Salmonella Outbreak

The latest salmonella outbreak involving Foster Farms brand raw chicken has obviously raised concerns about food safety, with nearly 300 people in 17 states having been sickened between the months of March and September. Foster Farms has not issued any recalls of the chicken, opting instead to advise consumers on the correct way to handle raw chicken; though the Foster Farms plant in Kelso, Washington did make improvements after the outbreak, which greatly reduced the pathogen. With salmonella bacteria being commonly found in all raw commercial chicken products, this perhaps isn’t as callous a stance to take as it seems. Following the proper handling and cooking instructions on packages of raw chicken will assure that the chicken is safe to eat. But there have been concerns raised that some of the salmonella strains in this latest outbreak are showing sign of antibiotic resistance. Does that mean these are “super monster bugs” that can’t be destroyed? Food safety experts assure us that “these bugs” can be killed by cooking the chicken at a temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. But bottom line, if in doubt, throw it out.