Canada - Warning of Risk Associated with Salmonella in Undercooked Raw Breaded Chicken Product

The Canadian Government issued a warning statement on breaded raw chicken products and the risk of Salmonella due to undercooking.  Over the past 16 months, there have been hundreds of cases of Salmonella infection despite ongoing efforts on education.

The issue is that the breaded chicken appears to be fully cooked and if one had to guess, people are not using a measuring device.  The reason it looks cooked is that with breaded product, the product is only par-cooked to set the coating.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is requiring industry to implement measures at the manufacturing/processing level to reduce Salmonella to below detectable amounts in frozen raw breaded chicken products that are packaged for retail sale.
Companies have these options (document below).

Option 1 - Include as part of the manufacture of the frozen raw breaded chicken products a cook process that has been validated to achieve a 7-log reduction in Salmonella. (But still list cooking instructions to handle any Listeria concern.

Option 2 - Implement a Salmonella testing program for the raw chicken mixture to demonstrate it has no detectable Salmonella.

Option 3 - Implement a Salmonella hold-and-test program for finished frozen raw breaded chicken products.

Option 4 - Include as part of the manufacture of the frozen raw breaded chicken products, a process or combination of processes that has been validated to achieve a 2-log reduction in Salmonella and implement a Salmonella sampling program for the raw chicken mixture.

From: Public Health Agency of Canada 
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/news/2018/09/council-of-chief-medical-officers-of-health-concerned-about-the-risk-of-salmonella-illness-from-frozen-raw-breaded-chicken-products.html
Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health concerned about the risk of Salmonella illness from frozen raw breaded chicken products 
September 13, 2018 - Ottawa, ON - Government of Canada

Warning Issued for Raw Frozen Breaded Chicken Distributed by Food Pantry After Four Cases of Salmonella

Health officials in MN and WI issued warnings for frozen breaded chicken products distributed by a group that operates pop-up food pantries.  This comes after 4 people became infected with Salmonella.  The chicken is breaded, but not fully cooked.  Unfortunately, there were no cooking instructions, and as we know with frozen breaded chicken, people can assume that it is fully cooked.

Ruby's Pantry is a faith based charitable organization that distributes food in pop-up pantries in MN and WI.

CBS Minnesota
http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2018/06/01/salmonella-infections-frozen-chicken-rubys-pantry/
Salmonella Infections Linked To Ruby’s Pantry Frozen Breaded Chicken
June 1, 2018 at 2:11 pmFiled Under:Chicken, Ruby's Pantry, Salmonella

Canada - Firm Recalls Raw Chicken Nuggets Linked to Salmonella Outbreak

A Canadian firm is recalling raw chicken nuggets after the product was linked to 30 cases of Salmonella in 4 different Canadian provinces.  Product had tested positive for the strain of Salmonella.

The issue with breaded products such as this may be that they appear to be fully cooked..  People may heat them but may not be diligent in getting product to the required temperature of 165ºF (74ºC) to provide sufficient lethality. 

Products like this are often par-cooked through frying in order to set the coating, but the heating time is short, and will not provide sufficient heat to get the internal temperature to a sufficient temperature to kill pathogens such as Salmonella.   Because the product is partially cooked, it can then appear to be fully cooked.  There have been numerous recalls for these types of products because of this same reason.

MarketsInsider
http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/public-health-notice-outbreak-of-salmonella-infections-linked-to-poultry-including-frozen-raw-breaded-chicken-products-1019778225
Public Health Notice - Outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to poultry, including frozen raw breaded chicken products
PRESS RELEASE PR Newswire
Mar. 28, 2018, 08:25 PM

Salmonella Outbreak in Canada Associated with Raw Frozen Breaded Chicken

In Canada, there have been 7 cases of Salmonella linked to frozen raw breaded chicken products.

Over the past few years, we have seen Salmonella outbreaks associated with raw breaded chicken (1, 2, 3 ).  In fact, FSIS issued an alert after the the Aspen Foods Salmonella-in-breaded chicken outbreak.   As was pointed out each time, there are a few issues - 1) the product is frozen, so when the consumer begins with frozen product, they may not cook it long enough in order to achieve the proper internal temperature. Along with this, many people do not use a thermometer in order to ensure that temperature is met, and  2) breaded products often look like they are fully cooked. This is because the par-cooking that sets the breading gives it a finished cooked appearance.  

So even though companies may post cooking instructions on the package, there must be controls in place to limit, even to the point of elimination, the risk of Salmonella.  This includes controlling Salmonella in the process environment, preventing growth through tight temperature control, and par-frying it well.

National Post
http://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/7-sickened-by-salmonella-related-to-raw-frozen-breaded-chicken-in-4-provinces/wcm/b6d34f2d-8e03-4289-abac-17a8c7e84dc2
7 sickened by salmonella related to raw frozen breaded chicken in 4 provinces