A food safety alert was issued by The US Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) regarding an investigation of a new salmonella outbreak. Although very little is known of the investigation thus far, the FSIS has announced that the food product at the center of the investigation seems to be chicken. No recall or exact product information has been released to the public, but consumers have been advised to stay vigilant for symptoms of salmonella and visit medical health care providers if they begin feeling ill.
The most recent update of the outbreak investigation was released by the FSIS on April 20, 2022, in which they stated that the possible food product linked to the outbreak is chicken. The number of people affected by the outbreak was also left a mystery in the announcement of the investigation. The States affected by the outbreak were also left unmentioned, as well as how many States have been affected at this time.
Due to the very limited information provided to the public at this time, many are left to wonder what they should be on the lookout for. Sadly, there is no way to distinguish a safe food product from a product contaminated with salmonella bacteria as they both look, smell, and taste the same. According to Ron Simon, a National Salmonella Lawyer, the best way to prevent becoming sick when eating chicken is to follow the CDC guidelines when preparing it, which are:
- Avoid washing raw chicken, since chicken juices can spread in the kitchen and contaminate other foods, utensils, and countertops.
- Keep raw chicken and its juices away from ready-to-eat foods, like salads or food that is already cooked.
- Use a food thermometer to make sure the chicken is cooked to a safe internal temperature of 165°F.
- Properly sanitize the area where the chicken was prepared.
People who believe they may be experiencing symptoms of salmonella are advised to be on the look for diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Normally symptoms can develop in as early as 2 hours or in some cases they can take up to 3 days from the day of exposure to the contaminated product. Mr. Simon stated:
“If you believe your salmonellosis symptoms are caused by contaminated food, contact your doctor immediately. Your doctor will help determine if clinical lab testing is necessary to confirm the diagnosis of salmonellosis, which will most likely include a stool culture, so you can begin treatment quickly and assist the health departments to prevent any further injuries. Clinical testing, to establish where you became ill with salmonellosis, usually requires a stool sample which is collected and sent to a laboratory for analysis. While most people do not know this, there are well over 1000 strains of salmonella, and even among the many strains, there are genetic differences between the same strains outbreak to outbreak.”
For more information on the Salmonella Outbreak linked to chicken, to speak to a Salmonella Lawyer, or to inquire about a Salmonella Lawsuit, call 1-888-335-4901.
