Several public interest groups are blaming a recent listeria outbreak that has killed seven people and led to this weekend's recall of more than 27 million pounds of poultry meat on the lack of regulation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). According to the Consumer Federation of America's Food Policy Institute and several other consumer organizations, the listeria-related illnesses may have been prevented if the USDA required companies to test for the bacteria. The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, however, has yet to approve a listeria-testing rule.

Spokespersons for the USDA say stricter standards will not prevent future listeria contamination at meat processing facilities, as many companies already test for dangerous bacteria on their own. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 500 people die and thousands more fall ill each year because of listeria infection.