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USDA Must Be Tougher on Salmonella: Consumer Group

Posted on: Wednesday, 5 July 2006, 17:10 CDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Agriculture Department should seek legislation to allow it to shut down U.S. poultry processing plants that have too much salmonella bacteria in their products, a consumer group said on Wednesday.

In a report, the group Food and Water Watch also said USDA should publish on a quarterly basis figures for salmonella tests at the plants. At present, the agency releases a national average but does not list plants individually.

Wenonah Hauter, head of Food and Water Watch, said USDA ought to "routinely test all plants and disclose the results." Salmonella is a leading cause of food-borne illness.

USDA began sampling for salmonella in the late 1990s but was barred by a 2001 U.S. district court ruling from withdrawing federal inspection from a plant if it failed to meet standards for controlling salmonella.

Food and Water Watch said USDA "should seek legislation that makes performance standards enforceable under the meat and poultry inspection statutes."

A USDA press aide had no immediate comment on the recommendations.

Food and Water Watch said USDA tests showed 16.25 percent of broiler chickens were contaminated with salmonella in 2005, compared to 9.09 percent in 2000.

Source: REUTERS

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