Georgia ranks top in the nation for retail meat contamination risk.
The Trace One analysis, which is based off federal testing data, reveals that nearly a third of chicken samples in Georgia are contaminated with dangerous pathogens like Salmonella.
According to the study, the results reveal a notable regional pattern: three neighboring Southeastern states—Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee—rank highest for overall contamination risk.
The study focused on four types of meat: chicken, ground turkey, ground beef, and pork chops, using data from 2019, 2020, and 2021. With Georgia at first, then South Carolina, Tennessee, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, New York, and Texas.
