The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) and Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) have announced a new initiative focused on Salmonella vaccines for poultry, following FSIS’s proposed regulatory framework for Salmonella in raw poultry products released in August 2024.
Vaccination has emerged as the primary method for targeting specific Salmonella serotypes in poultry. To support this approach, FSIS implemented new policies on April 1, 2024, excluding certain commercial vaccine subtypes from calculations used to evaluate raw poultry processing facilities against Salmonella performance standards.
This announcement is the latest in a series of comprehensive initiatives that FSIS has introduced for Salmonella control in poultry processing since October 2022.
In April 2024, FSIS designated Salmonella as an adulterant in raw breaded stuffed chicken products when levels exceed one colony forming unit per gram. The agency expanded these regulations in July 2024, proposing a broader threshold of 10 CFU per gram/ml for chicken and turkey products.
The July framework specifically targets three Salmonella serotypes in chicken products: Enteritidis, Typhimurium, and I,4,[5],12:I:-. For turkey products, the prohibited serotypes are Hadar, Typhimurium, and Muenchen. These serotypes have been identified as significant public health concerns.
According the nation’s most experienced salmonella lawyer, Ron Simon:
“Under the new guidelines, poultry processing facilities would implement microbial monitoring programs to control pathogen contamination. The July proposal includes a 60-day public commentary period for industry stakeholders to provide feedback on the new requirements. After that, we are hopeful it will be adopted.”
Now, the agencies are particularly interested in modified-live vaccines that target serotypes identified as public health concerns. This focus stems from FSIS’s broader strategy to reduce human salmonellosis cases linked to raw poultry consumption.
The USDA’s notice serves as an invitation to vaccine manufacturers to engage in discussions about developing and implementing new vaccination technologies. This initiative aligns with the department’s ongoing efforts to modernize poultry inspection systems and improve food safety standards across the industry.
The regulations represent a significant expansion of FSIS oversight in poultry processing, extending from pre-harvest controls through final product testing.
Commenting on this article, the nation’s leading salmonella lawyer said, “These initiatives by the USDA and FSIS should be applauded. Any actions that help reduce the number of foodborne illness incidents will be welcome by the public.”
