Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) has written a letter to Sonny Perdue, the Secretary of the USDA, expressing concern over reports suggesting that the government is planning to let China export its own poultry products to the United States. Food safety and consumer advocates have long opposed such a move to import Chinese chicken, citing serious food safety concerns about food from that country and many deadly outbreaks that have occurred there. According to the letter, Chinas General Administration of Customs Under Secretary met with a Chinese deputy director to discuss agricultural trade. DeLauro states, "given China's longstanding and well documented food safety problems, it is appalling to me that officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection … [Read more...]
Salmonella Enteritidis Outbreak in Canada Linked to Poultry Sickens 30
The Public Health Agency of Canada is collaborating with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada to investigate an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections in four provinces. These illnesses are linked to poultry, including frozen raw breaded chicken products. There are 30 patients in four provinces. The case count by province is Alberta (2), Ontario (17), Quebec (7), and New Brunswick (4). Four people have been hospitalized because they are so seriously ill. These patients got sick between May 2017 and February 2018. Most of the patients are male. The findings to date incidence that exposure to poultry, including frozen raw breaded chicken products, has been identified as the illness source. No food recall warning is associated with this outbreak, and the … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak in Canada Linked to Frozen Raw Breaded Chicken
A Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 18 people in six provinces is linked to frozen raw breaded chicken products, according to Public Health Canada. This is the third national outbreak in Canada linked to those types of products. There have been several similar outbreaks in the United States in the past few years, including a large outbreak linked to frozen raw stuffed breaded chicken products produced by Aspen Foods, which is owned by Koch Poultry, in 2015, and another that was linked to Barber Foods products that same year. These products appear to be fully cooked, but they are raw, and the package states that information. These products are often cooked in the microwave, which can leave cold spots in food, meaning that pathogenic bacteria can survive and make someone … [Read more...]
Chicken and Food Poisoning
Information about chicken and food poisoning has been posted on the Foodsafety.gov website. This meat has been linked to several food poisoning outbreaks in the past few years. About a million Americans every year get sick from eating contaminated poultry. And Americans eat more chicken every year than every other meat. Raw chicken is often contaminated with Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Clostridium perfringens bacteria. Undercooked chicken, or foods that are contaminated by raw chicken juices, can cause serious illness. You need to pay special attention when you have raw chicken in your home. When you're shopping, put the chicken into a disposable bag before you put it into your shopping card. I get a bag, then put my hand into it, pick up the chicken, and turn the bag inside … [Read more...]
Salmonella Illnesses in Canada Linked to Frozen Chicken Products
Another Salmonella outbreak has been linked to frozen raw breaded chicken products; this time in Canada. This is not the first time illnesses have been reported connected to this type of product. In 2015, 15 people in seven states in America were sickened in an outbreak linked to Barber Foods frozen Chicken Kiev. Four of those patients were hospitalized. That same year, five people were sickened in the U.S. after eating frozen raw stuffed breaded chicken breasts produced by Aspen Foods. And in 2014, another Salmonella outbreak was linked to Barber Foods produced Antioch Farms raw stuffed breaded chicken breast. That outbreak sickened at least six people in several states. In this outbreak in Canada, people are sick with Salmonella Enteritidis infections in four provinces. … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak in Canada Linked to Frozen Chicken
The Public Health Agency of Canada is announcing a Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak in that country linked to frozen raw breaded chicken products. Seven people in four provinces are sick as of June 26, 2017. Two people have been hospitalized. There was a similar outbreak in the United States in 2015, linked to frozen Barber frozen Chicken Kiev, a raw stuffed product. The outbreak sickened 15 people in seven states. The Public Health Agency's notice states that "This outbreak is a reminder that frozen raw breaded chicken products contain raw poultry and should be handled and prepared no differently from other raw poultry products. Follow cooking instructions carefully and verify the internal temperature after cooking, as recommended, before consuming these products. Frozen raw breaded … [Read more...]
UK Experts Urge Shoppers to Wash Hands After Handling Chicken Packages
We all know that raw chicken can contain pathogenic bacteria such as Campylobacter and Salmonella. But experts were more concerned with the bacteria on the inside of the basic plastic supermarket wrapping. Now experts in the UK are warning shoppers to wash their hands after handling these packages, since the bacteria could also be on the outside. An investigation by the Daily Telegraph found that the plastic exterior of more than 1 in every 100 raw chickens sold in Britain may have a potentially infectious level of Campylobacter bacteria. That means that 9,000,000 packages of chicken are sold with a "dangerous dose of deadly bacteria on the outside." When a shopper picks up a package of chicken, then snacks on food while shopping, they could get sick. Campylobacter is the leading … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak in Canada Sickens 98
A Salmonella Infantis outbreak in Canada has sickened at least 98 people, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. The outbreak is linked to raw poultry products. Interviews of sickened individuals indicate that some illnesses were caused by improperly handling and repackaging raw poultry products. Others reported eating different brands and types of chicken. A sample of raw chicken taken from the home of a sick person has tested positive for the outbreak strain of Salmonella Infantis. Salmonella is commonly found in raw poultry. In fact, a study last year by Consumer Reports found that 97% of the chicken breasts they purchased from grocery stores and tested were positive for the pathogenic bacteria. The outbreak case count by province is: British Columbia (7), Alberta … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak in Canada Linked to Raw Chicken
A Salmonella outbreak in Canada has been linked to frozen raw breaded chicken products. As of June 28, 2015, 44 people are sick in four provinces. Twelve people have been hospitalized in this outbreak. The outbreak case count by province is: Ontario (28), Quebec (12), Nova Scotia (2), and Newfoundland and Labrador (2). No deaths have been reported. People became sick between February 7 and May 23, 2015. There is no mention of any brand name and no word of a recall. The government is warning people to be careful when handling raw poultry products. If you are preparing frozen raw breaded chicken products, take these precautions: wash your hands well with soap and water before and after handling the products. Use a separate plate, cutting board, and utensils when handling raw poultry … [Read more...]
USDA New Measures to Reduce Contamination in Poultry
Yesterday, the USDA proposed new federal standards to reduce Salmonella and Campylobacter contamination in ground chicken, ground turkey, and raw chicken breasts, legs, and wings. These standards are part of FSIS' Salmonella Action Plan that was launched in December 2013. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said, "Today, we are taking specific aim at making the poultry items that Americans most often purchase safer to eat. This is a meaningful, targeted step that could prevent tens of thousands of illnesses each year." According to Consumer's Union, 71% of store-bought chicken is contaminated with pathogenic bacteria. And 8% of those products are contaminated with both Campylobacter and Salmonella. Government studies have found that 25% of cut up chicken, and about 50% of ground … [Read more...]
