Karen Ross on Salmonella in Poultry
We share the concerns over the recent reports of
salmonella illness connected to poultry and wish to convey our empathy for the
people who have contracted illness and their families.
Food safety is a primary concern of California food
producers and for California government as it works with food producers to
provide a wholesome, nutritious and safe food supply for all people. All of
agriculture and the food-supply chain have a responsibility to protect people
from food-borne illness, and I am determined to do all I can as secretary to
accomplish that to the best of our ability. The key is a commitment to
continual improvement. We have that in California.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH), which
has jurisdiction over food recalls, has not requested Foster Farms to
recall chickens because, with proper handling and preparation, CDPH says the product is safe for
consumption. A key message for consumers is that they should follow
safe food-handling practices with raw poultry, as it is a raw animal protein
that is expected to have some level of naturally-occurring bacteria present. It
is important to understand that cooking chicken fully to 165 degrees Fahrenheit
will kill the bacteria that are present. According to Dr. Ron Chapman, director
of CDPH, chicken is safe to consume as long as consumers follow that guideline
and do not cross-contaminate fully cooked chicken with raw chicken juices.
The illnesses being investigated by CDPH, the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention and the USDA have been detected over a seven-month
period. These agencies are working with Foster Farms to ensure proper
manufacturing processes, and to ensure proper interventions are in place to
reduce the presence of naturally-occurring bacteria. Additionally, Foster Farms
is continually working to implement improved processes to reduce the presence
of bacteria.
Labels: Foster Farms and Salmonella, Handle Poultry With Care To Reduce Illness, Karen Ross on Salmonella in Poultry
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH), which
has jurisdiction over food recalls, has not requested Foster Farms to
recall chickens because, with proper handling and preparation, CDPH says the product is safe for
consumption. A key message for consumers is that they should follow
safe food-handling practices with raw poultry, as it is a raw animal protein
that is expected to have some level of naturally-occurring bacteria present. It
is important to understand that cooking chicken fully to 165 degrees Fahrenheit
will kill the bacteria that are present. According to Dr. Ron Chapman, director
of CDPH, chicken is safe to consume as long as consumers follow that guideline
and do not cross-contaminate fully cooked chicken with raw chicken juices.