Whole Foods 365 chicken linked to Perdue plants with salmonella issues

A report by the animal advocacy group Farm Forward claims that Whole Foods’ private-label ‘365’ brand chicken is sourced from Perdue Farms plants that have experienced high levels of salmonella contamination.

After evaluating 247 raw chicken packages across 30 Whole Foods stores, Farm Forward determined that 92% of the meat originated from Perdue plants. The investigation further found that 98% of the ‘365’ brand chicken was processed at facilities where highly virulent strains of salmonella were present in raw meat, according to USDA records.

The report also highlights a pricing discrepancy, noting that Whole Foods charges up to 45.7% more for this product than discount and mass-market retailers like Walmart, Target, and Kroger, despite the products coming from the same Perdue facilities. While Whole Foods markets its meat as antibiotic and hormone-free and raised to rigorous standards, the investigation suggests the sourcing overlaps significantly with lower-cost competitors.