(Update: On Wednesday, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service posted a 13-page distribution list of retail stories in CO, ID, IL, MA, ME, MI, MN, MT, ND, NH, NV, RI, VT, UT, WI and WY which may have received this recalled product.) Chicago-based Aspen Foods Division of Koch Meats is recalling 28,980 pounds of chicken products shipped to Minnesota that may be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis. The U.S. Department of Agriculture requested that Aspen Foods conduct this recall after the product was found to have caused an outbreak in Minnesota that has sickened at least six people. The recalled product includes partially prepared chicken products sold by retailers under the Antioch Farms brand name with sell-by dates of Oct. 1, 2015, and Oct. 7, 2015. The products subject to recall bear the establishment number “P-1358” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products are raw, frozen, breaded and pre-browned, stuffed chicken entrees. The chicken products were produced on July 2, 2014, and July 8, 2014. These products were shipped to retail stores and distribution centers in Minnesota. The product is identified as:
- Single 5-ounce plastic packets of Raw Stuffed Chicken Breast Breaded, Boneless Breast of Chicken with Rib Meat “A La Kiev”
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service was notified of an investigation of Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses on Oct. 9, 2014. Working in conjunction with Minnesota Department of Health, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, FSIS determined that there is a link between the Chicken Kiev from Aspen Foods Division of Koch Foods and this illness cluster. The illness onset dates in the outbreak range from Aug. 17, 2014, to Sept. 27, 2014. At least one patient has been hospitalized. All six patients reported eating the chicken Kiev product prior to developing symptoms. Samples of product collected during the course of this investigation by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture tested positive for Salmonella Enteritidis with the outbreak strain. On Oct. 17, 2014, FSIS received evidence that linked the illnesses associated with this outbreak to a specific product or production lot. Evidence that is required for a recall includes obtaining case-patient product that tests positive for the same particular strain of Salmonella that caused the illness and packaging on the product that clearly links the product to a specific facility and a specific production date, which were all met. FSIS is continuing to work with its public health partners on this investigation and will provide updated information as it becomes available.