21 October 2019

ACT Health warning after salmonella outbreak in frozen meals

| Lachlan Roberts
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Core Powerfoods are being recalled

Core Ingredients is conducting a nationwide recall of its Core Powerfoods frozen meals. Photo: Food Standards Australia and New Zealand.

Two Canberrans are among 15 consumers to be struck down with salmonella poisoning, leading to the national recall of Core Powerfoods frozen meals.

ACT Health is urging consumers who have any Core Powerfoods frozen meals to check the product and best before dates. The recall affects Going Nuts, Deep South Chilli, Muay Thai Meatballs, Holy Meatballs, Naked Chicken, Seismic Chicken, Old School and Smokey Mountain Meatballs products with the best before dates between 6 August 2020 and 4 October 2020.

The products have been available for sale at IGAs, independent retailers and Coles supermarkets in the ACT, but all affected Core Powerfoods stock have now been removed from sale.

Acting Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman said serious foodborne diseases like salmonella can easily spread from eating poorly cooked foods, which is why this is a timely reminder to Canberrans of the importance of proper food handling when reheating pre-cooked meals.

“It is important to ensure that high-risk foods like raw or undercooked eggs, meat and poultry are properly cooked,” Dr Coleman said. “Salmonella is spread when people eat food contaminated by the bacteria, and this can happen if salmonella is present in inadequately cooked food.

“It is also important to remember that many frozen foods are not ready to eat and should always be cooked thoroughly following manufacturer instructions. It is especially important to reheat food until it is steaming hot.”

The ACT Health Directorate is working closely with their counterparts in other states and territories to investigate the infections that are thought to be associated with this product, with the cause of the contamination also still under investigation.

Further information on the Core Powerfoods frozen microwave meals recall is on the Food Standards Australia and New Zealand website. Further information is available on the ACT Health Directorate salmonellosis factsheet.

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