FSIS requests recall after chicken linked to Salmonella illnesses
The Aspen Foods Division of Koch Meats recalled 28,980 pounds of chicken products contaminated with a strain of Salmonella Enteritidis, said the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS).
Six cases have been linked to raw, frozen, breaded and pre-browned, stuffed chicken entrees in Minnesota from August 17 to September 27.
Single 5 once plastic packets of raw stuffed chicken breast breaded, boneless breast of chicken with rib meat “A La Kiev” is the affected product.
Antioch Farms brand
It is sold by retailers under the Antioch Farms brand, with “sell by” dates of October 1 and 7, 2015.
They were produced on July 2 and 8 and shipped to retail stores and distribution centers in Minnesota.
"Our DNA fingerprinting found that the individuals were sickened by the same strain of Salmonella," said Dr Carlota Medus, epidemiologist for the Foodborne Diseases Unit at Minnesota Department of Health.
"The Minnesota Department of Agriculture collected samples of the same type of product from grocery stores and the outbreak strain of Salmonella was found in packages of this product."
FSIS was notified of an investigation of Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses on October 9 and a link was found between the Chicken Kiev from Aspen Foods Division of Koch Foods and the illness cluster.
On October 17 FSIS received evidence that linked the illnesses to a specific product or production lot.
Evidence for a recall includes case-patient product that tests positive for the same particular strain of Salmonella that caused the illness, and packaging on product that clearly links it to a specific facility and a specific production date.
Samples of product collected during the investigation by Minnesota Department of Agriculture tested positive for Salmonella Enteritidis with the outbreak strain.
Staphylococcal concerns in chicken
In a separate incident, Murry’s Inc. has recalled 31,689 pounds of gluten free breaded chicken products that may be contaminated with Staphylococcal enterotoxin.
The problem was discovered by the Colorado Department of Agriculture during a retail surveillance and sampling program funded by the USDA at a Federal Emergency Response Network lab.
Affected products (which can be found here) have a best by date of August 9, 2015 and were shipped to retail stores nationwide.
Staphylococcal food poisoning is a gastrointestinal illness. It is caused by eating foods contaminated with toxin-producing Staphylococcus aureus.
FSIS and the company have received no reports of adverse reactions due to these products.
