1 dead, 17 sick from salmonella in Empire Kosher chicken

CDC says outbreak of the food-borne infection has shown up in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia; death occurred in New York

By JTA 30 August 2018, 3:50 am

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The assembly line at Empire Kosher Poultry’s plant in central Pennsylvania is the largest kosher one of its kind in America, with 240,000 chickens and 27,000 turkeys passing through every week. (Uriel Heilman/JTA)

NEW YORK — Salmonella in Empire Kosher chicken has led to one death and 17 illnesses, the Centers for Disease Control said. Eight people have been hospitalized.

The outbreak of the food-borne infection in the leading kosher chicken seller has shown up in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, according to a CDC notice Wednesday afternoon. The death occurred in New York.

When reached by JTA, an Empire spokesman said the company had no comment at this time. JTA has also reached out to the CDC for comment.

The CDC began investigating after the New York state Department of Health reported that several people who were sick said they had eaten kosher chicken. The illnesses began as early as September 2017; the most recent reported one was in June.

The CDC notice said that “some kosher chicken products are contaminated with Salmonella.”