Food agencies reiterating advice on cooking frozen breaded chicken products following links to cases of salmonella in the UK

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and its sister agency, the Food Standards Agency (FSA), are repeating advice to consumers following an updated product recall linked to salmonella contamination

SFC has issued an updated recall of chicken products because Salmonella Enteritidis (a food poisoning bug) has been found in some of these foods.

This update includes the original products identified in previous recalls as well as additional products.

The products are linked to two ongoing outbreaks of Salmonella Enteritidis (a food poisoning bug) in chicken from Poland. 

The producer has put additional controls in place to improve the safety of their products since November 2020, however SFC has now taken the decision to withdraw and recall all of its chicken products produced before this date.

Both agencies will be making additional checks to ensure the effectiveness of this withdrawal and recall.  Should it be found that the actions taken by SFC are ineffective, FSS and the FSA will be working with the relevant local authorities to take additional action.

Products affected

The full list of products is available in the food alert: https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/alert/fsa-prin-10-2021-update-4

Update on the wider Salmonella investigation

FSS is continuing to work with the FSA, Public Health England, Public Health Scotland, Public Health Wales and the Public Health Agency as part of the ongoing investigation into two particular strains of Salmonella linked to frozen raw breaded chicken products from Poland.

Both FSS and the FSA previously issued precautionary consumer advice in October 2020 and February 2021 and additional controls have been put in place by food businesses at production level. 

These changes to the production process are proving to be effective and a further reduction in cases is expected in the coming months as these products are removed from the food chain.  While these efforts continue, it is important that people continue to carefully follow food hygiene advice.

Investigations are ongoing into identifying the source of the outbreaks at farm level in Poland.  Should more products be identified actions to remove unsafe food will be undertaken.

Our advice to consumers

If consumers have bought any of the products in the updated recall, they can return them to the store where they were bought for a full refund.

We are encouraging consumers to always cook food at the right temperature and for the correct length of time to ensure any harmful bacteria are killed. Before serving these products, make sure they are steaming hot and cooked all the way through. When you cut into the thickest part of the meat, check that none of the meat is pink and that any juices run clear.

Anyone who is concerned about symptoms should contact their GP or out of hours service in the first instance. 

Read FSS guidance on Salmonella

Information on the symptoms and treatment of salmonella is available on the NHS inform website.