2015 Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Raw, Frozen, Stuffed Chicken Entrees Produced by Aspen Foods

Final Case Count Update

A total of five people infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Enteritidis were reported from Minnesota.

Illness onset dates ranged from May 9, 2015 to July 22, 2015. Ill people ranged in age from 14 years to 68, with a median age of 30, and 60% were male. Two (40%) were hospitalized, and no deaths were reported.

Investigation Update

On October 2, 2015, Aspen Foods issued an expanded recall of approximately 561,000 pounds of frozen, raw, stuffed and breaded chicken products that appear to be ready-to-eat and may be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis.

The frozen, raw, stuffed, and breaded chicken products were produced between August 25, 2015 and September 17, 2015 with “best if used by” dates of August 23, 2016 to December 15, 2016. The products subject to recall bear the establishment number “P-1358” inside the USDA mark of inspection, and were shipped to retail stores and food service locations nationwide. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to eat them or any previously recalled products.

Case Count Update

Since the last case count update on July 13, 2015, two more ill people were reported from Minnesota, bringing the total to five. Those two illnesses occurred in July, and were identified as a result of product testing.

Illness onset dates range from May 9, 2015 to July 22, 2015. Ill people range in age from 14 years to 68, with a median age of 30, and 60% are male. Two (40%) people were hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.

Investigation Update

The Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) collected 30 samples of unopened Antioch Farms brand frozen chicken entrees produced by Aspen Foods from retail locations for laboratory testing. MDA isolated Salmonella from 25 of these samples. A review of the PulseNet database was conducted to identify any illnesses from strains of Salmonella isolated from these food samples. Whole genome sequencing determined that two Salmonella Enteritidis isolates from people in Minnesota were closely related genetically to one another and to an isolate from a food sample. During interviews, both ill people reported consuming Antioch Farms brand raw, frozen, stuffed and breaded chicken entrees produced by Aspen Foods in the week before their illness began. As a result of these findings, both ill people were added to the total case count for this outbreak.

The National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) is a U.S. public health surveillance system that tracks antibiotic resistance in foodborne and other enteric bacteria found in people, raw meat and poultry, and food-producing animals. NARMS is a partnership among the CDC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and state and local health departments.

The NARMS human surveillance program at CDC monitors antibiotic resistance in Salmonella and other bacteria isolated from clinical specimens submitted to NARMS by public health laboratories. CDC’s NARMS laboratory conducted antibiotic resistance testing on clinical isolates collected from three ill people infected with the outbreak strains. Of the three isolates tested, all (100%) were susceptible to all antibiotics tested on the NARMS panel.

Investigation Update

As part of the ongoing investigation, on September 17, 2015, USDA-FSIS reported that recently produced frozen, raw, stuffed and breaded chicken products produced by Aspen Foods have been confirmed as having the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis. USDA-FSIS reports that it cannot have confidence in the safety of any of these products produced after July 30, 2015. Products bear the establishment number “P-1358” on the packaging and have “best if used by” dates between October 29, 2016 and December 16, 2016. These dates were calculated by USDA-FSIS using production dates and the 15-month shelf life of the products. Consumers who have purchased these products produced by Aspen Foods are urged not to eat them, in addition to any previously recalled products.

Investigation Update

CDC, several states, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) are currently investigating two separate outbreaks of Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to raw, frozen, stuffed chicken entrees. The two outbreaks are caused by different strains of Salmonella Enteritidis. The likely source for the two outbreaks is different.

Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback information indicate that raw, frozen, stuffed, and breaded chicken entrees produced by Aspen Foods are the likely source of this outbreak. A Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Department of Agriculture (MDA) investigation found that the three illnesses in Minnesota occurred after people had eaten Antioch Farms brand cordon bleu stuffed chicken breast, which is produced by Aspen Foods.

MDH and MDA collected 30 samples of unopened Antioch Farms brand frozen chicken entrees produced by Aspen Foods from retail locations for laboratory testing. MDA isolated Salmonella from 25 of these samples. In addition, MDH and MDA collected one sample of unopened Antioch Farms brand chicken broccoli and cheese from an ill person’s home for laboratory testing, and isolated Salmonella from this sample. Laboratory testing is ongoing.

On July 15, 2015, Aspen Foods recalled approximately 1.9 million pounds of frozen, raw, stuffed and breaded chicken products that may be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis. The recall included products sold under many different brand names, including Antioch Farms, and were shipped to retail stores and food service locations nationwide. The chicken products were produced between April 15, 2015 and July 10, 2015. The products subject to recall bear the establishment number “P-1358” on the packaging.

CDC and state and local public health partners are continuing laboratory surveillance through PulseNet to identify additional ill people and to interview them. Updates will be provided when more information is available.

At this time, this outbreak has not been connected with an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to raw, frozen, stuffed chicken entrees produced by Barber Foods. For the latest information about that outbreak investigation, please visit the outbreak webpage.

Case Count Update

Outbreak 1

Since the last update on July 8, 2015, two more ill people have been reported from Minnesota and Wisconsin. A total of six people infected with a strain of Salmonella Enteritidis have been reported from Minnesota (5) and Wisconsin (1). Illness onset dates range from April 5, 2015 to June 23, 2015. Two people were hospitalized.

Outbreak 2

No new illnesses have been identified since the last update on July 8, 2015. The Minnesota Department of Health identified three people infected with a different strain of Salmonella Enteritidis with illness onset dates ranging from May 9, 2015 to June 8, 2015. Two people were hospitalized.

Investigation Update

On July 12, 2015, Barber Foods expanded its recall to include 1.7 million pounds of frozen, raw stuffed chicken products that may be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis. The recall included Chicken Kiev as well as other types of frozen chicken products. The chicken products were produced between February 17, 2015 and May 20, 2015. The products subject to recall bear the establishment number “P-276” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were shipped to retail locations nationwide and Canada and sold under many different brand names. A list of recalled products is available. This recall expanded the initial Barber Foods recall of Chicken Kiev on July 2, 2015 and resulted from investigation of the first outbreak.

CDC and state and local public health partners are continuing laboratory surveillance through PulseNet to identify additional ill people and to interview them. Updates will be provided when more information is available.

July 8, 2015

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), along with CDC and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS), are investigating two outbreaks of Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to raw, frozen, breaded and pre-browned stuffed chicken entrees.

Public health investigators are using the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that may be part of these outbreaks. PulseNet is the national subtyping network of public health and food regulatory agency laboratories coordinated by CDC. DNA “fingerprinting” is performed on Salmonella bacteria isolated from ill people by using a technique called pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, or PFGE. PulseNet manages a national database of these DNA “fingerprints” to identify possible outbreaks. Two DNA “fingerprints” (outbreak strains) are included in these outbreak investigations. The two strains represent the most common Salmonella Enteritidis strains in the PulseNet database. Because the two strains are so common, most of the illnesses identified as having matching PFGE patterns may not be related to this outbreak. Investigators are using additional laboratory methods, including whole genome sequencing, to help clarify which illnesses may be related to these outbreaks.

Investigation of the Outbreaks

In the first outbreak, MDH identified four people infected with a strain of Salmonella Enteritidis with illness onset dates ranging from April 5, 2015 to June 8, 2015. Two people were hospitalized. Epidemiologic and traceback evidence linked these illnesses to eating Barber Foods brand Chicken Kiev raw stuffed chicken breast. This investigation is ongoing.

In the second outbreak, MDH identified three people infected with a different strain of Salmonella Enteritidis with illness onset dates ranging from May 9, 2015 to June 8, 2015. Two people were hospitalized. The MDH and MDA investigation found that illnesses occurred after the people had eaten Antioch Farms brand Cordon Bleu raw stuffed chicken breast. This investigation is also ongoing.

On July 1, 2015, USDA-FSIS issued a public health alert due to concerns about illnesses caused by Salmonella that may be associated with raw, frozen, breaded and pre-browned, stuffed chicken products. In the alert, USDA-FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare and cook these products to a temperature of 165°F.

As a result of the first outbreak investigation, on July 2, 2015, Barber Foods recalled approximately 58,320 pounds of Chicken Kiev because it may be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis. The product subject to recall includes a 2 lb.-4 oz. box containing six individually pouched pieces of “Barber Foods Premium Entrees Breaded-Boneless Raw Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Rib Meat Kiev” with use by/sell by dates of April 28, 2016, May 20, 2016, and July 21, 2016. The product was available for purchase at Sam’s Club retail stores in Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Illnesses in other states linked to either outbreak have not been identified but the investigation is ongoing. CDC and state and local public health partners are continuing laboratory surveillance through PulseNet to identify additional ill people and to interview them. Updates will be provided when more information is available.