Costco Rotisserie Chicken Recall Issued Due to Salmonella Outbreak

Amid a nationwide salmonella outbreak linked to Foster Farms raw chicken products, a recall has been issued for nearly 40,000 pounds of rotisserie chicken sold at a Costco Store in El Camino, California.  

A Costco’s rotisserie chicken recall was announced by the U.S. Food and Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) on October 12, after epidemiologic testing determined that a strain of Salmonella Heidelberg may be present, which has been linked to a nationwide illnesses.

To date, the number of people who have suffered salmonella food poisoning due to the Costco chicken is unknown, but 317 people in 20 states have been linked to an outbreak from chicken products that is currently being investigated by health officials.

The nationwide salmonella outbreak has been linked to Foster Farms raw chicken products, which were distributed nationwide. The infections have been particularly hard to fight, as the strain involved is drug-resistant.

The Costco recall consists of 8,730 Kirkland Signature Foster Farms rotisserie chickens, as well as related products such as rotisserie chicken soup, leg quarters, and chicken salad. The affected chicken products were sold directly to customers at the Costco located at 1600 El Camino Real, South San Francisco, California between September 11, and September 23, 2013.

Salmonella infections pose serious and sometimes fatal infections among those with weakened immune systems such as children, the elderly and pregnant women. Symptoms for healthy individuals typically consist of fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In more severe cases salmonella infection may spread to the blood stream and cause arterial infections, endocarditis, and arthritis.

According to the latest update provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 42% of individuals sickened from the drug-resistent Salmonella Heidelberg infections have been hospitalized, although there have been no deaths reported. The majority of the illnesses (73%) have been reported from California.

Consumers are encouraged to discard of any remaining Costco chicken products purchased at the South San Francisco location that are subject to the recall and to always take precaution when preparing raw meats and poultry to prevent the spread of infection. Consumers with questions can call Costco at (800) 774-2678.

Photo Courtesy of goodiesfirst via Flickr Creative Commons