Iowa Retailer Recalls Chicken Salad After Reported Cases of Salmonella Infection

An Iowa retailer is recalling chicken salad after the product was linked to several cases of Salmonella infection.  The chicken salad was produced by a third party establishment.

Iowa Department of Public Health News Release

https://idph.iowa.gov/News/ArtMID/646/ArticleID/158205/Consumer-Advisory-Issued-for-Chicken-Salad-Purchased-at-Fareway-21318

Consumer Advisory Issued for Chicken Salad Purchased at Fareway (2/13/18)

Author: Polly Carver-Kimm/

Tuesday, February 13, 2018/

Categories: Infectious Disease Prevention

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) today jointly issued a consumer advisory for chicken salad sold at Fareway stores. The chicken salad, which is produced and packaged by a third party for Fareway, is implicated in multiple cases of salmonella illness across Iowa. Preliminary test results from the State Hygienic Laboratory (SHL) at the University of Iowa indicate the presence of salmonella in this product.

Fareway voluntarily stopped the sale of the product and pulled the chicken salad from its shelves after being contacted by DIA. “The company has been very cooperative and is working with IDPH and DIA in the investigation of the reported illnesses,” said DIA Food and Consumer Safety Bureau Chief Steven Mandernach, who noted that no chicken salad has been sold to the consuming public since last Friday evening (2/9/18). 

IDPH is investigating multiple cases of possible illness associated with the chicken salad. “The bottom line is that no one should eat this product,” said IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. “If you have it in your refrigerator, you should throw it away.”

Salmonella infection is a common bacterial disease that can cause illness and rarely, it can be severe. Usually, people who get salmonella infection develop symptoms within 12 to 36 hours after ingesting the bacteria, but symptoms can appear as early as six hours and as late as three days after ingestion.

Consumers who have purchased chicken salad from Fareway should throw it out and not return the product to the store. 

USDA Public Health Alert
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/newsroom/news-releases-statements-transcripts/news-release-archives-by-year/archive/2018/nr-02142018-07
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert For Poultry Products due to Possible Salmonella Contamination

Congressional and Public Affairs
Benjamin A. Bell (202) 720-9113
Press@fsis.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2018 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert out of an abundance of caution due to concerns about illnesses reported in the state of Iowa that may be caused by Salmonella associated with a chicken salad product. This product was sold at all Fareway grocery stores in Iowa, as well as Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota.

The chicken salad item for this public health alert was produced between Dec. 15, 2017 and Feb. 13, 2018. The following product is subject to the public health alert:

• Varying weights of “Fareway Chicken Salad” sold in plastic deli containers with a Fareway store deli label.

This product was shipped to all Fareway grocery stores in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota and sold directly to consumers who shopped at Fareway. The problem was discovered following reports of illness in Iowa.
On Feb. 9, 2018, the Iowa Department of Public Health notified FSIS of an investigation of Salmonella related illnesses, within the state of Iowa. FSIS continues to work with public health partners at the Iowa Department of Public Health and Department of Inspections and Appeals on this investigation. Updated information will be provided as it becomes available.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

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 patient needs to be hospitalized. Older adults, infants, and persons with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop a severe illness. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact their health care provider.

The Courier

http://wcfcourier.com/news/local/fareway-chicken-salad-recalled-for-salmonella-contamination/article_19011770-3246-5a9b-b4fa-207cb19f0439.html
Fareway chicken salad recalled for salmonella contamination
Feb 13, 2018 Updated 11 hrs ago
DES MOINES — If you bought chicken salad at Fareway, the state is advising you to throw it out.

The Iowa Department of Public Health and the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals Tuesday jointly issued a consumer advisory for chicken salad sold at Fareway stores.

The chicken salad, produced and packaged by a third party for Fareway, is implicated in multiple cases of salmonella illness across Iowa. Preliminary test results from the State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa indicate the presence of salmonella in this product.

Fareway voluntarily stopped the sale of the product and pulled the chicken salad from its shelves after being contacted by DIA.

“The company has been very cooperative and is working with IDPH and DIA in the investigation of the reported illnesses,” said DIA Food and Consumer Safety Bureau Chief Steven Mandernach, who noted no chicken salad has been sold since Feb. 9. IDPH is investigating multiple cases of possible illness associated with the chicken salad.

“The bottom line is that no one should eat this product,” said IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. “If you have it in your refrigerator, you should throw it away.”

Salmonella infection is a common bacterial disease that can cause illness, and rarely it can be severe. Symptoms usually develop within 12 to 36 hours after ingesting the bacteria but can appear as early as six hours and as late as three days after ingestion.

Symptoms of salmonella infection generally last four to seven days and include diarrhea, headache, fever, nausea, abdominal pain, dehydration, vomiting, muscle pains and bloody stools.

Most people get better without treatment, but in some cases, the diarrhea associated with a salmonella infection can cause dehydration, which can sometimes result in hospitalization.