CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Recall: Salmonella-infected chicken possibly sold at Whatcom County grocery stores

Bellingham Herald (WA) - 7/24/2014

July 23--A U.S. Department of Agriculture recall notice said chicken contaminated with salmonella may have been sold at some Whatcom County grocery stores earlier this year.

A nationwide recall was issued this month after the USDA linked a major outbreak of salmonella Heidelberg to boneless, skinless chicken breasts packaged by California-based Foster Farms.

The fresh and frozen chicken was made from March 7 to 13 under Foster Farms, Sunland and store-brand labels. It shouldn't be on the shelves anymore. But it might be in customers' freezers.

As of this week, the USDA named four Whatcom County grocery stores as affected. However, Jeff Roos, meat and seafood director for The Markets LLC that owns all those stores, said he has verified with both Foster Farms and the stores' distributor that those stores never sold the affected chicken.

However, other stores may have sold contaminated chicken.

Recalled fresh chicken -- which would need to be frozen by now -- would have a "use or freeze by" date from March 16 to March 31, 2014. On frozen chicken, check for expiration dates from March 7, 2015, to March 11, 2015, and Aug. 29, 2015, to Sept. 2, 2015.

If you suspect your chicken might be contaminated, the USDA advises to throw it away.

Salmonella can cause cramps, diarrhea and fever. It's a serious concern for infants, the elderly and people with weak immune systems; most other people recover without treatment.

For the full list of affected grocery stores, click here.

This story was updated July 23 with information from The Markets LLC.

___

(c)2014 The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.)

Visit The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.) at www.bellinghamherald.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services