Chicken nuggets recalled after outbreak of salmonella in Canada

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.metronews.ca/news/canada/...-outbreak.html


Chicken nuggets recalled after outbreak of salmonella in Canada
There are currently 30 illness ? two in Alberta, 17 in Ontario, seven in Quebec and four in New Brunswick ? and several people reported eating Harvest Creek Chicken Nuggets before getting sick.
By: Staff The Canadian Press Published on Thu Mar 29 2018


OTTAWA ? The Public Health Agency of Canada says it has established a link between a recent outbreak of salmonella and frozen raw breaded chicken products sold primarily in eastern Canada.

The agency says Harvest Creek Chicken Nuggets with a best-before date of Oct. 11, 2018 have been linked to the outbreak and are being recalled.

The nuggets are sold in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, and Quebec, but the federal agency says they may have also been sold in other regions.

The outbreak first reported in September 2017 left 13 people ill in four provinces and four of them had to be hospitalized...

[Pathfinder]

Public Health Notice - Outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to poultry, including frozen raw breaded chicken products

March 28, 2018 – Update

This notice has been updated to include information about a new food recall warning that is related to the outbreak.

Why you should take note?

The Public Health Agency of Canada is collaborating with provincial public health partners, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada to investigate an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections in four provinces with cases of human illness linked to poultry, including frozen raw breaded chicken products. The investigation is ongoing, and this public health notice will be updated on a regular basis as the investigation evolves.

As part of this outbreak investigation, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a food recall warning for the following product:

• Harvest Creek Chicken Nuggets – Uncooked Breaded Chicken Cutlettes (2 x 1kg) with a best before date of October 11, 2018 (BB/MA 18-OC-11) and UPC: 8 29810 93350 2.

The product has been distributed in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, and Quebec, and may have been distributed in other provinces or territories. The product has been linked to this outbreak investigation and therefore the Public Health Agency of Canada advises Canadians to not consume the recalled products, and retailers and restaurants to not serve the recalled product.

The risk to Canadians is low. Salmonella is commonly found in raw chicken and frozen raw breaded chicken products. Illnesses can be avoided if safe food handling, preparation and cooking practices are followed when preparing these types of food products.

This outbreak is a reminder to properly handle, cook and store poultry, including frozen breaded chicken products to avoid getting sick. Frozen raw breaded chicken products contain raw poultry and should be handled and prepared no differently from other raw poultry products. Canadians are advised to follow cooking instructions carefully and verify the internal temperature after cooking before consuming these products. Frozen raw breaded chicken products and raw poultry pieces must be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 74?C (165?F) to ensure they are safe to eat. Whole poultry must be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 82?C (180?F).

Investigation Summary

Currently, there are 30 cases of Salmonella Enteritidis illness in four provinces: Alberta (2), Ontario (17), Quebec (7), and New Brunswick (4). Four individuals have been hospitalized. Individuals became sick between May 2017 and February 2018. The average age of cases is 32 years, with ages ranging from 1 to 73 years. The majority of cases (57%) are male.

Based on the investigation findings to date, exposure to poultry, including frozen raw breaded chicken products has been identified as a source of illness. Several of the ill individuals involved in the outbreak reported eating Harvest Creek Chicken Nuggets before their illness occurred. Food samples of Harvest Creek Chicken Nuggets (2 x 1kg), with best before date of October 11, 2018 tested positive for Salmonella Enteritidis. The positive food samples had the same genetic fingerprint (using whole genome sequencing) as the cases of human illness reported in this outbreak. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a food recall warning for the product and is working with industry to ensure the product is removed from the retail market.

The investigation is ongoing, and it is possible that more products linked to the outbreak investigation may be identified. The public health notice will be updated as the investigation evolves.

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https://www.canada.ca/en/public-heal...-products.html
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