On-Going Salmonella Outbreak in Foster Farms Chicken Finally Leads to Food Recall

After more than a year of consumers and food safety advocates pressuring Foster Farms, the poultry manufacturer has finally issued a food recall for some of its chicken products due to a salmonella outbreak, at least one case has directly linked to one case of salmonella poisoning.

Cases of salmonella illness and injury have cropped up since 2013, and have been traced back to Foster Farms’ practices related to poultry production and sanitation. However, according to USDA regulations, a certain amount of salmonella is acceptable in chicken, because of how chickens are raised and processed, and because the disease can be killed when chicken is thoroughly cooked. The food safety regulator could not mandate a food recall for Foster Farms’ products. Instead, the company could choose to issue a voluntary food recall, which it has finally done after one confirmed case of salmonella directly linked to consuming the company’s chicken.

On Thursday, July 3rd, the USDA announced that Foster Farms had issued a voluntary food recall for 170 different chicken products that came out of its Fresno, CA facility in March, and had a “use or freeze by” date from March 21st to March 29th. The products were distributed to California, Hawaii, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Oregon and Alaska.

The chicken products under the food recall include include drumsticks, thighs, chicken tenders and livers. While most of the recalled products were sold under Foster Farms, some of them could be sold under other product names including FoodMaxx, Kroger, Safeway, Savemart, Valbest and Sunland.

Foster Farms stated that no current chicken products for sale were included in the food recall.

“Our first concern is always the health and safety of the people who enjoy our products, and we stand committed to doing our part to enhance the safety of our nation’s food supply,” Foster Farms said in a statement.

Foster Farms says that they instigated the food recall because of a single case of salmonella directly related to a single chicken product. However, the CDC has tracked the year-long salmonella outbreak and says that at least 574 people from 27 states and Puerto Rico have contracted salmonella and become ill.

Foster Farms has been linked to two previous salmonella outbreaks as well, in 2004 and 2012.

Although the USDA does not have the authority to force a food recall in cases of salmonella, USDA documentation from inspectors states that Foster Farms has a record over the last year of poorly-maintained facilities. Last October, USDA inspectors noted “fecal material on carcasses,” “poor sanitary dressing practices, insanitary food contact surfaces, insanitary nonfood contact surfaces and direct product contamination.”

Foster Farms stated that, since May, the company has cracked down on these problems and now more tightly screens birds, works to improve safety on farms where the company purchases chickens, and practices better sanitation at their processing plants, including better antibacterial sprays to help prevent the spread of some antibacterial-resistant strains of salmonella.

Food Recall and Defective Product Lawyers at the Strom Law Firm

Many manufacturers do their best to produce high-quality food, medical, and recreational equipment. However, some companies do not pay close enough attention to the manufacturing process and release products on the market that cause great personal injury. While the FDA and USDA issue product and food recalls on a regular basis, they cannot prevent in food-borne outbreaks such as listeria, e. Coli, and salmonella. It is important to hold manufacturers to a higher standard, and a defective products lawyer can help when a food recall has not been issued in time. The Columbia, South Carolina-based attorneys at the Strom Law Firm are licensed to practice in South Carolina, Georgia, and New York, to help you with your personal injury or food poisoning claim. We offer free consultations to discuss the facts of your case, so contact us today for help. 803.252.4800.