"House Bill Would Add Muscle To Fight Food-Borne Superbug Outbreaks"

"With the number of salmonella illnesses linked to Foster Farms chicken climbing to more than 600 cases this month, two members of Congress introduced legislation Wednesday that would require food recalls in such circumstances.

The eight-month-long outbreak has spread to 27 states and Puerto Rico, with dozens of new cases emerging in recent weeks. The cases are connected to chicken processed in plants that are struggling to kill salmonella strains resistant to several classes of antibiotics, according to the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a public health alert and overseen changes in Foster Farms’ processing lines, including the addition of new anti-bacterial sprays, but department officials said they do not have the authority to order a recall.

Foster Farms has declined to order a voluntary recall, saying it believes the chicken is safe if properly handled to prevent spread of the contamination and if cooked to 165 degrees."
 
Kimberly Kindy reports for the Washington Post June 25, 2014.