According to Quality Assurance Magazine, Cargill has enhanced safety programs and resumed production of ground turkey after receiving approval from USDA. The plan in Springdale, AK, responsible for a massive recall of ground turkey that was found to be contaminated with salmonella, has resumed its full production. Cargill recalled 36 million pounds of ground turkey after the CDC detected salmonella related-illnesses that sickened 78 people across the country and killed one.
Cargill has said the company shut down production and announced a voluntary recall out of concern for public health and safety. In order to resume production of ground turkey, the company said it:
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- Disassembled and steam cleaned plant equipment.
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- Put in place the most aggressive monitoring and testing program in the poultry industry.
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- Added two antibacterial measures to those already in place and required Springdale suppliers to use comparable antibacterial technology.
- Established an independent panel of scientific experts to go over the plant “with a fine-toothed comb” to make sure it hadn’t missed anything.
Cargill resumed operations at Springdale after increasing its antibacterial technology in its chilling system and adding antibacterial sprays in the harvest line, procedures approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The recall was one of the largest U.S. meat recalls ever. An Oregon family is suing Cargill after their young daughter was sickened after eating Salmonella-contaminated turkey.
An Orlando injury lawyer can provide guidance if you have suffered due to a salmonella or other food poisoning outbreak.