Most recently, the infection caused by salmonella bacteria was spreading rapidly throughout the United States, with 278 people infected in the past six months.

Ria Novosti reports that during mid-July the US Department of Agriculture warned that the poultry produced on three of the Foster Farms factories in California might be dangerous.

“At the moment this dangerous disease has spread to half of US states and into numerous poultry farms. This cannot fail to arouse our concerns. This may become a reason to introduce restrictions,” Mr Alexeenko said.

Rosselkhoznadzor’s specialists are currently examining the risks and the decision on US poultry import is expected to made in the following days.

“It will be made in two-three days, noted Mr Alexeenko, and in the following two or three weeks the restrictions may be imposed."

In April, Rosselkhoznadzor suspended the shipments of poultry from California over the outbreak of bird flu. At the moment 270 US producers are licensed to supply poultry to Russia. Yet only 10 of them have received the the requisite permissions.

Salmonella is a bacteria which affects the intestinal tract. It is one of the most common causes of food poisoning. Salmonella is easily killed by high temperatures while raw or lightly cooked food poses a high risk of infection.