For the second time in nine months, frozen Antioch Farms brand chicken entrees have been linked to a Salmonella outbreak. The current outbreak, linked to Antioch Farms frozen Chicken Cordon Bleu, has sickened at least three people in Minnesota and may include illnesses in other states. It follows an October 2014 outbreak linked to Antioch Farms frozen Chicken Kiev that sickened six people.
Both products are frozen, breaded, pre-browned and raw. Years ago, these kinds of products were frequently associated with outbreaks because consumers mistook them for pre-cooked products that only required thawing and reheating. Those outbreaks triggered mandatory label changes in 2008 eliminating microwave cooking instructions. After the change, no further outbreaks were reported until the Antioch Farms outbreak last year.
During interviews, some of those sickened reported following cooking instructions to the letter. Minnesota health officials began to suspect that the chicken was contaminated with so much Salmonella that it would be very difficult to prepare it without getting sick. Records showed that the processing plant that produced the Antioch Farms chicken Kiev had been linked to a Salmonella outbreak prior to the label rule change. The company recalled 14 tons of product.
This time around, there has been no recall and health officials have not released the names of stores where the product was sold. The only information consumers have been given regarding the product is that the packaging is marked with the code P-1358.
Based on the store list from the first recall, Food Poisoning Bulletin has put together a list of stores where the product associated with the current outbreak may have been sold. Consumers who have purchased these products should not eat them.
