Tyson Foods recalls uncooked chicken products in US

US-based multinational organisation Tyson Foods has begun recalling a batch of uncooked mechanically separated chicken that may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The 40lb cases that are being recalled contain four 10lb packs of chicken. The tainted products were produced on 11 October 2013 and shipped for use in prisons across the country; however, they were not available for consumer purchase in retail stores or restaurants.

On 12 December 2013, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) was notified of a cluster of Salmonella illnesses in a Tennessee correctional facility. Tests conducted by the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) revealed that a sample of the product contained Salmonella Heidelberg bacteria.

The tainted products feature establishment number ‘P-13556’ inside the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) mark of inspection. The case code is 2843SDL1412 – 18.

Further investigations by the agency, in conjunction with the TDH, revealed that seven case-patients at the facility were identified with illnesses, with two of them being hospitalised.

FSIS stated that it will continue to work with the TDH on this investigation and will provide information as soon as it becomes available.