The USDA announced plans this week to make it illegal to sell chicken Kiev and other stuffed, breaded, raw chicken products that are contaminated with Salmonella. Declaring Salmonella an "adulterant" in this subset of the vast array of poultry products available to American consumers is a small step forward in the agency's stated goal of remaking its strategy for controlling Salmonella in poultry. But it made big news. Chair of the House Appropriations Committee Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), who is perhaps the greatest champion of food safety in Congress, released a statement calling the announcement a "vital first step to improved protections for the public from foodborne illness." The Centers for Science in the Public Interest, which along with other consumer groups, petitioned the USDA … [Read more...]
Gillibrand, Slaughter, DeLauro, Feinstein to USDA: Revise Pathogen Testing
The USDA must revise poultry pathogen testing methods to improve accuracy and better protect public health, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Dianne Feinstein and Representatives Rosa Luisa DeLauro and Louise Slaughter said in a letter to USDA Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack. The group penned the letter after learning from a recent report that antibacterial sanitizers used to kill pathogens on poultry carcasses may cause false-negative results for Salmonella. “We have to be vigilant when it comes to monitoring the safety of our food. This report is a reminder of the importance of good and efficient oversight when it comes to maintaining a safe food supply.” said Sen. Gillibrand, (D- NY). “We should never be placed in the position to question testing results in our poultry. The USDA … [Read more...]
Largest Multistate Food Poisoning Outbreaks 2015: #8 Chicken Kiev
The eighth-largest multistate food poisoning outbreak of 2015 was a Salmonella outbreak linked to Barber frozen Chicken Kiev. The Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak linked to the raw, frozen, stuffed chicken entrees made by Barber Foods sickened 15 people in seven states before ending in October. Four people were hospitalized. Th outbreak was one of two Salmonella outbreaks this year linked to raw, breaded, frozen chicken entrees. The other outbreak, linked to products produced by Aspen Foods, occurred simultaneously. In the Barber outbreak, cases were reported from the following states: Connecticut (1), Illinois (2), Minnesota (8), New Hampshire (1), New York (1), Oklahoma (1), and Wisconsin (1). Four outbreak strains of Salmonella Enteritidis were identified and all of them were … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Barber Foods Frozen Chicken Over
The Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak linked to raw, frozen, stuffed chicken entrees made by Barber Foods has ended, according to the CDC. However, the government warns that this product has a long shelf life and may still be in consumer's homes. Anyone who is not aware of this recall could eat these products and get sick. This is not the same Salmonella outbreak as the one linked to raw, frozen, stuffed chicken trees made by Aspen Foods, which is ongoing. Fifteen people in seven states have been infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella. Four persons were hospitalized; no deaths were reported. The case count by state is:Connecticut (1), Illinois (2), Minnesota (8), New Hampshire (1), New York (1), Oklahoma (1), and Wisconsin (1). All four of the outbreak strains of Salmonella … [Read more...]
Outbreaks Linked to Frozen Foods
Two simultaneous Salmonella outbreaks linked to frozen chicken entrees in Minnesota are the latest examples of how frozen food can cause illness. Frozn foods can be contaminated with Salmonella, E. coli, Hepatitis or Listeria or other dangerous pathogens. Salmonella Two current Salmonella outbreaks are linked to frozen, raw, pre-browned chicken Kiev by Barber Foods and frozen, raw, pre-browned chicken Cordon Bleu by Antioch Farms have sickened seven people, hospitalizing four of them. Illnesses in other states may also be linked to the outbreaks. Investigations are ongoing. Listeria The Blue Bell ice cream Listeria outbreak is an example of how Listeria can survive freezing temperatures. Rare strains of Listeria in Blue Bell ice cream served to patients at Via Christi hospital … [Read more...]
Minnesotans Sue Barber Foods Over Chicken Salmonella
A Minnesota couple has filed the first Salmonella lawsuit against Barber Foods in the latest outbreak associated with Chicken Kiev and other boxed, frozen chicken entrees. The Minnesota Department of Health confirmed the connection between the man's salmonellosis and the strain of Salmonella apparent in the outbreak. The suit was filed on Thursday in U.S. District Court on the couple's behalf. The lawsuit was filed by Pritzker Law. Food safety attorney Fred Pritzker said, "No one should get sick because they purchased a frozen entree to eat for dinner. Manufacturers have to be more vigilant when it comes to food safety." The case patient represented in the federal lawsuit got sick in early April, soon after consuming Chicken Kiev that was cooked according to label instructions, the … [Read more...]
CDC Updates Barber Foods Chicken Salmonella Outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated their investigation into the two Salmonella Enteritidis outbreaks in Minnesota and Wisconsin. One of the outbreaks is linked to Barber Foods frozen, raw, chicken products. In one outbreak, six people infected with this pathogenic bacteria are from Minnesota (5) and Wisconsin (1). Two persons have been hospitalized. In the other, three people infected with a different Salmonella strain in Minnesota have been reported. Two of those people have been hospitalized. Illness onset dates range from April 5, 2015 to June 23, 2015. No new illnesses have been reported since July 8, 2015. The recall of Barber Foods raw chicken products was expanded on July 12, 2015 to include more than 1.7 million pounds of food. The products … [Read more...]
Omaha Steaks Recalls Frozen Raw Chicken for Salmonella
Omaha Steaks is recalling raw frozen stuffed chicken breast products for possible Salmonella contamination. The products were manufactured by Barber Foods, which has recalled 1.7 million pounds of chicken products. The recalled products are Chicken Cordon Bleu with date code ECREK, Chicken Kiev with date codes EIBOK and ECBIK, and Breast of Chicken with Broccoli & Cheese with date codes ECEHK and ECEOK. They have the establishment number P-4230A on the package. The company has notified customers and is working to eliminate risk to consumers. The USDA is working with the company on this recall. If you have any of these products in your freezer, discard them in a sealed container. … [Read more...]
Barber Foods Chicken Kiev Salmonella Outbreak Grows
The Salmonella outbreak linked to Barber Foods frozen, raw, stuffed Chicken Kiev has sickened two more people according to the USDA. Based on epidemiological evidence and traceback investigations, six case-patients have been identified in Minnesota and Wisconsin. That is an increase of two patients since the last update 5 days ago. Those patients became ill from April 5, 2015 to June 23, 2015. They are sick with Salmonella Enteritidis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not updated their investigation report since July 8, 2015. Barber Foods has expanded the recall of their product to include more than 1.7 million pounds. The original recall on July 2, 2015 was for 58,000 pounds. The government is concerned that some product is still in consumer's freezers. … [Read more...]
Barber Foods Recalls More Frozen Raw Chicken for Salmonella
Barber Foods is recalling about 1,707,494 pounds of frozen, raw stuffed Chicken Kiev products that may be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis. The first recall on July 2, 2015 was for 58,320 pounds of the product. There is an outbreak associated with this recall. A cluster of illnesses in Minnesota was reported on June 24, 2015. The chicken products were produced between February 17 and May 20, 2015. The recall now includes all products associated with contaminated source material (raw chicken). The recalled items are 2 pound 4 ounce cardboard boxes each containing 6 individually pouched pieces of "BARBER FOODS PREMIUM ENTREES BREADED-BONELESS RAW STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH RIB MEAT KIEV". The use by/sell by dates are April 28, 2016, May 20, 2016 and July 21, 2016. The Lot … [Read more...]
