A report by Consumer Reports in the US indicates that eighty three percent of chicken sold in US grocery stores may contain bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses, either campylobacter or salmonella bacteria or both. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA), however, says the study was flawed.
Consumer Reports said tests on 525 chickens showed most of the poultry had campylobacter or salmonella, two of the leading causes of food-borne diseases. The testing was carried out on samples from leading brands including Perdue, Pilgrim’s Pride and Tyson Foods.
A spokesman with the USDA?s Food Safety and Inspection Service said the study was riddled with flaws. The major criticism was the study?s small sample size.