Another Canada Salmonella outbreak linked to frozen raw breaded chicken products has been announced by Public Health Canada. Seven people are sick with Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses in three provinces.
The case count by province in this Canada Salmonella outbreak is: British Columbia (3), Alberta (1), and Ontario (3). One person has been hospitalized because their illness is so severe. These patients started getting ill in June 2018. The patient age range is from 1 to 42 years, with the average age of 12.
The public health investigation has found that exposure to frozen raw breaded chicken products is the source of these illnesses. Several of the patients reported eating No Name brand Chicken Nuggets or unbranded $10 Chicken Fries before they got sick. Food samples of some of these products tested positive for Salmonella Enteritidis.
The specific products linked to this outbreak are No Name brand Chicken Nuggets, with a best before date of May 15, 2019 on the outer package and a lot code of 1358M on the inner package, and unbranded $10 Chicken Fries, with a best before date of March 23, 2019. Those products have been recalled from the marketplace.
These types of food products may appear to be pre-cooked or browned, but they are made with raw chicken. They must be thoroughly cooked to a temperature of 165°F before they are eaten. Use a reliable digital food thermometer to check the temperature. Put the probe into the center of the product through the side, all the way to the middle. Do not use oven-safe meat thermometers that are used for testing whole poultry and roasts during cooking.
Food safety experts are advising consumers not to cook these products in the microwave oven. The possibility of cold spots, where bacteria could survive, is an issue with this appliance. Always follow the cooking instructions on the package. Wash your hands well with soap and warm water before and after handling these products. Never put cooked chicken products on a plate that held the uncooked product.
