USDA Issues Health Alert for Some California Chickens

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a public health alert as of Monday regarding raw chicken products and linking the food to a salmonella outbreak in California.

Chicken produced by Foster Farms at three California facilities allegedly carried a strain of Salmonella, according to the Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The USDA notes that so far, 278 illnesses have been reported in 18 states, mostly occurring in California, where the problem is ongoing.  

Though health officials have yet to trace the illnesses to a specific product or production period, they note that the items will carry one of the establishment numbers: P6137, P6137A or P7632.

A statement via the organization shows that most of the chicken was distributed to retail outlets in Oregon, California and Washington. However, at this time, Foster Farms has stated that products can be consumed as long as properly prepared.

"We are committed to ensuring the safety of our products, and our family-owned company has maintained an excellent food safety record during its near 80-year history," said Foster Farms President Ron Foster in the statement.

Salmonellosis, also known as Salmonella food poisoning, is caused by the Salmonella bacterium. Yet there are many different kinds of this bacteria, including Salmonella serotype Typhimurium and Salmonella serotype Enteritidis.

Statistics show that as man as 40,000 cases of salmonellosis are reported each year in the United States alone. In humans, children and the elderly are particularly prone to infection, as well as those with impaired immune systems. And as for animals, pets can also come down with an infection.

Make sure to properly cook your poultry before ingesting. Health officials note that when heat reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit and higher, salmonella can be killed.