Important Announcement from FSIS: Declaration of Salmonella as an Adulterant in Raw Stuffed and Breaded Chicken Products.

On April 26, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced its final determination to declare Salmonella an adulterant in raw breaded stuffed chicken products when they exceed a specific threshold (1 colony forming unit (CFU) per gram or higher) for Salmonella contamination.

CFU means “Colony Forming Unit”. This measurement is used in microbiology to estimate the number of living cells or bacterial colonies present in a sample.

This action is part of FSIS’s broader efforts to reduce the risk of salmonella poisoning in the U.S. raw poultry supply. The USDA is taking significant steps to protect American consumers from foodborne illness.

To ensure compliance, FSIS will conduct rigorous verification procedures, including sampling and analysis of raw chicken components prior to stuffing and breading. Products that do not meet the standard of 1 CFU per gram will be considered adulterated and cannot be used.

This decision aims to improve consumer safety by avoiding the sale of potentially dangerous products.