CDC and USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), along with the Minnesota Health Department and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, are investigating two outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidus infections linked to raw, frozen, breaded and pre-browed stuffed chicken entrees, according to CDC.

Four people were infected in the first outbreak and two needed hospitalization. In the second outbreak, three people were infected with a different strain of the bacteria and two were hospitalized. Both outbreaks were reported in Minnesota.

Last week FSIS issued a public health alert after growing concern the infections were related to consumption of frozen stuffed chicken products. While the products may appear ready to eat, FSIS said the chicken is in fact raw and needs to be fully cooked before consumption. Many of these stuffed chicken products were labeled with instructions identifying that the product was uncooked and did include cooking instructions for preparation. Some case-patients reported following these cooking instructions and using a food thermometer to confirm that the recommended temperature was achieved.

After an investigation, Portland, ME-based Barber Foods issued a recall of approximately 58,000 pounds of frozen, raw stuffed chicken product. The product, Chicken Kiev, was produced between February and April this year and shipped to Sam’s Club retail stores in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

 The investigation is ongoing. FSIS continues to work with the State of Minnesota Departments of Health and Agriculture on both of these investigations and will provide updated information as it becomes available.