The Latvian Food and Veterinary Service (PVD) has ordered a mandatory recall of chicken fillet imported from Poland following the detection of Salmonella bacteria.
Contaminated Poultry Recall Details
The recall specifically affects chicken fillet marked with batch number 6450747473. The product is manufactured by the company Animex Food and was distributed to retailers by the wholesaler SIA Sanitex.
Health officials have issued a formal alert through the European Union’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) to notify other member states of the contamination. Beyond the Salmonella findings, the PVD also reported separate laboratory results identifying excessive water content in a different batch of Polish-origin chicken breast. The manufacturer of that product has been formally notified of the regulatory breach.
Safety Precautions for Consumers
The PVD advises consumers who may have purchased the affected chicken fillet to handle it with extreme caution. Salmonella bacteria are killed through thorough thermal processing, and officials emphasize that the meat must be cooked or boiled completely before consumption.
To prevent cross-contamination in the kitchen, the agency recommends the following safety measures:
- Use dedicated kitchen utensils for raw poultry that do not contact other food items.
- Thoroughly wash all surfaces, utensils, and hands immediately after handling the raw product.
- If you cannot guarantee these safety conditions during food preparation, the PVD advises against consuming the product entirely.
Regulatory Oversight of Food Safety
The PVD operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and serves as the primary state authority for food safety and veterinary control in Latvia. The agency conducts regular laboratory testing on imported and domestic food products to ensure compliance with European Union food safety standards. The current recall serves as part of the agency’s ongoing oversight responsibilities to prevent foodborne illnesses within the national supply chain.