BANGOR, Maine — Barber Foods of Portland is recalling about 58,320 pounds of frozen, raw stuffed chicken product that may be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced Thursday.
The chicken Kiev product was produced on Jan. 29, Feb. 20 and April 23, the inspection service said.
The recall applies to 2-pound 4-ounce cardboard boxes 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, May 20 and July 21 with Lot Code numbers 0950292102, 0950512101 and 0951132202.
The product subject to recall bears the establishment number “P-276” inside the USDA mark of inspection. This product was shipped to Sam’s Club retail stores in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin, according to the inspection service.
The product has not been available for retail sales since June 26, but the inspection service suspects that some consumers may have this item in their freezers.
FSIS was notified of a cluster of Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses on June 24. Working with Minnesota State Departments of Health and Agriculture, the inspection service determined that there is a link between the chicken Kiev product from Barber Foods and this illness cluster.
Based on epidemiological evidence and traceback investigations, four patients have been identified in Minnesota with illness onset dates ranging from April 5 to June 8 that link to the specific Barber Foods product.
“Barber Foods takes every step possible to ensure our chicken is safe through sourcing, processing and handling. Please refer to the validated cooking instructions printed on all Barber Foods raw chicken product packaging to ensure food safety,” the company posted on its website.