Health officials warn of deadly salmonella in frozen chicken tenders, nuggets ... trends now
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Health officials have warned Americans of the risks of contracting deadly food poisoning from convenient frozen chicken products, like kievs, tenders and nuggets.
In a newly published memo, the USDA has announced plans to reduce the number of salmonella-infected chicken items on grocery store shelves — following recent outbreaks in at least 36 states.
Salmonella is one of the most common forms of food poisoning in the US which hospitalizes around 26,000 citizens every year. It is usually linked to undercooked meat, poultry and eggs.
There have been 14 multi-state outbreaks of the disease linked to chicken products alone since 1998 sickening a total of at least 200 people — including one in 2021.
The USDA is planning to tighten rules on salmonella contamination in chicken in order to slash cases of the disease (stock image)
Officials say more than 1.3million Americans are sickened by salmonella every year, while 420 die from the infections.
Salmonella — which lives in chicken intestines — can easily be transfered onto cuts like thighs and breasts during processing.
It could then survive if meat is not cooked to 165F (74C) before being eaten. This is often the case with breaded products, which are only slightly heated to set the batter.
People who eat salmonella-contaminated meat may become sick because the microbe can survive the stomach acid and then trigger an infection in the intestines.
Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever.
In more serious cases, however, the disease can progress to dehydration — from fluid loss — and septicemia if the microbe enters the bloodstream.
