The huge and long-lasting Foster Farms chicken Salmonella outbreak has now sickened at least 524 people in 25 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Using the multiplier of 30.3, that means that at least 15,877 people nationwide have been sickened by the poultry produced by Foster Farms.
The outbreak led to a public health alert from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for raw chicken from Livingston, where Foster Farms has its headquarters and largest plant, and two plants in Fresno.
Though no one has died, the CDC says the outbreak strains have been resistant to several commonly prescribed antibiotics.
Foster Farms says it has implemented a salmonella control program that has reduced the prevalence of salmonella in its products.
The industry, backed by state and federal health officials, says consumers can protect themselves by cooking chicken to at least 165 degrees and scrubbing items that come in contact with raw meat.
Agencies/Canadajournal