The USDA suspects raw, stuffed, breaded chicken is the source of a Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak. These types of products such as chicken Kiev and chicken cordon bleu have been linked to outbreaks in the past. In fact, they were very common until 2008 when labeling changes were enacted that required packages to be clearly marked as raw and to omit microwave cooking instructions.
After the labeling changes took effect, there wasn’t an outbreak linked to these types of products until 2014. In that notable chicken Kiev outbreak, solved by the Minnesota Department of Health, the products were so contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis that it was difficult to prepare them without getting sick.
Since then, there have been a handful of other outbreaks. Because the products are pre-browned, consumers may view them as safer to handle than unbreaded raw chicken and accidentally cross-contaminate their hands or kitchen surfaces before cooking, Carlota Medus, an epidemiologist for the Foodborne Illness Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health explained after tandem outbreaks unfolded one year.
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Here’s a look a some of the previous outbreaks.
October 2014 Antioch Farms Chicken Kiev Outbreak
In 2014, Antioch Farms chicken Kiev was linked to a Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak that sickened six people in Minnesota. One person was hospitalized. The products were made by Chicago-based Aspen Foods, a division of Koch Meats. Aspen recalled more than 14 tons of frozen chicken Kiev products after health officials linked the illnesses to the product. The plant that produced the contaminated product, identified by the USDA establishment number “P-1358,” was involved in a previous Salmonella outbreak.
This was the first outbreak to occur after labeling changes were made in 2008.
April 2015 Barber Foods Chicken Kiev Outbreak
Chicken Kiev produced by Barber Foods was linked to a Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak that sickened 15 people in seven states. The number of cases reported from each state was: Connecticut (1), Illinois (2), Minnesota (8), New Hampshire (1), New York (1), Oklahoma (1), and Wisconsin (1). Pritzker Hageman filed the first lawsuit in this outbreak on behalf of a Minnesota couple.
A recall was issued July 2, 2015 and an expanded recall was issued July 12, 2015. Together, the recalls included 1.7 million pounds of products made at a Portland, Maine facility with the USDA establishment number P-276. After the outbreak, Barber’s parent company, AdvancePierre Foods of Cincinnati, said it was changing its production practices to include additional levels of microbiological analysis and additional procedures to “reduce Salmonella in both incoming and outgoing raw stuffed chicken breast products.”
May 2015 Aspen Raw, Frozen, Stuffed Chicken Entrees Outbreak
Months after the Antioch Farms chicken Kiev outbreak, Aspen Foods frozen, breaded, stuffed chicken entrees were linked to another Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak. The Chicken Cordon Bleu, Chicken a la Kiev, and Chicken Broccoli and Cheese products were made at the same facility as the previous outbreak, USDA establishment number “P-1358.” This outbreak sickened five people in Minnesota, two people were hospitalized.
On July 15, 2015, Aspen issued a recall for almost 2 million pounds of raw, frozen, stuffed chicken entrees. The products were sold nationwide under the brand names Acclaim, Antioch Farms, Buckley Farms, Centrella Signature, Chestnut Farms, Family Favorites, Kirkwood, Koch Foods, Market Day, Oven Cravers, Rose, Rosebud Farm, Roundy’s, Safeway Kitchens, Schwan’s, Shaner’s, Spartan and Sysco. Stores that sold the products included Aldi, Food Lion, Kroger, Safeway, Save-a-Lot, and Walmart.
After the enormous recall, the U.S Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS) stepped up its monitoring at the implicated plant. USDA inspectors found Salmonella in 12 samples it tested and described the Salmonella problem at Aspen’s Chicago plant as “systemic.” But the company refused to issue a recall.
So, on September 17, 2015, FSIS issued a public health alert about the products and directed its personnel to detain any of them found in commerce. Two weeks later, Aspen recalled an additional 561,000 pounds of the products.
July 2018 Ruby’s Pantry Pop Up Locations Stuffed Chicken Entrees Outbreak
In 2018, four Salmonella illnesses in Wisconsin and Minnesota were linked to frozen stuffed, breaded chicken entrees sold at pop-up locations of Ruby’s Pantry.
Free Salmonella Lawsuit Consultation
If you contracted a Salmonella Enetriditis infection from a contaminated breaded chicken product and would like a free consultation with an experienced Salmonella lawyer, please contact the Pritzker Hageman Salmonella Legal Team. We have represented clients in every major Salmonella outbreak in the U.S. You can reach us by calling 1-888-377-8900, sending a text to 612-261-0856, or by completing the form below. There is no obligation and we don’t get paid unless we win.
