Costco recalls rotisserie chickens made with Foster Farms birds

A Costco Wholesale store in South San Francisco is recalling 8,730 rotisserie chickens that it prepared with Foster Farms poultry because of possible salmonella contamination.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the chickens could have the same type of salmonella – tied to raw chicken from Foster Farms plants in Livingston and Fresno – that sickened an estimated 317 people over several months.

The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service had threatened last week to pull its inspectors from the plants, effectively shutting them down. The agency Thursday allowed Foster Farms to keep them in operation while it enhances the safeguards.

The latest notice said the rotisserie chickens were prepared at the El Camino Real store and sold to consumers under the Kirkland Signature Foster Farms brand between Sept. 11 and 23. The recall also involves 313 units of other products made from rotisserie chickens under the Kirkland Farm label — leg quarters, chicken soup and chicken salad.

A written statement from Foster Farms said the cooked chicken recall appears to be “an isolated issue” at the one store.

“Still, we are working closely with Costco to provide any information that may be helpful,” the statement said.

Last week’s alert regarding raw chicken did not involve a recall. Foster Farms told consumers that salmonella is a naturally occurring microbe that can be controlled through proper handling and thorough cooking of the meat, a point backed up by state and federal health officials.

This story was originally published October 13, 2013 at 10:05 PM with the headline "Costco recalls rotisserie chickens made with Foster Farms birds."