OTTAWA, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- More Canadians have become ill after eating frozen breaded chicken products sold under the Janes brand name, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada on Thursday.
The agency said it is now investigating 18 cases of salmonella poisoning after new cases were identified in the provinces of British Columbia and Albertain the country.
Six people have been hospitalized in the outbreak. One of them died. All of those who became sick developed their illness between June and September of this year.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency Tuesday announced that two Janes brand chicken products were being recalled due to possible contamination from salmonella.
They are Janes Pub Style Chicken Burgers - Uncooked Breaded Chicken Burgers and Janes Pub Style Snacks Popcorn Chicken - Uncooked Breaded Chicken Cutlettes
Both were sold in 800-gram packages across Canada. The burger packages carry a date code of 2018 MA and the popcorn chicken package reads 2018 MA 15. They were distributed by Sofina Foods Inc.
The recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where purchased, as foods contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled.
The agency said it is working with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Health Canada and provincial public health partners to further investigate the outbreak.
It said the outbreak is a reminder that frozen breaded chicken products contain raw poultry and should be handled as carefully as any raw chicken product.
"Salmonella is commonly found in raw chicken and frozen raw breaded chicken products. Illnesses can be avoided if safe food handling, preparation and cooking practices are followed when preparing these types of food products," the agency said Thursday.
The investigation is ongoing, and it is possible that more products linked to the outbreak investigation may be identified. The public health notice will be updated on a regular basis as the investigation evolves.
Symptoms of a Salmonella infection typically start 6 to 72 hours after exposure to a contaminated product and include fever, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
