ConAgra Marie Callender’s Cheesy Chicken and Rice Salmonella Outbreak (Nationwide)
Health authorities have traced an outbreak of Salmonella Chester to a now-recalled frozen meal. The ConAgra product was branded Marie Callender’s Cheesy Chicken and Rice Dinner. According the CDC, at least 37 people are ill in 18 states: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia and Washington. The illnesses began in April and May 2010.
ConAgra estimates that about 800,000 of the dinners were in stores or consumer’s homes when the recall was announced. The company recalled all of the 13 ounce entrees. The meals were sold in 41 stores nationwide, including Fred Meyer, Albertsons, Fry’s, Kroger, Safeway, Target, Wal-Mart and WinCo Foods.
Salmonella illnesses are under-reported, as many people stay home and try to get through what they think is a “stomach flu”. Estimates are that for every reported illness, another 38 people are ill, which means that there are likely more than a thousand people ill from the product.
Another danger is that consumers often keep frozen meals for a long time, and may not think about them when (and if) they see news about the recall. In the ConAgra Banquet frozen Pot Pie Salmonella outbreak, many of the victims fell ill after the recall from product stored in their freezers. Consumers are urged to check their freezers for the product. If any is on hand, the dinner should be disposed of and the box can be returned for a refund. Anyone who has consumed the product and is experiencing symptoms of Salmonella infection such as diarrhea, stomach cramps, and nausea, should visit their doctor or health care practitioner for a test. Salmonella can be a very dangerous illness, especially for very young or elderly consumers, and for immune-compromised individuals.
On June 23, 2010, Marler Clark filed a Salmonella lawsuit against ConAgra on behalf of an Oregon man who was sickened by the frozen meal. A second Salmonella lawsuit was filed on behalf of another outbreak victim on June 25. Marler Clark also represented many victims of the 2007 ConAgra Banquet frozen Pot Pie outbreak, which followed much the same pattern of illnesses. All cases have been resolved.