A Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:- outbreak linked to kosher chicken, more specifically Empire Kosher brand chicken, has sickened at least 17 people in four states. Eight of those patients have been hospitalized, which is a very high percentage for this type of pathogen illness. And one person in New York has died. So how do you protect yourself against pathogens in chicken? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has some answers. Raw chicken is often contaminated with Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Clostridium perfringens bacteria. If the chicken you eat is not cooked to a safe temperature, or the raw chicken or its juices contaminate surfaces in your kitchen, you can get very sick. Everyone needs to "take special care when handling and preparing chicken," according to … [Read more...]