The CDC has confirmed in a public alert updated numbers for a Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak traced to raw, frozen, breaded chicken products. The USDA published the updated numbers earlier this week in a recall notice.
According to the CDC, there are 11 more confirmed patients, bringing the total to 28 people spread across eight states. There are three more people who required hospitalization, bring that total to 11. No one has died.
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection and Indiana officials collected unopened packages of Kirkwood Chicken, Broccoli, and Cheese from a sick person’s house for testing and identified the outbreak strain in the product. USDA-FSIS investigated and found that these products were produced at facility P-2375 and are marked with that number.
The recalled products can be identified by the following label information.
They are frozen, raw chicken products that are breaded, pre-browned, and stuffed from:
- Dutch Farms Chicken with Broccoli & Cheese (lot code BR 1055; best if used by Feb 24, 2023)
- Milford Valley Chicken with Broccoli & Cheese (lot code BR 1055; best if used by Feb 24, 2023)
- Milford Valley Chicken Cordon Bleu (lot code BR 1055; best if used by Feb 24, 2023)
- Kirkwood Raw Stuffed Chicken, Broccoli & Cheese (lot code BR 1055; best if used by Feb 24, 2023)
- Kirkwood Raw Stuffed Chicken Cordon Bleu (lot code BR 1056; best if used by Feb 25, 2023)
The number of outbreak patients is likely to increase, according to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.
“Illnesses started on dates ranging from February 21, 2021, to June 28, 2021. Sick people range in age from 3 to 83 years, with a median age of 39 years, and 52 percent are female,” today’s alert says.
“The true number of sick people in an outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.”
State and local public health officials interviewed people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 21 people interviewed, 13, or 62 percent, reported preparing and eating frozen breaded stuffed chicken products. They bought different brands of raw frozen breaded stuffed chicken products from multiple stores, the CDC reported.
About Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.
Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.
Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.
Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.
Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.
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