State health and agriculture officials linked the illnesses to Antioch Farms brand A La Kiev raw, frozen, breaded and pre-browned, stuffed chicken entrées. Investigators found that six cases ofSalmonellainfection from August to September were caused by SalmonellaEnteritidis. One individual was hospitalized. The agency has not ordered a recall.
"Our DNA fingerprinting found that the individuals were sickened by the same strain ofSalmonella," said Dr. Carlota Medus, epidemiologist for the Foodborne Diseases Unit at MDH. "The Minnesota Department of Agriculture collected samples of the same type of product from grocery stores and the outbreak strain ofSalmonellawas found in packages of this product."
MDH noted there have six outbreaks of salmonellosis in Minnesota linked to raw, frozen chicken entrées from 1998 through 2008. The incidents prompted changes in the product labels, which clearly state that the product is raw.
MDH said approximately 700 cases of salmonellosis are reported each year in Minnesota.
