Breaded chicken products are poisoning some Canadians with salmonella
bacteria.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, there are seven cases
of Salmonella illness in four provinces – one each in Ontario,
British Columbia and New Brunswick and four in Alberta.
Two people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
Individuals became sick between April and May of this year. Seventy per
cent of the sick people are male and the average age is 26, says the agency.
But it’s not saying whose products are suspected of causing the
illnesses, although it does say they are breaded chicken.
They are advising the public to thoroughly cook breaded chicken products
since the chicken inside could be contaminated.
Food safety communications expert Dr. Doug Powell writes that the agency
misses the point that there could be cross contamination in kitchens before the
products are cooked.
He also blasts the agency for failing to identify the company and
products involved and for taking more than a month to publish its caution to
the public.
