The Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) is reiterating advice it has given before: don't rinse that chicken! Americans eat more chicken than any other meat, and chicken is often contaminated with Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Clostridum perfringens bacteria. Anyone who purchases raw chicken should handle it carefully to prevent food poisoning. Cooks and even cookbooks have told consumers to rinse chicken before cooking. But that advice is incorrect; don't rinse that chicken! Bacteria can aerosolize under running water, and can contaminate everything within a 3-foot radius of the faucet. That means that the sink, countertop, and even you can be contaminated with pathogens if you rinse your chicken. The only thing that gets rid of bacteria on chicken is cooking it to … [Read more...]
CSPI Wants USDA to Name Poultry Producers in Salmonella Outbreak
Center for Science in the Public Interest wants the USDA to name slaughterhouses and processing facilities who may be associated with the two recent Salmonella outbreaks tied to poultry. One of those outbreaks is ongoing. An ongoing Salmonella Reading outbreak linked to raw turkey products has sickened 279 people and hospitalized 107 in the United States. One person living in California died in that outbreak. The last update on that outbreak was issued on February 15, 2019. And the Salmonella Infantis outbreak linked to raw chicken that sickened 129 people in the United States has just ended, according to the CDC. All the USDA will say is that these pathogens have been found in "many" processing establishments, and that "raw turkey products from a variety of sources are contaminated … [Read more...]
Breaded Chicken Salmonella Outbreak in Canada Has Sickened 534
A breaded chicken Salmonella outbreak in Canada has sickened at least 534 people in 13 provinces. There are actually 15 national outbreaks linked to raw chicken, including raw breaded chicken products. Food recalls have been issued for twelve products that are linked to some of these outbreak investigations. The case count by province is: British Columbia (42), Alberta (83), Saskatchewan (18), Manitoba (26), Ontario (189), Quebec (111), New Brunswick (27), Nova Scotia (17), Prince Edward Island (5), Newfoundland and Labrador (12), Northwest Territories (1), Yukon (1), and Nunavut (2). Ninety people have been hospitalized because they were so sick. Raw breaded chicken products have caused several outbreaks in Canada and in the U.S. Aspen Foods raw frozen breaded stuffed chicken … [Read more...]
Raw Chicken Salmonella Infantis Outbreak Ends With 129 Sick
The raw chicken Salmonella Infantis outbreak has ended with 129 people sick, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Twenty five people were hospitalized in this outbreak, and one death was reported from New York. The case count by state in this raw chicken Salmonella outbreak is: Alabama (1), Arkansas (3), California (1), Colorado (1), Connecticut (3), Delaware (3), Florida (2), Georgia (2), Hawaii (1), Illinois (7), Indiana (1), Kentucky (2), Louisiana (2), Maine (1), Maryland (4), Massachusetts (17), Michigan (4), Minnesota (5), Missouri (3), North Carolina (7), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (9), New York (18), Ohio (8), Pennsylvania (13), Rhode Island (2), South Carolina (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (2), Virginia (2), Washington (2), and Wisconsin (1). … [Read more...]
Raw Chicken Salmonella Outbreak in Canada Grows to 529 Sick
A raw chicken Salmonella outbreak in Canada has grown to include 529 laboratory-confirmed illnesses. Ninety people have been hospitalized, and three people have died. However, Salmonella was not the case of death for two of those patients, and it was not determined whether this illness contributed to the death of the third person. Canada's Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health issued a statement in September, 2018 advising consumers to follow the proper food safety practices when handling, preparing, or consuming frozen raw breaded chicken products. One of the issues with these products is that they look fully cooked, when they are in fact raw. Another problem is that the breading on these products, which may be contaminated, can fall off before the chicken is cooked and … [Read more...]
Raw Chicken Salmonella Infantis Outbreak: Number 9 in Top Food Poisoning Outbreaks of 2018
The raw chicken Salmonella Infantis outbreak was the number 9 largest food poisoning outbreak of 2018, with at least 92 people sickened in 29 states. Twenty-one people were hospitalized in this outbreak. The CDC notice stated that "many types of raw chicken products from a variety of sources are contaminated with Salmonella Infantis and are making people sick." That broad statement is bad news for the American consumer. A single supplier of raw chicken products hasn't been identified. That means that the outbreak strain is present in live chickens and in many type of raw chicken products, meaning it may be widespread in the chicken industry. Food safety experts have warned consumers for years to treat raw chicken as if it is contaminated. And this outbreak is scattered all over … [Read more...]
Kosher Chicken Salmonella Outbreak Ends With 25 Sick, Lawsuits Possible
The kosher chicken Salmonella outbreak that was associated with Empire Kosher brand has ended, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with 25 patients in 6 states. Eleven people were hospitalized in this outbreak, which is a very high percentage for a Salmonella outbreak. The Salmonella that sickened those people is Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:-. Epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory evidence found that some kosher chicken products were contaminated with the outbreak strain. The outbreak strain was found in samples of raw chicken collected from two facilities, including one that processes Empire Kosher brand chicken. The case count by state is: Maryland (1), Massachusetts (2), New York (16), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (4), and Virginia (1). Illness onset dates … [Read more...]
Salmonella Enteritidis Outbreak in Canada Linked to Frozen Raw Breaded Chicken Updated
The Public Health Agency of Canada is updating its investigation into the Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak linked store frozen raw breaded chicken products. The government is warning consumers that they must follow proper food safety practices when handling, preparing, or eating these products, which include chicken nuggets, chicken strips, chicken burgers, popcorn chicken, and chicken fries. When these products aren't thoroughly cooked, they pose an increased risk to people who handle, prepare, and eat them. These foods are often pre-browned and can appear cooked, but they are raw. All frozen raw breaded chicken products and raw chicken pieces must be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F before they are safe to eat. Whole chickens should be cooked to 180°F. Since May 2017, … [Read more...]
Multidrug Resistant Salmonella Infantis Chicken Outbreak Hits Consumers in MA, NY, PA, NJ, OH Hard
The multidrug resistant Salmonella Infantis outbreak linked to raw chicken has hit consumers in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania hard. Those states have 46 of the 92 patients who have been sickened in this multidrug-resistant Salmonella outbreak. We don't know why the outbreak has been concentrated in the northeast United States. While outbreaks are often limited to a certain geographical area, officials do not have a specific company or product that is linked to this outbreak. And there are illnesses in the southern U.S., the midwest, and the west coast as well. There are two big concerns about this Salmonella Infantis outbreak. The first is that the bacteria is resistant to so many antibiotics. That means that people may be sicker, and that their … [Read more...]
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro on Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Raw Chicken
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro has issued a statement about the multidrug-resistant Salmonella outbreak linked to raw chicken products that has sickened 92 people in 29 states. She is concerned that five years ago, she expressed concern to the USDA and CDC about another antibiotic-resistant Salmonella outbreak that sickened more than 600 people. And the same thing has happened again. The new outbreak was announced by the CDC on October 16, 2018. She writes, "Five years ago to the day, I wrote a letter with my former colleague, the late Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, to CDC and USDA regarding their mismanaged investigation and lack of action in response to an antibiotic-resistant strain of Salmonella that contaminated chicken products across the country. 634 were infected across 29 … [Read more...]
