Sofina Foods is recalling some of its Janes brand frozen uncooked breaded chicken products because of possible Salmonella contamination.
The recall was announced on October 17 by Sofina Foods and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) as the Sofina Foods products have been linked to a Salmonella enteritidis outbreak that CFIA and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) announced in late September. At the time, the agencies reported that 13 people had become ill as a result of consuming frozen raw breaded chicken products. Seven of those people were from Ontario, while two people each from Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia became ill.
However, at the time, the agencies had not named the company with which the products connected to the outbreak were affiliated.
The recalled Sofina Foods items are:
- Janes Pub Style Chicken Burgers in 800-gram packages, containing the product code 2018 MA 12
- Janes Pub Style Snacks Popcorn Chicken in 800-gram packages, containing the product code 2018 MA 15
People who may have consumed the products are being urged by CFIA to return them to the store from which they were purchased, or to dispose of them. CFIA is verifying that the recalled products are being removed from the marketplace.
On its website, Sofina Foods stated that people who have further questions regarding the recall are welcome to contact the company’s inquiry line, +1.855.763.4621.
Precautionary measures
PHAC cautions that frozen raw breaded chicken products may appear to be pre-cooked or browned, but they contain raw chicken and should be handled and prepared no differently from other raw poultry products. People preparing frozen raw breaded chicken products, such as nuggets, strips or burgers, are advised to take the following precautions to protect their health:
- Do not eat raw or undercooked frozen breaded chicken products. Cook all frozen breaded products to an internal temperature of at least 74°C (165°F) to ensure they are safe to eat.
- Microwave cooking of frozen raw breaded poultry products including chicken nuggets, strips or burgers is not recommended due to uneven heating.
- Always follow package cooking instructions, including products labelled Uncooked, Cook and Serve, Ready to Cook, and Oven Ready.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before and after handling frozen raw breaded chicken products.
- Use a separate plate, cutting board and utensils when handling frozen raw breaded chicken products to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria.
- Use a digital food thermometer to verify that frozen raw breaded chicken products have reached at least 74°C (165°F). Insert the digital food thermometer through the side of the product, all the way to the middle. Oven-safe meat thermometers that are designed for testing whole poultry and roasts during cooking are not suitable for testing nuggets, strips or burgers.
