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By Lindsey Klingele on 10/6/2008
Source of Article:
www.meatingplace.com
USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service late Friday
issued a public health alert due to concerns about illness caused by
salmonella that may be associated with raw, frozen, breaded and
pre-browned, stuffed chicken entrees.
The agency issued the public health alert after an investigation and
testing conducted by the Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota
Department of Agriculture determined an association between products such
as chicken cordon blue and chicken breast kiev
and 32 illnesses in Minnesota and 11 other states. The illnesses were
linked through the epidemiological investigation by their PFGE pattern, or
DNA fingerprint.
Although many of these stuffed chicken entrees were labeled with
instructions identifying the product was uncooked and did not include
microwave instruction for preparation, individuals who became ill did not
follow the cooking instructions and reportedly used a microwave to prepare
the product.
FSIS is reminding consumers of the critical importance of following package
cooking instructions for frozen, stuffed raw chicken products and general
food safety guidelines when handling and preparing any raw meat or poultry,
such as use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of these
chicken products such that all points of measurement are at least 165° F.
Frozen, raw, breaded and pre-browned stuffed chicken products covered by
this alert and similar products, may be stuffed or filled, breaded or
browned and therefore appear to be cooked. These items may be labeled
"chicken cordon bleu," "chicken kiev" or
chicken breast stuffed with cheese, vegetables or other items.
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