FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Empire Kosher Poultry, Inc. Raw Chicken Products due to Possible Salmonella Contamination

Recall date

August 24, 2018

Source

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA FSIS)

Recall number

PHA-08242018-01

FDA classification

Public Health Alert

Why it was recalled

Product Contamination

What was recalled

EDITOR'S NOTE: This release was updated on August 29, 2018 to provide updated illness outbreak information. WASHINGTON, August 24, 2018 The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and Empire Kosher Poultry, Inc. are issuing a public health alert out of an abundance of caution due to concerns about Salmonella illnesses reported in the northeastern and mid-Atlantic United States that may be associated with raw chicken products. The Empire Kosher brand raw chicken items, which may include raw whole chicken, raw chicken parts, were produced and sold to consumers from September 2017 to June 2018. On June 18, 2018, FSIS was notified of multiple Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:- illnesses within the northeastern and mid-Atlantic United States. Working in conjunction with public health partners, FSIS determined that there is a link between Empire Kosher brand raw chicken products and this illness cluster. Based on available epidemiological information, 17 case-patients have been identified in 4 northeastern and mid-Atlantic United States, many of whom reported consumption of Empire Kosher brand chicken products. Approximately half of affected case-patients have been hospitalized due to illness with illness onset dates ranging from September 2017 to June 2018. Additional information may be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/chicken-08-18/index.html . FSIS continues to work with the company and public health partners and will provide updated information should it become available. Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. The most common symptoms of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating the contaminated product. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. Most people recover without treatment. In some persons, however, the diarrhea may be so severe that the…