Whole Foods Accused of Selling High-Priced Chicken Processed in Salmonella-Linked Plants

Whole Foods is facing scrutiny from the animal advocacy group Farm Forward over its 365 private-label chicken products. According to Farm Forward's analysis, a significant portion of this chicken is processed by Perdue, a major poultry producer, in facilities that have been flagged for identified strains of Salmonella linked to human illness.

Farm Forward examined 247 packages of 365 chicken from 30 Whole Foods locations and found that 92 percent originated from Perdue facilities. Of these, 98 percent came from plants where Salmonella strains associated with serious illnesses had been detected. The group's findings were based on data from the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The analysis also highlighted a price disparity, with 365 chicken products costing consumers up to 45.7 percent more than comparable chicken at other retailers, averaging a 19.6 percent premium. In one instance cited, Whole Foods was selling chicken for $6.49 per pound, while a comparable Perdue Harvestland product at Walmart was priced at $3.82 per pound, a difference of about 70 percent.

More specifically, Farm Forward reported that over a quarter of the 365 chicken products sampled came from three slaughter plants that had failed USDA contamination standards in the preceding year. These three plants accounted for nearly 27 percent of the sampled 365 chicken, with the risk concentrated in Whole Foods' California and Central West sales regions.

Furthermore, the report indicated that dangerous strains of Salmonella, including Salmonella Infantis, Enteritidis, and Typhimurium – which Farm Forward states are most associated with severe human illness, hospitalization, and death – constituted between 60 percent and 100 percent of positive samples at the six identified supplier plants. Concerns were also raised about antibiotic resistance, with at least 64.8 percent of Salmonella-positive samples at every examined plant showing resistance to at least one antibiotic, and at least one in four samples at every plant being resistant to multiple antibiotics.

Some shoppers have taken to social media to express concerns about the quality of 365 chicken, describing texture issues and a less-than-fresh appearance. One Reddit user suggested that the texture problems could be related to a condition known as 'woody breast.'

Whole Foods maintains that its 365 chicken meets its animal-welfare and feed standards, stating that the birds are traceable to a farm or ranch and are free of added growth hormones or antibiotics. Perdue has stated that it has pathogen-control measures in place and is working to enhance poultry safety.

Farm Forward concluded that Whole Foods shoppers may be paying more for chicken sourced from plants with the same production claims and breeds as those found at other retailers, but from some of the most contaminated facilities in the country.