After more than 100 people have been sickened by eating chicken livers that were not fully cooked, the product has been recalled and New York City health officials are warning consumers to cook livers to 165 degrees.
The MealMart brand livers have been recalled after 56 cases of salmonella-related illnesses were discovered in New York City, and dozens of others in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Minnesota.
The New York City Health Department said in a statement Wednesday that it had recognized a pattern of people reporting they ate the kosher broiled livers or chopped liver just before getting sick.
The 56 cases were reported from February to this month, and officials said the salmonella had a common DNA fingerprint.
"Though consumers reported that they believed the product to be fully cooked, it is not safe to eat without additional cooking," the health department said.
Twelve of the sickened people were hospitalized. Salmonella symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramps and fever. Some 1,200 to 1,300 cases are diagnosed each year in New York City.
