The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has announced a recall by Maple Leaf Foods Inc., based in Mississauge, Ontario, Canada of specific A & W brand chicken breast products due to undercooking. Consuming undercooked chicken can be dangerous and result in food poisoning from various pathogens.
Background
The recall notice did not specify how the undercooked chicken was discovered or who it was discovered by.
Distribution
The recalled chicken products were distributed across Canada to hotels, restaurants, and other institutions.
Product Details
- Brand – A & W
- Product – Chicken breast portion fully cooked, breaded, seasoned, boneless, skinless, fillets removed
- Size – 5 kg
- Production Date – June 26, 2024
- Lot Number – 4178
- UPC Code – 63100 41087 2
- MLF Number – 41087
Commercial Action
Food service businesses should search their premises for the recalled products.
Businesses are requested to not use, sell, service, or further distribute the recalled chicken products.
Anyone with additional questions or concerns can contact the CFIA by phone at 800-442-2342 toll free in either Canada or the United States or by email at [email protected].
Health Risks
The recall notice did not state whether or not there have been any illnesses or injuries in connection with the recalled products. Consumers who have been exposed to the recalled chicken products, and are experiencing sickness of any kind, should contact their healthcare provider immediately.
Although chicken can be a nutritious meal staple when cooked, consumption of raw, or undercooked, chicken can be extremely dangerous. Raw chicken may contain harmful pathogens like Campylobacter, Clostridium perfringens, and Salmonella. Consumption of raw and undercooked chicken, or foods they cross-contaminate, can lead to severe food poisoning.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately one million people get food poisoning from contaminated chicken in the United States every year. The agency also estimates that Salmonella is the leading cause of foodborne illness and that one of twenty-five packages of chicken available for retail sale are contaminated with Salmonella.
In May, Food Poisoning News reported on new measures by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enhance food safety to protect consumers from Salmonella in certain chicken products. Declaring Salmonella an adulterant in raw breaded stuffed chicken products allowed the organization to take more action to prevent the sale of products that could potentially harm consumers.
Commenting on this story, one national Salmonella lawyer said, “Most undercooked meats are not safe to consume, but chicken can be especially dangerous due to potential pathogens that heating kills. Any consumer or business in possession of the recalled products should safely dispose of them immediately.”
