The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has joined the the investigation of two Salmonella outbreaks in Minnesota linked to raw, frozen chicken Kiev and chicken Cordon Bleu. The outbreaks have sickened seven people, hospitalizing four of them. Illnesses in other states have not been linked to either outbreak, but the investigation is ongoing.
Barber Foods of Portland, Maine has issued a recall for chicken Kiev products linked to one of the outbreaks. But Antioch Farms has not issued a recall for chicken Cordon Bleu products that have been linked to the other. Health officials are concerned that consumers may have these products in their freezers. Consumers who have these products should not eat them.
Public health investigators are using the PulseNet database to look for cases that may be part of this outbreak. PulseNet is a network that allows public health and food regulatory agency laboratories to share DNA “fingerprints” of pathogen strains cultured from foodborne illnesses cases.
The two DNA “fingerprints” associated with these outbreaks are so common that many illnesses identified as matches may not be related to this outbreak so investigators are using additional lab tests to help clarify which illnesses may be related to these outbreaks.
The recalled Barber chicken Kiev was sold at Sam’s Club stores in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois and at other stores. They have “use by/sell by” dates of April 28, 2016, May 20, 2016 and July 21, 2016 and Lot Code numbers 0950292102, 0950512101, or 0951132202. The establishment number “P-276” appears inside the USDA mark of inspection.
The Antioch Farms products are stamped with the code P-1358 and were sold at many different grocery store chains.
Anyone who has eaten these products and developed symptoms of a Salmonella infection should see a health care provider and mention exposure to Salmonella.
