Milford, Indiana-based Serenade Foods is recalling 59,251 pounds of frozen, raw, breaded and pre-browned stuffed chicken that may be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis, the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on August 10. An initial public health alert related to these product was issued on June 2.
Bearing establishment number “P- 2375” inside the USDA mark of inspection, the products of concern were shipped to distributors nationwide.
The SKUs subject to the recall, made on February 24 and February 25, 2021, include 5-oz individually plastic-wrapped packages of Kirkwood Raw Stuffed Chicken Cordon Bleu with lot code CB 1056 and a Best if Used By date of February 25, 2023.
All other items in the roundup, identified by lot code BR 1055 and a February 24, 2023 Best By date, are: 5-oz individually plastic-wrapped packages of Dutch Farms and Milford Valley Chicken with Broccoli & Cheese; 5-oz Kirkwood Raw Stuffed Chicken, Broccoli & Cheese; and 10-oz boxes containing two individually plastic-wrapped packages of Milford Valley Chicken Cordon Bleu.
FSIS has been working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and public health officials to investigate 28 Salmonella Enterididis outbreaks in eight states, with onset dates ranging from February 21 to June 28, 2021. Unopened intact packages of raw, frozen, breaded chicken stuffed with broccoli and cheese were collected from an ill person’s home and tested positive for the strain of Salmonella Enteritidis under investigation.
Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. Symptoms of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. The illness usually lasts four to seven days. Most people recover without treatment. In some persons, however, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized.
The products of concern may appear to be ready-to-eat but are in fact raw and need to be fully cooked according to the manufacturer cooking instructions on the package before consumption. The labels for these products identify cooking instructions for preparation in an oven. The products should not be prepared in the microwave or air fryer.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service advises all consumers that particular attention needs to be taken to safely prepare and cook frozen, raw poultry products to a temperature of 165° F. The only way to confirm raw poultry products are cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature.
FSIS is concerned that some product may still be stocked in home freezers. Consumers who have purchased these packs are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase for a refund.
