Frozen pot pies suspected in salmonella outbreak
Pastor Dale Morgan
Frozen pot pies suspected in salmonella outbreak*
* Story Highlights
* Officials investigate outbreak of 139 cases of salmonella
poisoning in 30 states
* USDA says likely source is chicken and turkey pot pies made by ConAgra
* Company shuts down pie plant but says undercooking likely the cause
(CNN) -- Federal authorities are warning consumers not to eat Banquet
frozen turkey and chicken pot pies or similar generic store-brand
products because they may have caused an outbreak of salmonella poisoning.
Banquet chicken and turkey pot pies are suspected in an outbreak of
salmonella poisoning.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began investigating last
week after receiving reports of illness. By Friday, it had identified
the pot pies as a potential source of the salmonella that sickened more
than 100 people in dozens of states.
The CDC sent inspectors Monday to the manufacturer, ConAgra Foods Inc.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service
on Tuesday advised consumers not to eat the pot pies "until we are able
to determine the source, products and potential production dates of
contamination and to verify proper cooking instructions for these
not-ready-to-eat products."
ConAgra voluntarily stopped making the pies Tuesday, The Associated
Press reported.
The Omaha, Nebraska-based food giant said the fault may lie in how
consumers are preparing the product.
"The company reminds consumers that these products are not ready-to-eat,
and must always be thoroughly cooked as instructed on the packages," the
company said in a statement on its Web site. "The cooking instructions
for these products are specifically designed to eliminate the presence
of common pathogens found in many uncooked products."
The pot pies in question have the code P-9 printed on the side of the
package, ConAgra said.
Consumers may get refunds by returning the product packaging -- minus
the contents -- to the store where they bought it or by sending the side
panel of the package that says "P-9" to ConAgra Foods, Dept. BQPP, P.O.
Box 3768, Omaha, Nebraska 68103-0768.
The CDC, which is leading the investigation, said 30 states have
reported 139 cases of salmonella poisoning, including 23 that required
hospitalization. Wisconsin had the most cases (19), followed by
Pennsylvania (13). See which states have cases of salmonella poisoning »
The pathogen is sometimes found in not-ready-to-eat products containing
poultry, but proper cooking should ensure it is killed.
Symptoms that can appear 12 to 72 hours after infection include
diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps.
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The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most people recover
without treatment.
In severe cases, the infection may spread from the intestines to the
blood and then to other sites in the body, sometimes causing death.
Treatment includes antibiotics.
Pastor Dale Morgan
Frozen pot pies suspected in salmonella outbreak*
* Story Highlights
* Officials investigate outbreak of 139 cases of salmonella
poisoning in 30 states
* USDA says likely source is chicken and turkey pot pies made by ConAgra
* Company shuts down pie plant but says undercooking likely the cause
(CNN) -- Federal authorities are warning consumers not to eat Banquet
frozen turkey and chicken pot pies or similar generic store-brand
products because they may have caused an outbreak of salmonella poisoning.
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