The Recall Desk
Agency classPublic Health AlertOur severity:SevereUSDA FSIS·PHA-08242018-01·Announced 2018-08-24

USDA Issues Public Health Alert for Empire Kosher Raw Chicken Due to Salmonella

USDA FSIS issued a public health alert for Empire Kosher raw chicken products sold from September 2017 to June 2018 due to a link with a Salmonella outbreak.

The agency’s classification

USDA FSIS: Public Health Alert

Public Health Alert is a warning FSIS issues when there is a food-safety concern but a recall is not requested, typically because the affected product is no longer available for purchase.

This is the agency’s own classification, taken from its notice. The severity score below is our assessment, not the agency’s. How recall classes work

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a high-risk pathogen (Salmonella) with reported hospitalizations, meeting the criteria for a Severe rating (Score 4) under the rubric for significant injury reports.

Plain-English summary

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and Empire Kosher Poultry, Inc. issued a public health alert for raw chicken products, including whole chickens and parts, produced and sold between September 2017 and June 2018. The alert was issued due to concerns about Salmonella illnesses reported in the northeastern and mid-Atlantic United States that may be associated with these products.

FSIS was notified on June 18, 2018, of multiple Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:- illnesses in the region. Working with public health partners, FSIS determined a link between Empire Kosher brand raw chicken products and this illness cluster. Based on available epidemiological information, 17 case-patients have been identified in four northeastern and mid-Atlantic states, many of whom reported consuming Empire Kosher brand chicken products. Approximately half of these affected case-patients were hospitalized, with illness onset dates ranging from September 2017 to June 2018.

Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, a common bacterial foodborne illness. Symptoms typically include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating the contaminated product. While most people recover without treatment, the illness can be severe for older adults, infants, and persons with weakened immune systems, potentially requiring hospitalization.

FSIS advises consumers to safely prepare raw meat products by cooking chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F, verified with a food thermometer. Consumers should also take precautions to prevent cross-contamination, such as washing hands, counter tops, and sinks with hot, soapy water after handling raw poultry. Consumers with questions can contact an Empire Kosher Specialist at 1-877-627-2803 or the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854.

The recalled product

Product
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Empire Kosher Poultry, Inc. Raw Chicken Products due to Possible Salmonella Contamination
Category
Food — Raw Poultry
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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