USDA: Poultry Plants Linked To Salmonella Outbreak To Stay Open
LIVINGSTON, Calif. – USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service FSIS announced on Thursday that Foster Farms’ three California poultry processing facilities
in Livingston and Fresno will remain open despite their link to the recent salmonella outbreak across the U.S.
Foster Farms said in a statement that the company had reached an agreement with FSIS after the company implemented
several new food safety controls over the last two months plus a commitment by Foster Farms to install added processes during an enhanced
inspection period over the next 90 days. USDA-FSIS inspectors will continue to inspect and approve the safety of Foster Farms chicken daily.
“We started this process more than two months ago and this officially validates our progress, but we are not stopping here,” said Ron Foster, president and CEO of Foster Farms. “We are putting every resource and all of our energy toward food safety with the confidence that Foster Farms plants will be the most stringent in the industry.”
The U.S. Center for Disease control reported that, as of October 7, 2013, a total of 278 persons infected with seven outbreak strains of Salmonella Heidelberg have been reported from 17 states, including Florida.
The Florida Department of Health announced on Thursday that it was notified that three additional
cases of salmonellosis in Florida residents are linked to Foster Farms chicken by DNA
fingerprinting, bringing the total to four cases in
Florida. Three cases reside in Miami-Dade
County and the fourth case was reported in Brevard
County.
“Individuals who have eaten the suspect chicken and
experience symptoms like diarrhea, fever,
and abdominal cramps should seek medical attention,
” said Dr. Anna Marie Likos, Division of
Disease Control and Health Protection Director and
State Epidemiologist. “The Department will
continue to monitor the situation and inform the public as new information becomes available.”
DOH advises consumers who believe they have been sickened by eating contaminated chicken
should contact their local health department and provide any available information about
the chicken. Consumers who have purchased any samples from the problematic plant
numbers P6137, P6137A, and P7632 should dispose of
the chicken in order to protect
themselves and their families.
Salmonlla Symptoms
According to the DOH, Salmonellosis is an infection with
Salmonella, a group of bacteria (germs) that can cause illness
in humans. Most persons infected with
Salmonella
develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal
cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection.
Salmonella
infections usually resolve in 5-7 days and
often do not require treatment other than oral fluids. Persons with severe diarrhea may require
rehydration with intravenous fluids. Antibiotics are not usually necessary unless the infection
spreads outside of the intestines.
The DOH has issued the following salmonellosis prevention tips:
•
Cook poultry, meats (including ground meats) and eggs thoroughly. Using a meat
thermometer is the only way to be sure you have cooked meat to a proper temperature.
•
If you are served undercooked meat, poultry or eggs in a restaurant, don't hesitate to
send it back to the kitchen for further cooking.
•
Wash hands, kitchen work surfaces and utensils with soap and water immediately after
they have been in contact with raw meat or poultry.
•
Use one cutting board for raw animal proteins and
another for other foods to avoid
cross-contamination.
•
Be particularly careful with foods prepared for infants, elderly, and immunocompromised.
•
Do not work with raw poultry or meat and handle an
infant (e.g., feed, change diaper) at
the same time.
