Explicit Cooking Instructions Needed to Prevent Foodborne Illness

Health officials warn of salmonellosis outbreak linked to frozen chicken entrees. Consumers may not realize the chicken is raw and fail to adequately cook the chicken. Microwave instructions on packaging may not allow for adequate cooking time.

Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) July 23, 2006 -- Health officials have linked two recent Minnesota salmonellosis outbreaks to frozen, single-serving, chicken entrees. These products have been sold under various labels and are characterized as pre-browned, microwavable, and stuffed or filled. Although the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a limited recall of such chicken entrees on March 10 of this year, people continue to become ill after consuming these products. One Minnesota outbreak has sickened 26 people; the other, 3 people. At least 34 people from other states have also fallen ill.

According to state and federal health officials, the pre-browned breading on the raw chicken entrees may lead consumers to believe the chicken is precooked. Health officials also believe microwave cooking instructions on some of the packages do not allow time for the chicken to fully cook. Minnesota officials have asked the USDA to consider requiring more prominent labeling regarding the raw nature of individually wrapped, breaded, raw, chicken products.

“Salmonella is a well known risk to the food industry. This latest outbreak underscores the need for explicit cooking directions on packaging and the industry’s responsibility to provide such directions,” commented attorney Fred Pritzker.

Fred Pritzker is president and founder of Pritzker | Ruohonen & Associates, P.A., a leading food safety law firm that represents food poisoning victims nationwide. Pritzker | Ruohonen successfully represented several E. coli 0157:H7 victims in the 2000 outbreak involving hamburger purchased at Minnesota Cub Food Stores and is lead counsel for victims of the 2002 Northeast United States listeriosis outbreak that killed 12 people and injured more than 50 others. The firm has collected millions of dollars on behalf of victims of salmonellosis and other foodborne illnesses. Pritzker | Ruohonen has offices in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The firm can be contacted toll-free at 1-888-377-8900. For more information on Salmonella and other foodborne illnesses, please see the firm Web site, http://www.pritzkerlaw.com.

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