills of $15,000-30,000 per patient depending on the severity of complications and whether invasive infections requiring ICU care develop.

The $2.1 billion in lost productivity encompasses missed work days during acute illness, reduced productivity when sick individuals attempt to work while still symptomatic (presenteeism), and caregiving time when parents must stay home with infected children. The typical salmonellosis case causes symptoms lasting 4-7 days, potentially requiring an entire work week of absence, and some patients experience fatigue and residual gastrointestinal symptoms for weeks after the acute infection resolves. For self-employed individuals and hourly workers without paid sick leave, these lost work days represent direct income losses that compound the misery of the illness itself. Parents caring for sick infants or young children may need to miss additional work days beyond their own illness if they contract salmonella from their children.

Outbreak investigation and response costs represent a substantial public expenditure, with CDC, FDA, USDA, and state health departments dedicating hundreds of epidemiologists, laboratory scientists, environmental health specialists, and support staff to identifying outbreaks, tracing contaminated products, and coordinating recalls. The traceback investigation for a single multistate outbreak can require months of intensive work interviewing patients, reviewing distribution records, and testing products and environmental samples. Companies facing recalls bear substantial direct costs for retrieving products from distribution, compensating retailers for removed inventory, destroying contaminated products, deep-cleaning facilities, and implementing corrective actions. The litigation costs from lawsuits filed by outbreak victims can reach tens of millions of dollars for major outbreaks, with some companies facing hundreds or thousands of individual claims.

Regulatory Framework and Enforcement in US 2026

Data source: USDA FSIS, FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, Federal Register

The fundamental challenge in salmonella regulation is that USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service lacks authority to force plants to stop producing contaminated products as long as contamination rates fall below performance standards, even when those plants consistently fail to meet the standards. The Category 3 classification system publicly identifies plants failing to meet performance standards for 5 out of 6 months, but this designation carries no mandatory consequences—plants can continue operating indefinitely while rated Category 3, shipping products to grocery stores and restaurants across the country. FSIS can increase inspection intensity and require plants to submit corrective action plans, but cannot unilaterally shut down a facility or prevent sale of its products based solely on salmonella test results.

This limited authority stems from a 2001 Supreme Court decision that overturned FSIS’s attempt to shut down a ground beef plant for repeated salmonella violations, with the court ruling that salmonella’s natural presence in raw meat means its detection doesn’t automatically render products “adulterated” under federal law. Since that decision, USDA has used performance standards rather than absolute prohibitions—setting statistical thresholds for acceptable contamination rates rather than requiring zero tolerance. A plant can have 24.9% of chicken parts test positive for salmonella and still technically meet the 25% performance standard, even though this means roughly 1 in 4 packages contains the pathogen.

FDA’s authority over most foods (everything except meat, poultry, and processed egg products) relies primarily on voluntary cooperation, as the agency typically cannot mandate recalls and instead must request that companies voluntarily remove contaminated products from the market. The Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011 strengthened FDA’s preventive authority by requiring food facilities to implement hazard analysis and preventive control plans, but enforcement remains challenging given FDA’s limited inspection resources relative to the hundreds of thousands of facilities under its jurisdiction. The proposed new poultry inspection rule that would classify salmonella species as an adulterant in chicken products represents a potential major shift in regulatory approach, though industry opposition and legal challenges may delay or prevent its implementation.

Disclaimer: This research report is compiled from publicly available sources. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is given as to the completeness or reliability of the information. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages of any kind arising from the use of this report.

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