A Salmonella outbreak in Minnesota has been linked to raw, frozen, pre-browned, breaded chicken products including Chicken Kiev and Chicken Cordon Bleu. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert about the products, but has not released brand names or stores where the products may have been sold.
Health officials are investigating two Salmonella illness clusters linked to the items may be labeled “chicken cordon bleu” or “chicken Kiev.” The illness onset dates range from May 9, 2015 to June 8, 2015.
FSIS is working with Minnesota agriculture and health officials on an investigation of the outbreak. Information on how many people have been sickened or hospitalized has not been released. It does not appear that a recall has been issued.
The products linked to illnesses may appear to be ready-to-eat, but are in fact raw and need to be fully cooked before consumption. However, some case-patients reported following these cooking instructions and using a food thermometer to confirm that the recommended temperature was achieved.
A similar outbreak happened last fall when Salmonella sickened six Minnesotans who ate “Raw Stuffed Chicken Breast Breaded, Boneless Breast of Chicken with Rib Meat ‘A La Kiev’” form Antioch Farms. Fourteen tons of that product were later recalled.
