Two outbreaks of Salmonella Enteritidis infections have been linked to raw, frozen, breaded and pre-browned stuffed chicken entrees. The Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, along with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) are investigating.
There have been seven cases in two recent outbreaks, all in Minnesota. Four people have been hospitalized but no deaths have been reported.
Investigators are using the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that may be part of these outbreaks.
According to the CDC, PulseNet is the national subtyping network of public health and food regulatory agency laboratories which compares the ‘DNA fingerprints’ of bacteria from infected people to find clusters of disease that might represent unrecognized outbreaks.PulseNet also manages a national database of these DNA “fingerprints” to identify possible outbreaks.
Two DNA “fingerprints” are included in these outbreak investigations. Investigators are also using other methods, including whole gene sequencing, to help identify which illnesses may be related to these outbreaks.
On July 1, 2015, USDA-FSIS issued a public health alert about illnesses caused by Salmonella that may be associated with raw, frozen, breaded and pre-browned, stuffed chicken products. In the announcement, USDA-FSIS urges all consumers to cook these products to a temperature of 165°F.
On July 2, 2015, Barber Foods recalled approximately 58,320 pounds of Chicken Kiev becauseof possible contamination with Salmonella Enteritidis. The products recalled include a 2 lb.-4 oz. box containing six individually pouched pieces of “Barber Foods Premium Entrees Breaded-Boneless Raw Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Rib Meat Kiev” with use by/sell by dates of April 28, 2016, May 20, 2016, and July 21, 2016. The product was sold at Sam’s Club retail stores in Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
