Based on 25 years of sampling data, USDA-FSIS researchers found that seasonal patterns of Salmonella contamination in raw meat and poultry products have changed significantly, with ground beef being the only commodity to maintain a strong peak in warmer months.
FDA, CDC, and USDA-FSIS researchers analyzed foodborne illness surveillance data against targets set under the Healthy People initiative, finding worsening incidence of campylobacteriosis, listeriosis, and STEC infections, with no detectable change in salmonellosis incidence, while acknowledging the potential role of advanced surveillance methods.
The project will evaluate the resulting assay's potential applications in relevant food matrices, including chicken, turkey, pork, and beef, with the broader objective of improving the identification of Salmonella strains associated with human illness and outbreaks.
CDC and USDA-FSIS researchers analyzed 50 salmonellosis outbreaks linked to pork and identified the most commonly implicated
products and serotypes, as well as the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among isolates.
Developed in partnership with USDA-FSIS, the assay detects Salmonella spp. while targeting up to three proprietary genetic markers associated with pathogenicity, supporting surveillance and research into risk-based approaches to Salmonella control.
USDA and University of Arkansas researchers concluded that the plant-derived antimicrobial compound could possibly offer a natural disinfection solution for controlling S. Infantis biofilms on plastic and stainless steel surfaces in poultry and food processing facilities.
Three Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak clusters potentially associated with imported eggs, one of which is part of a broader EU-wide outbreak, are under investigation. There is no evidence implicating UK-produced eggs. UKHSA emphasized that the overall risk to the public is low.
Outbreak strains include STEC serotypes O26:H11, O103:H25, and O168:H8 and one strain of Salmonella Agona. Some people were infected with more than one outbreak strain. The implicated products were distributed by Everything Sprouts LLC of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Four Salmonella Enteritidis ST11 outbreaks identified in France between May and July 2026 were linked to homemade egg-based foods and traced to a common egg distribution network in Poland. The same Polish food group was implicated in another multinational salmonellosis outbreak in 2016–2020.
In this bonus episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to USDA's Under Secretary for Food Safety, Dr. Mindy Brashears,
and Administrator USDA-FSIS, Dr. Justin Ransom, about the future of food safety oversight at the agency, its emerging Salmonella strategy, evolving approach to Listeria control, the creation of a new scientific advisory panel, and the use of data, AI, and other technologies for inspection and risk identification.
