Costco is reminding consumers that fresh chicken products sold under the Foster Farms and Kirkland brand produced in March are being recalled for Salmonella contamination. The products are linked to a huge nationwide outbreak that has been ongoing since March 2013. The recalled items have "use or freeze by" dates ranging from March 17, 2014 to March 31, 2014. The identifying plant marks on the recalled products are P-6137, P-6137A or P-7632 that should be inside the USDA mark of inspection. If you have these products in your freezer, discard immediately or return to the place of purchase for a refund. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after handling these products. … [Read more...]
Study Identifies Risky Home Food Safety Practices
July 7, 2014 by
A new study at UC-Davis has identified many risky practices of consumers in their homes. The study looked at the preparation of raw poultry. The two most common mistakes were cross contamination and insufficient cooking. Christine Bruhn, director of the Center for consumer research at the university, who authored the study said in a statement, "the most surprising aspect of these findings to me was the prevalence of undercooking. We are now in summer, the peak season for foodborne illness, and these results come at a time when more consumers can benefit from being aware of better food safety practices." Those good practices include always washing hands with soap and water before cooking and after handling raw meat, poultry and eggs, never rinsing poultry in the sink, and always using … [Read more...]
Salmonella Illness Prompts Foster Farms Recall of Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
July 4, 2014 by
A Salmonella illness has prompted a Foster Farms recall of boneless, skinless chicken breast produced in March. The limited recall, which now only applies to products consumers may have frozen, is the only recall the company has issued in the 10 months since it was first linked to a Salmonella outbreak that had sickened at least 574 people in 27 states by the end of May. It was issued at the request of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA's FSIS) "because this product is known to be associated with a specific illness," according to the announcement. On the packaging of recalled products, the establishment number “P6137,” P6137A” or “P7632” appears inside the USDA mark of inspection. The recalled boneless, skinless chicken products, produced March … [Read more...]
Foster Farms Salmonella Outbreak Expands, 574 Sick
May 27, 2014 by
The Foster Farms Salmonella outbreak has expanded to include 574 people in 27 states and Puerto Rico, according to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That's an increase of 50 cases since the last update on April 9 or, about eight new cases each week. The outbreak strains of Salmonella Heidelberg are resistant to several commonly prescribed antibiotics, indicating that there is an increased risk of hospitalization. About 37 percent of people sickened in this outbreak have required hospitalization and 13 percent have developed blood infections which pose a serious health risk. Usually, only 5 percent of people with salmonellosis develop blood infections. No deaths have been reported. Most of the illnesses, 77 percent, have been reported from … [Read more...]
Foster Farms Salmonella Outbreak Sickened 134 in 13 States
February 16, 2014 by
The first of two Salmonella outbreaks linked to Foster Farms chicken during 2013 was announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) one year ago this weekend. The outbreak sickened 134 people in 13 states, 33 people were hospitalized. Most of those sickened, 71 percent, told health investigators that they had eaten Foster Farms chicken before they developing symptoms of Salmonella poisoning which include abdominal cramps, nausea and diarrhea. Shopper card records showed nine case patients purchased Foster Farms chicken before illness onset. The illnesses were scientifically linked to Foster Farms chicken through testing on stool samples from case patients and on leftover chicken samples collected from three patients homes. The outbreak strains were traced back to … [Read more...]
After Salmonella Outbreak, Foster Farms Plant Reopens
January 22, 2014 by
A Foster Farms plant associated with a Salmonella outbreak that sickened more than 400 people reopened today after a brief closure. The plant in Livingston, CA resumed operations this morning. The plant, one of three Foster Farms facilities associated with a Salmonella Heidelberg outbreak that sickened at least 430 people in 23 states and Puerto Rico, remained open for most of the time the outbreak was ongoing. The outbreak, one of two linked to Foster Farms last year, began in March and was announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in October. On January 16, the agency said the outbreak was likely over. On January 8, about one week before the CDC said the outbreak had ended, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS) … [Read more...]
Foster Farms Salmonella Outbreak Ends, Investigation Continues
January 17, 2014 by
The Foster Farms Salmonella outbreak sickened 430 people in 23 states and Puerto Rico before ending, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While the outbreak appears to be over, the investigation of the company and the conditions at the associated processing plants continues and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) "is prepared to take additional actions or expand the investigation based on any new evidence," the agency said. Three of the company's plants were linked to the outbreak. Foster Farms did not issue a recall for its chicken. On October 7, 2013, FSIS issued a public health alert about the chicken and sent letters to Foster Farms threatening closure of the plants citing conditions including insanitary … [Read more...]
Groups Call on Foster Farms to Demonstrate Antibiotic Stewardship
January 13, 2014 by
More than 30 environmental, animal welfare, health, food safety, and consumer organizations have sent a letter to Foster Farms, asking that corporation to adopt stewardship practices for raising healthier chicken. That company has been linked to two large Salmonella outbreaks in the last year that have sickened thousands of people across the country. The current outbreak, which has sickened at least 416 people in 23 states with seven strains of Salmonella Heidelberg, many of them antibiotic-resistant, has hospitalized 40% of those sickened. The Natural Resources Defense Council says that "the spread of drug resistant bacteria throughout our communities and kitchens has threatened our health and contributed to the growing crisis of antibiotic resistance. More than 80% of all … [Read more...]
Foster Farms Plant Closed, Again
January 13, 2014 by
Foster Farms says its plant in Livingston, CA that was closed January 8 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for cockroach infestation was cleared by the USDA to reopen January 11, but on January 12 the company announced it was voluntarily closing the plant to "further expand its USDA-approved safe manufacturing procedures and monitoring systems." Last summer, the Livingston operation was one of three Foster Farms plants linked to a Salmonella outbreak that has now sickened more than 400 people. The company has never issued a recall for its chicken products linked to the outbreak. According to the announcement: "The company is exercising vigilance and choosing to dedicate additional time to ensuring its preventative plan is fully realized with the most effective technology and … [Read more...]
Congresswomen: Foster Farms Closure “Long Overdue”
January 10, 2014 by
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) closure of a Foster Farms plant in Livingston, CA this week is "long overdue," say Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Louise Slaughter (D-NY). The plant is one of three that have been linked to a multi-state Salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 400 people since October, but it was cockroach infestation that triggered the closure. Foster Farms did not issue a recall after cases of Salmonella poisoning were linked to chicken produced at the plant. Nor did the company issue a recall when, earlier in 2013, chicken produced at other Foster Farms plants was linked to another multi-state Salmonella outbreak. On October 7, the USDA issued a health alert about the chicken and some retailers removed it form store shelves. That same … [Read more...]
