U.S. Chicken hold, California turkey recall causes poultry problem

US - California poultry producers are awaiting an announcement from federal officials today addressing whether 20 million American-raised chickens that may have consumed feed mixed with a dangerous chemical will impact state poultry supplies.
calendar icon 7 May 2007
clock icon 2 minute read
In the wake of the new USDA hold on major market, American brand poultry, California's Foster Farms has been quick to announce their poultry has not been affected by the events, a spokesman for Foster Farms announced Saturday.

According to spokesman Michael Fineman, the federal hold on the American raised chickens is based on suspicion that the chickens may have eaten the contaminated feed, which was produced in China.

Fineman was quick to be clear that there is currently no hold on any chickens raised by Foster Farms, namely because Foster farms reportedly does not import any protein ingredients from China for its poultry feed.

While an announcement from the USDA on the chicken hold isn't expected until later today, in an unrelated action, the California Department of Health Services has announced a recall on ready-to-eat turkey products from California-based Diestel Turkey Ranch.

A state health officer is advising consumers not to eat the Diestel turkey products because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a harmful bacterium that causes illness.

According to State Public Health Officer Mark Horton, Diestel has agreed to recall all ready-to-eat turkey products that were produced on April 20 and distributed to retailers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Texas, Oregon and Washington.

Source: CBS 5
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