Some Barber Foods Chicken Has Been Recalled

If there are currently any items of certain Barber Foods chicken products in your freezer, you should toss it immediately. Some of these products are being recalled for being potentially contaminated with salmonella. According to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), at least six people have gotten sick from the frozen foods in Wisconsin and Minnesota, with illnesses first being reported back in April. Some Barber Foods items were first recalled July 2, but now even more products are potentially contaminated.

About 1,700,000 pounds of Barber Foods' frozen, raw stuffed chicken breasts have been recalled for possible salmonella contamination, a huge increase from the original 58,000 pounds recalled a few weeks ago. The recall was expanded to include any packages that came in contact with contaminated source materials after two more people got sick from the frozen food.

The specific products in question are six-packs of Barber Foods Premium Entrees Breaded-Boneless Raw Stuffed Chicken Breasts With Rib Meat Kiev, which includes all the different flavors, with use-by or sell-by dates of April 28, 2016, May 20, 2016, and July 21, 2016. The recalled items have the lot code numbers 0950292102, 0950512101, or 0951132202, and were produced on January 29, February 20, and April 23. According to the USDA's news release about the recall, the potentially contaminated products also have the establishment number "P-276" inside the USDA mark of inspection, and were shipped nationwide and to Canada.

The USDA's news release also warned consumers that raw chicken should always be handled carefully to avoid cross-contamination in the kitchen, keeping it away from other foods that won't be cooked and using separate cutting boards. Raw chicken also always needs to be cooked to a temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit all the way through.

Eating foods contaminated with salmonella, one of the most common causes of food poisoning in the U.S., can cause salmonellosis. Common symptoms of salmonellosis include diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, and the illness can disproportionately affect babies, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. You should go to the doctor if you've eaten a Barber Foods stuffed chicken breast recently and are experiencing these symptoms.

To be safe, you should probably throw out any of the recalled products in your freezer, and thoroughly clean any kitchen surfaces that have touched any of the raw chicken products. If you have any questions, you can call Barber Foods at 844-564-5555.

Images: USDA (1)