California-based Foster Farms are now recalling all products linked to a salmonella outbreak that has been going on for over a year.
After 574 people have gotten sick in the past 16 months, on Thursday the USDA finally directly linked Foster Farms boneless-skinless chicken breast to Salmonella Heidelberg, an anti-biotic resistant strain of the potentially-deadly bacteria. The USDA apparently first learned of the case on June 23 (one wonders how, if it’s been going on for more than a year), and then issued its report as soon as a link was confirmed. Foster Farms immediately issued a recall in response.
Most of the chicken products in question come under the Foster Farms label (obviously), but some are sold under Kroger, Safeway, FoodMaxx, and other supermarket brands that have been sold in at least 27 states — though no fresh products currently in stores are apparently involved. Specifically, the recall applies to boneless-skinless products with “use or freeze by” dates ranging from March 16, 2014 to March 31, 2014 and Sunland frozen chicken products that have a “best by” date of March 7, 2015 to March 11, 2015, according to the company’s own recall statement.
Experts recommend always washing anything that comes in contact with raw poultry (though it’s a really bad idea to wash the chicken itself), as well as using a meat thermometer to make sure that chicken cooks to 165 degrees internally.
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