A nationwide poll shows overwhelming support for stricter poultry regulations aimed at reducing the number of illnesses from Salmonella and other foodborne pathogens. The poll of 1,000 registered voters, conducted by the nonprofit STOP Foodborne Illness, found 86 percent of voters want the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to adopt such changes. In the U.S., Salmonella causes more foodborne illness than any other bacteria, about 1.35 million cases each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Contaminated poultry accounts for about 23 percent of those illnesses. For more than two decades, the USDA has been trying to reduce Salmonella illnesses by testing for the presence of the bacteria on poultry at processing plants. But over that time period, … [Read more...]
Can USDA Solve Chicken’s Salmonella Problem?
For the last 25 years, the USDA has been trying to reduce Salmonella illnesses by testing for the presence of the bacteria on poultry at processing plants. On the face of it, this seems like a solid plan. According to the CDC, Salmonella causes more foodborne illness than any other bacteria, about 1.35 million cases each year, and contaminated poultry accounts for about 23 percent of those illnesses. But something strange happened. Two decades of test results showed an overall reduction in the occurrence of Salmonella on poultry products, but the percentage of Salmonella illnesses linked to poultry didn’t decrease. In fact, it went up. And while the number of Salmonella illnesses linked to poultry increased, so did the severity thanks to the growing prevalence of dangerous, … [Read more...]
Is Serenade Foods tied to Breaded Chicken Salmonella Outbreak?
Food safety investigators working with Salmonella lawyers at Pritzker Hageman have identified an establishment where breaded chicken products associated with an ongoing Salmonella outbreak were made. People sickened in this outbreak reported eating chicken cordon bleu, chicken with broccoli and cheese, and chicken Kiev they had purchased frozen from grocery stores before they became ill. During an investigation of the outbreak, which includes 17 confirmed cases from six states, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture found the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis in Kirkwood Chicken Cordon Bleu. Kirkwood is an ALDI store brand but it may not be the only brand associated with this outbreak. Case patients reported eating products sold under a variety of brand names. … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak at TN Prison Linked to Tyson Chicken
A Salmonella Heidelberg outbreak in 2013 at a Tennessee correctional facility that was linked to mechanically separated Tyson chicken sickened nine people. Twenty-two percent of those sickened were hospitalized; no deaths were reported. All of the ill persons were incarcerated at a single correctional facility in the state. Traceback and other investigations found that mechanically separated chicken produced by Tyson Foods was the source of the 2013 outbreak. Mechanically separated chicken is a paste-like meat product that is made by forcing meat through a sieve to separate bone from the edible part. The product then will have bacteria spread throughout it, similar to ground meats. Since prisoners are literally a "captive audience", it may be considered cruel and unusual punishment … [Read more...]
Chicken Kiev Salmonella Outbreak Watched in New Hampshire
New Hampshire has become the latest state to warn consumers about a food poisoning concern over Antioch Farms brand Raw Stuffed Chicken Breast Breaded Boneless Breast of Chicken with Rib Meat "A La Kiev.'' The partially prepared chicken kiev product was recalled late last month by the Aspen Foods Division of Koch Meats in Chicago after the Minnesota Department of Health linked it to an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis. The Minnesota investigation confirmed a match between the strain of Salmonella that infected case patients and chicken samples that tested positive for the same strain. The chicken kiev Salmonella recall was announced through USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. In New Hampshire, the product was distributed to Shaw's stores and has since been removed from those … [Read more...]
Chicken Kiev Salmonella Outbreak Raised Red Flag in MN
When six people in Minnesota developed Salmonella poisoning after eating Antioch Farms frozen raw chicken Kiev, health officials suspected it wasn't a clear-cut case of user error. Labeling changes for frozen products containing raw meat or poultry enacted in 2008 had completely eliminated outbreaks associated with such products. Then this one came along. Dr. Carlota Medus, epidemiologist for the Foodborne Diseases Unit at Minnesota Department of Health, told Food Poisoning Bulletin that that raised a red flag. Something must have changed with the chicken. As per the 2008 label rule, the packages of chicken Kiev were clearly marked as raw and did not have microwave instructions. During interviews, some patients said they carefully followed cooking instructions. This could mean that … [Read more...]
Antioch Farms Chicken Kiev Recalled in Salmonella Outbreak
More than 14 tons of Antioch Farms Chicken Kiev is being recalled by its Illinois manufacturer as part of a federal regulatory investigation of a Minnesota Salmonella outbreak linked to the frozen, ready-to-cook product. The Class I food recall was requested by the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) in conjunction with a well-documented cluster of six Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses in Minnesota. One of the food poisoning victims was hospitalized. The illness onset dates have ranged from August 17 through September 27 and the investigation is ongoing. Chicago-based Aspen Foods Division of Koch Meats is recalling 28,980 pounds of single five-ounce plastic packets of Raw Stuffed Chicken Breast Breaded, Boneless Breast of Chicken with Rib Meat “A La Kiev”. The products … [Read more...]
Mt. Healthy Hatchery Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Live Poultry Ends
The CDC says that the multistate outbreak of human Salmonella infections linked to live poultry in backyard flocks appears to be over. However, consumers should take steps to protect themselves from this pathogenic bacteria if they choose to keep chickens, ducks, and turkey. Mt. Healthy Hatcheries in Ohio was the source of chicks and ducklings, as determined by multiple traceback investigations. This is the same mail-order hatchery that has been associated with multiple outbreaks of Salmonella infections linked to live poultry in 2012 and 2013. A total of 363 people in 43 states and Puerto Rico were infected with outbreak strains of Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Newport, or Salmonella Hadar. Thirty-three percent of ill persons were hospitalized. No deaths were reported. The … [Read more...]
Foster Farms Salmonella Chicken Recall Updated
The recall of Foster Farms chicken products for Salmonella contaminated has been updated to "clarify and correct" the use or freeze by and best by date ranges. The government is also adding an updated product list. At the same time, the USDA says the recall is not expanded. These products are associated with a huge Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 621 people in the U.S. The recalled product is fresh and frozen chicken sold under Foster Farms or private label brand names with "use or freeze by" dates ranging from March 16 through March 31, 2014, and August 29, 2015 through September 2, 2015. Also recalled are frozen Sunland Chicken products with "best by" dates from March 7 through March 11, 2014 and August 29 2015 through September 2, 2015. Consumers will only be … [Read more...]
Salmonella Lawyer Represents Child Sickened in Foster Farms Chicken Outbreak
Attorney Fred Pritzker of Pritzker Hageman is representing a child who required brain surgery after suffering from complications of a Salmonella infection. The strain of Salmonella Heidelberg that sickened the child has been linked to adulterated chicken produced by and sold by Foster Farms. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has reported that as of December 19, 2013, the seven Salmonella Heidelberg strains linked to Foster Farms chicken have sickened 416 people in 23 states. The outbreak strains associated with Foster Farms products are resistant to several commonly prescribed antibiotics, a factor that may have contributed to the 40% rate of hospitalization, which is double the average hospitalization rate associated with typical Salmonella outbreaks. Salmonella causes diarrhea, … [Read more...]
