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32 Salmonella Cases Linked to Improper
Cooking of Frozen Entrees Date
Published: Monday, October 6th, 2008 Source of Article: http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/3949 The United States Department of Agriculture’s
(USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) recently issued a statement
alerting consumers about the link between 32 cases of salmonella
illnesses in 12 states and consuming products such as chicken cordon blue and
chicken breast The problem seems to be that those who fell ill
did not follow the label’s cooking directions. Apparently, the raw,
frozen, breaded, and pre-browned, stuffed chicken entrees appear to be
precooked and only require that the entrees be microwaved
before consumption; however, cooking the food in the microwave may not be
sufficient to kill the bacteria. According to the FSIS,
“It is especially important to use a food thermometer to check the internal
temperature of these chicken products such that all points of measurement are
at least 165° F.” The FSIS said the chicken entrees in questions may be
labeled “chicken cordon bleu”; “chicken FSIS is advising consumers to follow the cooking
instruction on the packaging and general food safety guidelines when handling
and preparing raw meat or chicken to prevent salmonella poisoning and other
illnesses. Salmonellosis is an
infection with a bacterium Salmonella and is usually found in food
contaminated with animal feces; it is a group of bacteria that passes from
the feces of people or animals to other people or animals. Salmonella
poisoning can occur when food is improperly stored or handled and when
preparers do not wash their hands or sanitize implements involved in meat
storage. Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in
young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune
systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience
fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain
and cramping within 12 to 72 hours of infection. Generally, the illness
lasts a week. In some, hospitalization is required because the
infection may have spread from the intestines to the blood stream and other
body sites. Without treatment, severe cases of Salmonella can result in
death; however, some Salmonella bacteria are resistant to antibiotics, Salmonella contaminations have been the subject
of a number of news reports in recent months, including the massive
salmonella outbreak that was originally linked tomatoes and later found to
have originated from Mexican peppers. Salmonella was also the culprit
in the Malt-O-Meal; Alamosa water; dry dog food; Casa Fiesta; and the most
recent, Texas IHOP contaminations. Salmonella poisoning can lead to Reiter’s Syndrome,
a difficult-to-treat reactive arthritis characterized by severe joint pain,
irritation of the eyes and painful urination. A victim of Reiter’s
Syndrome may have already been treated for the initial infection, and it can
be weeks before the symptoms of Reiter’s Syndrome become apparent.
Reiter’s Syndrome, which can plague its victims for months or years, is said
to occur when reactive arthritis is evident and at least one other non-joint
area, such as the eyes, skin or muscles, is affected. |
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