Shoppers at Whole Foods might be paying too much for the store’s “365” private-label chicken, which primarily comes from processing plants that also supply big retailers like Walmart and Kroger, and that reportedly have concerning levels of salmonella contamination, a recent report reveals.
The upscale grocery chain, which is owned by Amazon, sources its 365 chicken from Perdue Farms, a significant player in the poultry industry. The prices can be as much as 45.7% higher at Whole Foods compared to similar products available at discount grocery chains and mass-market grocers, according to an investigation conducted by Farm Forward, an animal welfare organization.
Whole Foods asserts on its website that its meat is free from antibiotics and hormones, and that animals are raised humanely by qualified farmers. “You deserve to feel good about the meat you’re buying,” the website promises.
In an evaluation conducted in early August, Farm Forward studied 247 packages of raw chicken across 30 Whole Foods locations in various regions. They focused on different cuts such as breasts, thighs, and wings and traced them back to the processing plants. The findings revealed that 92% of the chicken was sourced from Perdue facilities.
Perdue Farms stated that they have maintained a commitment to raising chickens without any antibiotics for over ten years. They acknowledged that salmonella poses a complex challenge within the food industry but assured that they are actively working on solutions to enhance food safety.
Farm Forward’s investigation examined USDA records to assess salmonella contamination rates at these facilities over the past year. Alarmingly, 98% of the chicken branded as “365” was processed at plants where a dangerous strain of salmonella was detected.
This raises concerns not only about food safety but also about antibiotic presence; high rates of antibiotic and multi-drug resistance were found in products from these plants, contradicting the policies at both Perdue and Whole Foods against antibiotic use.
“Perdue and Whole Foods claim no antibiotics ever, but the salmonella strain found was drug resistant,” noted Andrew deCoriolis, head of Farm Forward. The implication is troubling: if someone were to fall ill after consuming this chicken, conventional antibiotics might not be effective.
While encountering salmonella in raw chicken isn’t unusual, the severity of the strains can differ significantly.
The investigation indicated that three out of the six Perdue plants assessed did not meet the government’s salmonella contamination standards throughout the previous year. Although the USDA conducts inspections, they lack the authority to stop the sale of poultry identified with salmonella contamination.
DeCoriolis mentioned that the poultry industry’s lobbying efforts have hindered stricter regulations. “Poultry is the most contaminated meat in America, with industry professionals advising consumers to cook chicken thoroughly,” he said. He also highlighted the importance of treating chicken as a potential biohazard due to the risk of cross-contamination.
Earlier this year, Farm Forward similarly reported alarming details regarding Costco’s Kirkland Signature rotisserie chicken, pointing out high levels of salmonella found at a processing plant in Nebraska.
Costco is currently facing a proposed class-action lawsuit claiming that its chicken plant consistently fails to meet USDA salmonella safety standards. A motion to dismiss this lawsuit has been filed by Costco in a federal court in Seattle, with a ruling still pending.
Whole Foods has not yet commented on this latest investigation.
