Sunday, December 23, 2018

Canadians sickened by U.S. turkey

A Minnesota-based poultry producer is recalling more than 164,000 pounds of raw ground turkey products that may be contaminated with salmonella.
The salmonella is the same strain that sickened Canadians beginning as early as April, 2017.
According to U.S. sources, one Canadian has died and the Public Health Agency of Canada has identified 22 Canadians who have been sickened after eating the turkey. They are from four provinces. Half of them were sickened in November.
Yet there is no recall posted on the website for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, nor have there been any Canadian news stories.
The Jennie-O Turkey Store products have markings saying to use or freeze by Nov. 12 or 13. 
The recall includes plain ground turkey and turkey with taco or Italian seasonings.
In the U.S., the products were shipped to Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin.
Food safety officials are worried that some contaminated turkey may be in people’s freezers. The recalled products have the tag P-579 marked on the lower left corner of the front of the package .
The U.S.D.A. says the recall was part of an investigation into a November salmonella outbreak that involved 216 patients in 38 states.
Too bad Canadians have to consult CNN to learn about the risks in the turkey we buy.