Empire Kosher Raw Chicken Recalled for Possible Salmonella Contamination

Agency Publication Date: August 24, 2018

Summary

Empire Kosher Poultry, Inc. is issuing a public health alert for raw whole chicken and raw chicken parts produced between September 2017 and June 2018. The alert follows a cluster of 17 Salmonella illnesses reported in the northeastern and mid-Atlantic United States, resulting in approximately half of those patients being hospitalized. Consumers are urged to check their freezers for these products, as they were sold many months ago but may still be stored for future use.

Risk

The chicken may be contaminated with Salmonella, which causes symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever; it can be life-threatening for older adults, infants, and those with weakened immune systems.

What You Should Do

Check your freezer for Empire Kosher brand raw whole chickens or raw chicken parts purchased or produced between September 2017 and June 2018.
Verify if your product was processed at the affected facility by looking for the establishment number P-1015 inside the USDA mark of inspection.
Return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund, throw it away, or contact the manufacturer at 1-877-627-2803 for further instructions.
Ensure all raw chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F as measured by a food thermometer to kill harmful bacteria.
Thoroughly wash your hands, countertops, and sinks with hot, soapy water after handling raw poultry to prevent cross-contamination.
Call the USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854 if you have additional food safety questions.

Your Remedy Options

You have 2 options:

Option 1: Full Refund

How to: Return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund, or contact the manufacturer or supplier for further instructions

Option 2: Dispose of Product

How to: Throw the product away.

Affected Products

Product: Empire Kosher Brand Raw Chicken Items

Variants: Raw whole chicken, Raw chicken parts

Establishment #: P-1015

Date Ranges: Produced and sold from September 2017 to June 2018

Associated with Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:- illness cluster in northeastern and mid-Atlantic U.S.

Additional Information

Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Recall ID: PHA-08242018-01

Status: Active

Sold By: Retailers in the northeastern United States; Retailers in the mid-Atlantic United States

Distributed To: Nationwide

Classification: Public Health Alert

Company Contact: Empire Kosher Specialist 1-877-627-2803

Agency Last Updated: August 24, 2018

Were You Affected by This Recall?

If you or a family member were harmed by this recalled product, you may have legal rights. Consider consulting a consumer protection attorney to understand your options for compensation.

Find an Attorney

This is general information, not legal advice. Go Backs is not a law firm and does not provide legal services.

AI-Enhanced Content: The summary, action steps, and risk assessment on this page were generated by AI from official government recall data to improve readability. This is not legal or medical advice. Always refer to the official agency sources below for authoritative information.

Sources: USDA Notice · Raw API Response

Summary

What You Should Do

Check your freezer for Empire Kosher brand raw whole chickens or raw chicken parts purchased or produced between September 2017 and June 2018.

Verify if your product was processed at the affected facility by looking for the establishment number P-1015 inside the USDA mark of inspection.

Return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund, throw it away, or contact the manufacturer at 1-877-627-2803 for further instructions.

Ensure all raw chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F as measured by a food thermometer to kill harmful bacteria.

Thoroughly wash your hands, countertops, and sinks with hot, soapy water after handling raw poultry to prevent cross-contamination.

Call the USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854 if you have additional food safety questions.