Aspen Foods Recalls Nearly 2M Pounds of Chicken; Second Significant Poultry Recall This Week

A second significant recall involving chicken is in the news this week, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture announcing that Aspen Foods of Illinois is recalling nearly 2 million pounds of frozen, raw, stuffed and breaded chicken products that may be contaminated with Salmonella. The news comes days after Maine-based Barber Foods announced a recall of 1.7 million pounds of frozen chicken over similar concerns.

According to a news release from the USDA announcing the Aspen Foods recall:

The frozen, raw, stuffed and breaded chicken items were produced between April 15, 2015 and July 10, 2015 with “best if used by” dates between July 14, 2016 and October 10, 2016. The brands associated with this recall include:

 

◦Acclaim
◦Antioch Farms
◦Buckley Farms
◦Centrella Signature
◦Chestnut Farms
◦Family Favorites
◦Kirkwood
◦Koch Foods
◦Market Day
◦Oven Cravers
◦Rose
◦Rosebud Farm
◦Roundy’s
◦Safeway Kitchens
◦Schwan’s
◦Shaner’s
◦Spartan
◦Sysco

 

The product subject to recall bears the establishment number “P-1358” inside the USDA mark of inspection. This product was shipped to retail stores and food service locations nationwide.

According to a report on the Aspen Foods recall from The Associated Press:

The federal agency announced the recall Thursday, saying in a news release that it determined there was a link between the products and three people in Minnesota getting infected with salmonella. The agency says the products are stuffed and breaded and may appear cooked, but they are raw.

 

The products were shipped nationwide and have the establishment number "P-1358" in the USDA inspection mark. Brands associated with the recall include Kirkwood, Roundy's, Safeway Kitchens and Spartan.

The Aspen Foods recall comes days after Maine-based Barber Foods announced it was recalling 1.7 million pounds of frozen chicken products due to salmonalla contamination concerns.

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According to a report from the Portland (Maine) Press Herald on the Barber Foods recall:

The USDA categorized it as a Class I recall, the most serious type, with a “reasonable probability” that eating the food would cause serious health problems.

 

The USDA produces a report of all food safety recalls each year. Last year, there were 63 Class I recalls – four involving potential salmonella contamination. Of the 63, only three were larger than 1.7 million pounds.

 

Monday’s action was an expansion of a limited recall of about 58,000 pounds of frozen, raw chicken on July 2 that was prompted by a cluster of six illnesses in Minnesota and Wisconsin, the USDA said.