Customer Update 02/11/2023
M&J Chickens is committed to servicing the Australian food industry with the best quality fresh chicken products.
We take the health and safety of the community very seriously in providing our products.
Following the reported listeria outbreak by Queensland Health in late September we have put in place additional measures to further improve our quality assurance.
ADDED FOOD SECURITY
For added food security and safety have taken these actions:
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- Increased our testing regime over and above the NSW Food Authority requirements.
- Commenced investment in a program of factory upgrades to support our new processes and testing regime, including the purchase of new state of the art equipment.
REINTRODUCTION OF PRODUCTS
Having taken the step early last month to temporarily cease production, we’re pleased to confirm that we’ll be back up to speed with production from next week. The following table provides an ordering guide.
| Product Code | Product Description | Availability |
| CORBSH | Oven Roasted Breast Fillet Shredded | Now |
| CORBPP | Oven Roasted Breast Fillet Shredded Peri Peri | Week commencing 13/11/2023 |
| CORBSHLH | Oven Roasted Breast Fillet Shredded Lemon & Herb | Week commencing 13/11/2023 |
| CORCM | Oven Roasted Pizza Mix | Now |
| COTSH | Oven Roasted Chicken Meat | Now |
| ORBSN | Oven Roasted Breast Fillet Sliced | Week commencing 13/11/2023 |
| ORBST | Oven Roasted Breast Fillet Sliced Tandoori | Week commencing 13/11/2023 |
| ORBSPP | Cooked Breast oven roasted/sliced Peri Peri | Week commencing 13/11/2023 |
| ORBSC | Oven Roasted Breast Fillet Sliced Cajun | Week commencing 13/11/2023 |
| COBSH | Easy Serve Breast Fillet Shredded | Temporarily on hold |
We appreciate the patience you have shown over the last couple of months and thank you for your continued support of our business.
Customer Update 29/09/2023
As part of our continuing collaboration with the NSW Food Authority M&J Chickens is undertaking a precautionary trade level recall of our shredded products.
We would like to stress that this is precautionary in the interests of taking all possible steps to protect the safety of our customers and their consumers.
The products being recalled are listed below and includes all products with a “fresh use by date” up to and including the 31st October 2023.
| Product Code | Product Description |
| CORBSH | Oven Roasted Breast Fillet Shredded |
| CORBPP | Oven Roasted Breast Fillet Shredded Peri Peri |
| CORBSHLH | Oven Roasted Breast Fillet Shredded Lemon & Herb |
| CORCM | Oven Roasted Pizza Mix |
| COTSH | Oven Roasted Chicken Meat |
| ORBSN | Oven Roasted Breast Fillet Sliced |
| ORBST | Oven Roasted Breast Fillet Sliced Tandoori |
| ORBSPP | Cooked Breast oven roasted/sliced Peri Peri |
| ORBSC | Oven Roasted Breast Fillet Sliced Cajun |
| COBSH | Easy Serve Breast Fillet Shredded |
M&J Chickens is committed to following food safety and security systems and processes.
We thank our customers for their understanding and patience as we take these steps.
If you have any questions, please contact us on 1300 262 635 or reach out to your sales representative.
Update – Listeria Investigation 27/09/23
The following is an update on how progress since our last communication on Wednesday 20 September regarding the listeria cases under investigation.
Of note is the extension of the product recall to two additional batches (A5492 and A5485) of our Easy Serve breast fillet shredded chicken 2 kg packs.
The updated FAQS provide an outline of the activities we have been undertaking to ensure that we provide our customers with the safe, high quality poultry products that we have prided ourselves on since 1982.
In addition to the actions, the FAQs contain a list of precautionary steps recommended by the NSW Food Authority for the safe handling of poultry. To further protect the community, we are asking customers to please familiarise their teams with these steps. By working together, we can further help support the health and safety of consumers.
We thank our customers for their ongoing loyalty and cooperation that they have shown our company through this process. As always, we invite customers to reach out to us with any questions or concerns they may have. Our team are here to help.
FAQs 27/09/23
HOW IS M&J CHICKENS CONTINIUING TO PROTECT CUSTOMERS?
- Cooperation with regulators: Since the advice put out by Queensland Health on Monday 18 September M & J Chickens has continued to work closely with health authorities on their investigations related to 3 cases of listeria.
- Product recall: Issued a trade recall to customers who received our Easy serve breast fillet shredded chicken 2kg pack size, batch code: A5497 to return or dispose of it.
- Extended Product recall: As of Tuesday 26 September, we have extended our product recall to included batches A5492 and A5485 of our Easy serve breast fillet shredded chicken 2kg pack size. Customers who received this product should return it or dispose of it.
- As a precautionary measure if you have frozen any M & J Chickens “Easy serve breast fillet shredded chicken 2kg pack size”, it should be returned or please dispose of it.
- Ceased sales of M & J Chickens Easy serve breast fillet shredded chicken products: Since 21 September we ceased sales of our Easy serve shredded breast fillet products while investigations are in progress.
- Further testing: The NSW Food Authority returned on Monday 25 September as agreed with the M & J Chickens Executive Team to conduct further tests including of all work areas, tools, and machinery. We are also conducting tests and monitoring our processes as part of our own internal review and efforts to continuously improve our safety processes.
- Following Food Safety Protocols: We continue to follow our stringent food safety and security protocols. We conduct ongoing employee training to ensure compliance with these protocols.
- Reaching out to customers: We are maintaining regular contact with customers. Customers can contact us via their sales representative, our website or calling 1300 262 635.
WHAT PRECAUTIONARY STEPS CAN CUSTOMERS TAKE TO KEEP SAFE?
The NSW Food Authority advises the following tips for safe handling of poultry.
- Temperature control: Store below 5 degrees. Bacteria that commonly causes food poisoning grows rapidly above 5 degrees. Anything above 5 degrees is considered the ‘danger zone’. Our recommendation is to store between 0 and 2 degrees. Freeze raw chicken if it will not be used within 2 days. Keep hot food in an oven or on a stove, above 60oC until you are ready to serve. Cooked meals should not be left at room temperature for longer than 2 hours.
- Refrigerate promptly: Refrigerate raw poultry promptly. Don’t leave it on the bench top at room temperature. If not eaten within 2 hours cooked meals should be refrigerated.
- Separate from ready to eat meals: Bacteria can spread poultry touches (or drips onto) ready-to-eat foods. This is dangerous as the ready-to-eat foods such as salad vegetables, often receive no further cooking and the bacteria are not killed.
- Hygiene Protocols: Thoroughly clean all utensils, equipment and surfaces after preparing raw poultry before contact with other foods. Use separate cutting boards specifically for raw chicken.
- Defrost with care: Never defrost meat or poultry at room temperature on the bench top. Slow, safe thawing in the refrigerator is recommended as ideal. Once defrosted, poultry can be kept in the refrigerator an additional day before cooking. Meat can also be defrosted in cold water in its airtight packaging or in a leak proof bag. Poultry defrosted in the microwave should be cooked immediately after thawing because some areas might become warm and begin to cook during microwaving. Storing partially cooked meat or chicken is not recommended because any bacteria present would not have been destroyed.
- Follow labeling instructions: Always follow labeling instructions. For example, used by dates are effective when poultry is stored at the right temperature. If stored at a higher temperature than the label recommends the used by date is voided.
- More information: More information can be found on the NSW Food Authority website
Update – Listeria Investigation 20/09/23
We are writing to provide an update on the current listeria cases under investigation.
On Monday a communication from Queensland Health noted our Easy serve breast fillet shredded chicken 2kg pack size product (Batch code: A5497) as the probable cause of 5 listeria cases in that state, 3 in NSW and 1 in Victoria.
As part of the ongoing investigation process NSW Food Authority conducted an inspection of our Marrickville headquarters yesterday and we have issued a trade recall to customers who received product from the batch to return or dispose of it.
We are continuing to work closely with the regulators and are carrying out further testing as part of the investigation. We take this matter very seriously.
M & J Chickens follows stringent food safety and security systems and processes. This includes daily professional cleaning, food handling and processing protocols, testing of food samples, and an ongoing audit program involving government regulators and 3rd party certification bodies. We are consistently Á’ rated in these audits which are made available to industry and customers for transparency and compliance.
We can confirm that no other products are being recalled and there is no information to suggest that there is any food safety issue in relation to any other products sold by us.
If you have any questions or concerns, we ask that you please contact your sales representative or contact us on 1300 262 635.
Further updates will be provided here when available.
We pride ourselves on serving our customers and thank all our customers and suppliers for their continued loyalty and support for our business.
FAQs 20/09/23
WHAT HAS HAPPENED?
On Monday 18 September a communication from Queensland Health noted our Easy serve breast fillet shredded chicken 2kg pack size product (Batch code: A5497) as the probable cause of 5 listeria cases in that state, 3 in NSW and 1 in Victoria.
As part of the ongoing investigation process NSW Food Authority conducted an inspection of our Marrickville headquarters on Tuesday 19 September and we have issued a trade recall to customers who received product from the batch to return or dispose of it.
WHICH PRODUCT IS BEING RECALLED?
Easy serve breast fillet shredded chicken 2kg pack size – commercial quantity
Marked as chilled by 16/10/2023, Batch code: A5497
ARE ANY OTHER PRODUCTS BEING RECALLED?
No other products are being recalled. There is no information to suggest that there is any food safety issue in relation to any other products sold by us.
HOW ARE WE RESPONDING?
We are continuing to work closely with the regulators and carrying out further testing as part of the investigation.
We have been reaching out to our customers and ask any customers or suppliers with questions to contact us on 1300 262 635 or reach out to their sales representative.
WHAT FOOD SAFETY PROTOCOLS ARE IN PLACE?
M & J Chickens follows stringent food safety and security systems and processes. This includes daily professional cleaning, food handling and processing protocols, testing of food samples, and an ongoing audit program involving government regulators and 3rd party certification bodies. We are consistently Á’ rated in these audits which are made available to industry and customers for transparency and compliance.
HOW LONG HAVE WE BEEN OPERATING?
M&J Chickens has been operating since 1982.
WHO DO WE SELL TO?
M&J Chickens sells to commercial outlets only. We do not sell to retailers.
HOW CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION?
We take food safety and security very seriously and will provide updates as more information becomes available. Please check back regularly to our website for updates at https://mandjchickens.com.au/