Possible Outbreak Leads to Massive Recall
Over 1.7 million pounds of a popular frozen chicken product have been recalled for salmonella.
Barber Foods has expanded its recall to include its line of stuffed chicken products that may have been exposed to salmonella, according to an announcement by the U.S Department of Agriculture given today. The recall list included almost 90 different raw food packages that were produced between February and May of this year. In that time, the products were shipped across the US and Canada, and recall is of the highest priority.
Salmonella Exposure & Its Consequences
Exposure to salmonella is not taken lightly, as it can prove deadly and lead to contact with several related diseases such as salmonellosis. Salmonellosis can manifest with symptoms including diarrhea, severe cramping, and high fever. These symptoms can appear anywhere from 24 to 48 hours of exposure to salmonella. The elderly and small children are the most at-risk, though infected individuals are expected to recover anywhere between 4 to 7 days’ time. If symptoms persist, it is suggested that affected individuals seek hospitalization and professional medical help.
Barber Foods
Barber Foods, based in Portland, Maine, had their first recall back in July 2. This recall included 58,000 pounds of the raw product — from their frozen, stuffed chicken meals.
The recall was started after the company received an onslaught of reports related to the salmonella-linked illnesses that stem from customers consuming their product. Since then, tracing investigations and epidemiology tests conducted by the USDA has successfully linked at least six salmonella-related cases to the Barber Foods products.
A Few Precautions
Due to the outbreak, the USDA has stated that for consumers to lessen their chances of being exposed to salmonella and its related diseases, they advise that certain precautions be taken: raw food products should be cooked underneath a 165 degree Farenheit flame. The flame should especially cook the middle and surface of food, as this is where salmonella is most likely to lurk in uncooked foods. The USDA also advises that people should tread with care when it comes to handling these Barber Foods products like uncooked chicken. Proper hygiene, especially the washing of hands, surfaces, and tools used to cook the food, should be practiced.
