The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has dropped plans to require poultry companies to limit salmonella bacteria in chicken and turkey products, ending a Biden administration effort to reduce foodborne illness.

The agency said the Biden-era proposal would have been a burden on businesses. Food-safety experts criticized the decision as an unwillingness to protect the public.

The Agriculture Department has withdrawn the Biden administration’s proposed rule and proposed determination titled “Salmonella Framework for Raw Poultry Products.” In the withdrawal notice, the Food Safety and Inspection Service said it had received