Millions of Pounds of Breaded Frozen Raw Chicken Products Recalled!

Three companies--Barber Foods, Aspen Foods, and  Murry, Inc.--have recalled almost  4 million pounds of chicken nuggets and chicken Kiev-type products due to the discovery of  bacterial contamination.  There have been cases of foodborne illness associated with at least 2 of these recalls, so be sure that none of these products are lurking in your freezer.  Information to help you identify the recalled items is provided below.

DON'T conclude  that these contaminated products are always safe to consume if the food is cooked to the recommended temperature (generally 160°-165°F). Food scientist Dr. Martin Bucknavage explains why not:  "Staphylococcus growth and toxin formation is an issue in breaded batter product....The organism grows in the batter when the batter is not held at the proper temperatures.  When the organism reaches sufficient numbers, toxin is produced in the batter and then that toxin ends up on the food....In a typical batter operation, once the chicken is battered/breaded, then it is partially fried (par-fried) to set the coating. This heat application (dipping in hot oil) kills the Staphylococcus organism but does not destroy the toxin since the toxin is heat stable." To prevent this cause of contamination, "proper temperature control of the batter is needed."  This is a matter for the manufacturer, not the consumer, to work out.  Improper handling of these products in other ways can also result in enough bacterial growth to cause illness.

Here are the details about these 3 recalls, beginning with the largest.

ASPEN FOODS:

Aspen Foods, a division of Koch Poultry Company, a Chicago, IL business, has recalled almost 2 million pounds (1,978,680, to be exact)  of stuffed, raw, breaded chicken products as a result of  a link to a cluster of Salmonella infections.  The brands associated with this recall include the following:

• Acclaim
• Antioch Farms
• Buckley Farms
• Centrella Signature
• Chestnut Farms
• Family Favorites
• Kirkwood
• Koch Foods
• Market Day
• Oven Cravers
• Princess
• Rose
• Rosebud Farm
• Roundy’s
• Safeway Kitchens
• Schwann’s
• Shaner’s
• Spartan
• Sysco

The products subject to recall bear the establishment number “P-1358” inside the USDA mark of inspection. This product was shipped to retail stores and food service locations nationwide.

Three patients in Minnesota have been identified as having illnesses associated with Aspen Foods chicken.  The onset dates of their symptoms range from May 9, 2015 to June 8, 2015.

Consumers with questions about this recall can contact Aspen Foods directly at (844) 277-6802.

BARBER FOODS:

The initial Barber recall of 58,320 lbs. was expanded after 2 additional cases of salmonellosis were reported.  The second recall was for 1.7 million lbs.

To  view a list of the recalled products, click here.  Most of the products involved are stuffed boneless, breaded chicken breasts, such as Chicken Kiev, Cordon bleu, and Broccoli and Cheese.

The products subject to recall have the establishment number "P-276" inside the USDA mark of inspection.  These products were shipped to retail locations throughout the U.S.A. as well as to Canada.  The recall is in response to possible  Salmonella Enteritidis, a pathogen that can cause foodborne illness.  So far, from April 5-June 23, six patients in Minnesota and Wisconsin have been identified as having symptoms related to a Barber Foods product. 

Barber Foods is a Portland, Maine establishment. Consumers with questions can contact the company directly at (844) 564-5555.  Googling "Barber Foods recall" will also lead readers to many more articles about this topic.

MURRY'S, INC.  

Murry's, headquartered in Lebanon, PA, has recalled about 20,000 pounds of gluten-free, breaded, chicken-breast nuggets, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced.  The chicken nuggets tested positive for Staphylococcus bacteria,  which can cause foodborne illness.  This is the second time in less than a year that Murry's has had to recall its nuggets because of Staph contamination.

The brand name of Murry's nuggets is Bell and Evans. The "best-by" date on  these recalled  products is March 25, 2016.  Items involved in the recall have the establishment number P-516 inside the USDA inspection number. The brand is sold in most states throughout the U.S. including New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.  The contamination was discovered in Colorado. 

Staphylococcal Enterotoxin is a common bacterium that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms. including nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. Most people recover within one to three days.

Sources:

pennstatefoodsafety  "Another Company Recalls Raw Breaded Chicken Products due to Salmonella," "Breaded Chicken Nuggets Recalled Due to Presence of Staph Enterotoxin" and "Barber Foods Expands Recall of Chicken Kiev After Additional Illnesses Reported"

http://pennstatefoodsafety.blogspot.com

Martin Bucknavage, Pennsylvania State University Senior Food Safety Extension Associate and editor of PSU Food Safety News.

www.fsis.usda.gov  "Aspen Foods Recalls Stuffed Chicken Products Due To Possible Salmonella Enteritidis Contamination"

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2015/recall-101-2015-release

www.fsis.usda.gov "Barber Foods Recalls Stuffed Chicken Products Due To Possible Salmonella Enteritidis Contamination"

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2015/recall-096-2015-release

www.kirotv.com "Murry's announces another large recall of Bell & Evans chicken nuggets"

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/national/bell-evans-announces-second-large-recall-chicken-n/nmz4m/?icmp=cmgcontent_internallink_relatedcontent_2014_partners5

www.fsis.usda.gov "Murry's, Inc., Recalls Chicken Products Due to Staphylococcal Enterotoxin Contamination"

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2015/recall-100-2015-release