Three California poultry processing facilities blamed for a recent outbreak of salmonella will remain open, the US Department of Agriculture announced.
According to USDA spokesman Aaron Lavallee, the decision was made due to significant and immediate improvements to the facilities.
"Foster Farms has submitted and implemented immediate substantive changes to their slaughter and processing to allow for continued operations," he said Thursday evening, CBS reports.
According to an Oct. 7 report issued by the USDA, at least 278 people in 18 states were sickened by the chicken.
The same day the USDA announced the outbreak and source, Foster Farms President Ron Foster stated: "We deeply regret any foodborne illness that may be associated with any of our products. Food safety is at the very heart of our business. It is a continuous process of improvement. In addition to collaborating with FSIS and CDC, the company has retained national experts in epidemiology and food safety technology to assess current practices and identify opportunities for further improvement."
A more recent statement by Foster pointed to the company's initiative as evidence of the organization's integrity.
"We have worked hard to earn your trust for 75 years, and I pledge to resolve these issues so you can continue to enjoy the very best chicken from my family to yours," he said.
Salmonella infections can be life-threatening, especially for those with a weak immune system, including infants and the elderly.
The most common symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramps and a fever. Other possible symptoms include chills, headache, nausea and vomiting.
The USDA urges individuals to heat poultry to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit so as to avoid infection.
"Please do not rely on the cooking time for each side of the product, but use a food thermometer," a USDA safety alert asks, noting that "a food thermometer is the only way to know that food has reached a high enough temperature to destroy foodborne bacteria."