Salmonella Blog

What do Iowa, Missouri, South Dakota, and Wisconsin have in common with Jimmy John's Sprouts? You guessed it - Salmonella and E. coli Outbreaks

marler@marlerclark.com (E. coli Attorney) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 13:50:20 -0800

The CDC announced this week a total of 12 persons infected with the outbreak strain of STEC O26 have been reported from 5 states. The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Iowa (5), Missouri (3), Kansas (2), Arkansas (1), and Wisconsin (1). Among persons for whom information is available, illness onset dates range from December 25, 2011 to January 15, 2012. Ill persons range in age from 9 years to 49 years old, with a median age of 25 years old. One hundred percent of ill persons are female. Among the 12 ill persons, 2 (17%) were hospitalized. None have developed HUS, and no deaths have been reported. Preliminary results of the epidemiologic and traceback investigations indicate eating raw clover sprouts at Jimmy John's restaurants is the likely cause of this outbreak.

Sound familiar?

Between November 1 through December 27, 2010, 94 individuals infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella serotype I 4,[5],12:i:- have been reported from 16 states and the District of Columbia. The number of ill people identified in each state with the outbreak strain is as follows: California (1), Connecticut (1), District of Columbia (1), Georgia (1), Hawaii (1), Iowa (1), Illinois (51), Indiana (9), Massachusetts (1), Missouri (17), New York (1), Pennsylvania (2), South Dakota (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (1), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (3). Collaborative investigative efforts of local, state, and federal public health and regulatory agencies have linked this outbreak to consumption of Tiny Greens Organic Farm’s Alfalfa Sprouts and Spicy Sprouts. The sprouts were distributed to Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Missouri, and may also have been distributed to other Midwestern states. Approximately half of the illnesses occurred in Illinois, where many of the ill individuals ate sandwiches containing sprouts at various Jimmy John’s outlets. Jimmy John’s restaurants have voluntarily suspended serving sprouts at their Illinois franchise locations.

On February 24, 2009, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services identified bacterial isolates from fourteen Nebraska residents who were infected with Salmonella Saintpaul. By PFGE testing, the genetic fingerprints of six of the fourteen cases matched exactly, and results were pending on the remaining eight cases. Onsets of illness for these initial fourteen cases stretched from the beginning to the middle of February 2009. Approximately two days later, Nebraska health authorities issued a nationwide notice to other state and federal health organizations, inquiring whether there were any additional reports of illness due to infection by Salmonella Saintpaul. Interviews with confirmed and suspect cases in the developing outbreak soon revealed a pattern of exposure to raw alfalfa sprouts, typically on sandwiches from Jimmy John’s restaurants, in the days before onset of illness. Health authorities, in collaboration with officials from the CDC and FDA, quickly identified CW Sprouts, Inc, a grower from Omaha, as the grower and supplier of the implicated sprout products. On March 3, 2009, CW Sprouts voluntarily recalled its alfalfa, onion, and gourmet sprout products sold under the SunSprout Enterprises brand name. In the two weeks following CW Sprouts’ March 3 recall, four other mid-western states reported Salmonella Saintpaul illnesses among residents. By March 18, the total number of confirmed cases in the outbreak had risen to 121, including 84 from Nebraska, 27 from Iowa, and five each from South Dakota and Kansas. All illnesses were linked to sprout products grown and sold by CW Sprouts. In total, thirteen states reported 228 confirmed illnesses in both outbreak clusters.

Deadliest Outbreaks - Salmonella - Bluebrook and Hillfarm 2% Pasteurized Milk 1985

marler@marlerclark.com (Salmonella Attorney) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:48:58 -0800

The Salmonella category is vast and the choice was difficult. Ultimately we chose to go back to 1985 to the Bluebrook and Hillfarm 2% Pasteurized Milk outbreak. Salmonella Typhimurium was the serotype implicated in this outbreak. At least 6149 cases were reported of which 5770 were laboratory confirmed. At least nine deaths were attributed. The milk had been sold in supermarkets in several Midwestern states. Located in a Chicago suburb, the Hillfarm dairy was the sole supplier of milk to 217 supermarkets operated by the Jewel Food Stores chain in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Michigan. The dairy was owned by the Jewel company and had been producing milk since 1968. The outbreak prompted the company to cease all dairy production on April 9, 1985. The presence of a cross connection that could have exposed pasteurized milk to raw milk was suspected as the cause of the contamination in the dairy processing plant.

Link.

Taco Bell named as Link to Salmonella Outbreak

marler@marlerclark.com (Salmonella Attorney) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:03:27 -0800

On January 19, 2012, the CDC announced that “Mexican-style fast food restaurant chain, Restaurant Chain A” was linked to a total of 68 consumers infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis in 10 states. According to the CDC, the number of ill persons identified in each was as follows: Texas (43), Oklahoma (16), Kansas (2), Iowa (1), Michigan (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (1), New Mexico (1), Ohio (1), and Tennessee (1). Today Oklahoma announced that the Mexican-style fast food restaurant chain, Restaurant Chain A is in fact, Taco Bell.

In response Taco Bell said in a statement that investigators found that some of the people who became ill ate at Taco Bell, while others did not. "They believe that the problem likely occurred at the supplier level before it was delivered to any restaurant or food outlet. We take food quality and safety very seriously," Taco Bell said.

You wonder how much Taco Bell pays for that kind of PR advice. Instead they should pay me for this that I gave freely to MSNBC:

"I think it just proves the point that it is always better to be transparent," said Bill Marler, a Seattle food safety lawyer who used his blog to lobby vigorously for the release of the name. "Taco Bell could have looked like a hero by coming out and saying that it was a supplier problem and they are going to work hard to make sure it never happens again."

Bad recordkeeping (i.e. no grind logs) prevents USDA from identifying source of Hannaford's Salmonella outbreak

marler@marlerclark.com (Salmonella Lawyer) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:32:41 -0800

Hannaford's ground beef sickened at least 19 people in 7 states with an antibiotic resistant strain of Salmonella Typhimurium. As has long been known, the investigation into the outbreak by USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service was complicated by the store's sloppy recordkeeping. In fact, Hannafords stores did not track at all where the component parts of their ground beef were coming from, including the "trim," which are parts of other cuts of meat trimmed off during processing. As a result, neither Hannafords, nor the USDA, nor the people who got sick in this outbreak will ever know the identity of the beef company that sold Hannafords the Salmonella-contaminated beef.

Leslie Bridgers at the Portland Press Herald wrote today:

Officials from the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service said Friday that they plan to close the investigation within a week.

The officials said Hannaford's "high-risk practices" for grinding beef were the barrier in their investigation, although those practices did not break any regulatory requirements and are probably used by other meat retailers.

And then there is the other reason that this outbreak is Hannaford's outbreak and nobody else's:

Daniel Engeljohn, assistant administrator of the Food Safety and Inspection Service, said it was not always clear from Hannaford's records when the stores were grinding the trimmings. Investigators found that Hannaford would grind trimmings and tube meat without cleaning the equipment in between, he said, raising the possibility of cross-contamination.

Engeljohn noted that there is a lower sanitary standard for the cuts of meat that are used for trimmings than there is for the ground beef that comes in tubes.

There is no requirement that equipment be cleaned between grinds of meat from different companies, Engeljohn said, but the USDA has told retailers for several years that it recommends it, along with more complete information in grinding logs.

A little self-policing would go a long way for Hannafords in the future.

Multistate Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak at Mexican restaurant chain

marler@marlerclark.com (Salmonella Attorney) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:23:07 -0800

Today the CDC announced a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections, primarily in Texas and Oklahoma, all linked to a Mexican-style fast food restaurant chain known as “Restaurant Chain A.”

The investigation was unable to identify a specific food item as the culprit, but data indicated that contamination likely occurred before the product reached Restaurant Chain A locations. The epidemic curve seen in the outbreak is consistent with those observed in past produce-related outbreaks—with a sharp increase and decline of ill persons that spanned one to two months. Ground beef was found to be an unlikely source due to the handling and cooking processes used by Restaurant Chain A.

This outbreak now appears to be over.

Public health investigators used DNA "fingerprints" of Salmonella bacteria obtained through diagnostic testing with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, or PFGE, to identify cases of illness that may be part of this outbreak. They used data from PulseNet, the national subtyping network made up of state and local public health laboratories and federal food regulatory laboratories that performs molecular surveillance of foodborne infections. The PFGE pattern in the outbreak has been seen before in PulseNet, and in the past typically caused 2-3 cases per month.

As of January 19, 2012, a total of 68 individuals infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis have been reported from 10 states. The number of ill persons identified in each state with the outbreak strain was as follows:

Texas (43)
Oklahoma (16)
Kansas (2)
Iowa (1)
Michigan (1)
Missouri (1)
Nebraska (1)
New Mexico (1)
Ohio (1)
Tennessee (1)

Among persons for whom information was available, illnesses began on or after October 13, 2011. Ill persons range in age from <1 to 79 years, and the median age was 25 years old. Fifty-four percent of patients were female. Thirty-one percent of patients were hospitalized. No deaths were reported.

Winn Dixie and Leasa Industries Recall Alfalfa Sprouts for Salmonella

marler@marlerclark.com (Salmonella Attorney) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:26:19 -0800

Today Winn Dixie and Leasa Industries Co., Inc. announced the recall of 346 cases of LEASA Living Alfalfa Sprouts with use by date 2/1/12, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

LEASA Living Alfalfa Sprouts with use by date 2/1/12 were distributed through FL, GA, AL, LA, and MS through retail stores, including Winn Dixie, and food service companies on 1/4/12, 1/5/12, 1/6/12, 1/7/12 and 1/8/12.

The affected product is in 6 oz. clear plastic containers with a UPC code of 75465-55912 and has an expiration date of 2/1/12. The UPC code is located on the side of the label at the side of the container. The expiration date of the package is located on the side of the container.

No illnesses have been reported to date

The potential for the contamination was discovered when routine customer sample testing on 1/9/12 revealed the presence of Salmonella.

Customers with any of the LEASA Living Alfalfa Sprouts 6 oz. containers with used by date of 2/1/12 are asked to please dispose of the product by throwing away in the trash receptacle.

Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

19 Sickened with Antibiotic-resistant Salmonella Burger from Hannaford Stores

marler@marlerclark.com (Salmonella Lawyer) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:52:25 -0800

Hawaii, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont report illnesses.

A total of 19 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium have been reported from 7 states. The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: HI (1), KY (1), MA (1), ME (4), NH (6), NY (5), and VT (1). Among persons for whom information is available, illnesses began on or after October 8, 2011. Ill persons range in age from 1 year to 79 years old, with a median age of 44 years old. Fifty-three percent are male. Among the 15 ill persons with available information, 7 (47%) have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

Epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory investigations conducted by officials in local, state, and federal public health, agriculture, and regulatory agencies linked this outbreak to eating ground beef purchased from Hannaford stores.

CDC issues final update in chicken livers Salmonella Heidelberg outbreak

marler@marlerclark.com (Salmonella Attorney) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:30:46 -0800

The CDC issued its final update on the investigation into the 190 Salmonella Heidelberg illnesses linked to Schreiber Processing's "kosher broiled chicken livers." The following are highlights of the outbreak investigation:

A total of 190 illnesses due to Salmonella Heidelberg with the outbreak pattern were reported from 6 states.
The number of ill persons identified in each state the product is distributed to is as follows: New York (109), New Jersey (62), Pennsylvania (10), Maryland (6), Ohio (2), and Minnesota (1).
Collaborative investigative efforts of state, local, and federal public health and regulatory agencies indicated that a product labeled as “kosher broiled chicken livers” is the source of this outbreak.
Contaminated "kosher broiled chicken livers" were recalled from grocery stores but may still be in consumers' homes.
Consumers should check their homes for recalled products and not eat them; restaurant and food service operators should not serve them.
This particular outbreak appears to be over. However, Salmonella is still an important cause of human illness in the United States.

Introduction

CDC collaborated with public health and agriculture officials in New York, New Jersey, other states, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Heidelberg infections linked to a kosher chicken liver product labeled as "kosher broiled chicken livers," which is not ready-to-eat and requires further cooking before eating. Public health investigators used DNA "fingerprints" of Salmonella bacteria obtained through diagnostic testing with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to identify cases of illness that may be part of this outbreak. They used data from PulseNet, the national subtyping network made up of state and local public health laboratories and federal food regulatory laboratories that performs molecular surveillance of foodborne infections. Because the Salmonella Heidelberg PFGE pattern associated with this outbreak commonly occurs in the United States, some of the cases with this pattern may not have been related to this outbreak. Based on the previous 5 years of reports to PulseNet, approximately 30-40 cases with the outbreak strain would be expected to be reported per month in the United States. The outbreak strain is different from another strain of Salmonella Heidelberg associated with ground turkey recalled in 2011.

In August 2011, CDC identified a sustained increase in the number of Salmonella Heidelberg isolates with the outbreak strain reported to PulseNet from New York and New Jersey. Based on the previous 5 years of reports to PulseNet, New York and New Jersey would expect approximately 5 cases per month, but in June through August 2011, these states experienced approximately 30-40 cases a month. No sustained increase in the number of illnesses above baseline has been identified in other states. USDA-FSIS’s ongoing investigation determined that the “kosher broiled chicken livers” were distributed to the following states: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Minnesota, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Florida. As the investigation progresses, additional states may be identified.

In cases reported to PulseNet from April 1 to November 17, 2011, a total of 190 illnesses occurred due to Salmonella Heidelberg with this PFGE pattern in states where the "kosher broiled chicken livers" were distributed. The number of ill persons identified in each state the product was distributed to is as follows: New York (109), New Jersey (62), Pennsylvania (10), Maryland (6), Ohio (2), and Minnesota (1). Rhode Island and Florida have not identified any cases linked to this outbreak during this period.

Among persons for whom information is available in in these states, ill persons ranged in age from <1 to 97 years with a median age of 14 years. Forty-nine percent were female. Among the 154 ill persons with available information, 30 (19%) were hospitalized. No deaths were reported.

The outbreak can be visually described with a chart showing the number of people who became ill each day or week. This chart is called an epi curve. This takes an average of 2 to 3 weeks. Please see the Timeline for Reporting of Salmonella Cases for more details.

Investigation of the Outbreak

Epidemiologic and laboratory investigations conducted by officials in local, state, and federal public health, agriculture, and regulatory agencies linked this outbreak to eating "kosher broiled chicken livers" from Schreiber Processing Corporation (doing business as Alle Processing Corporation/MealMart Company), and chopped chicken liver prepared from this product. These "kosher broiled chicken livers" are sold at retail stores and may be used as an ingredient in other prepared foods. These products appear to be ready-to-eat, but are in fact partially cooked, and therefore need to be fully cooked before eating. Consumers may have incorrectly thought the use of the word "broiled" in the label meant the chicken liver was ready-to-eat; however, these chicken livers must be fully cooked before eating. Alle Processing Corporation/MealMart Company cooperated with public health investigators throughout this investigation.

Among 39 ill persons for whom information is available, 28 (72%) reported consuming chicken liver products in the week before their illness began. Laboratory testing conducted by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Laboratory Division identified the outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg in samples of “kosher broiled chicken livers” and chopped liver products obtained from retail stores.

New York City receives funding under the CDC FoodCORE (Foodborne Diseases Centers for Outbreak Response Enhancement) program. FoodCORE sites are supported in part by USDA-FSIS and the Association of Public Health Laboratories. These sites work together to develop new and better methods to detect, investigate, respond to, and control multistate outbreaks of foodborne diseases. New York City conducted an enhanced epidemiologic investigation, which resulted in the identification of suspect food items that might have been a source of this outbreak. These suspect food items were collected for testing and the outbreak strain was found in “kosher broiled chicken liver” products.

Krogers and Smiths Recalls Salmonella Lettuce

marler@marlerclark.com (Salmonella Attorney) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:37:32 -0800

Smith's grocery stores in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and northern Nevada are pulling all Growers Express brand iceberg lettuce from its shelves after receiving a Class 1 recall last night. In addition, Kroger stores in North Carolina, Virginia, Eastern West Virginia, and Eastern Kentucky are also pulling the product.

The iceberg lettuce is being recalled due to possible contamination with Salmonella. To notify customers, the stores have put up signs in their produce departments and initiated automated phone calls to customers who purchased the Growers Express brand iceberg lettuce with frequent shopper cards.

Green Valley Food Corp., Expands Sprout Recall Due to Salmonella

marler@marlerclark.com (Salmonella Lawyer) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 04:23:48 -0800

Green Valley Food Corp. of Dallas, Texas is recalling a grand total of 6,723 cases because of a “Let’s Grow Healthy Together!” Alfalfa Sprouts 5 oz. container test result showed to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis. The items affected in the recall are as follows:

“Let’s Grow Healthy Together!” Alfalfa Sprouts 5 oz. containers with the UPC number 714722228818

“Let’s Grow Healthy Together!” Spicy Sprouts 5 oz. containers with the UPC number 71472222991

Alfalfa Sprouts 4oz. clamshell UPC number 815098001088

“100% Natural Onion Sprouts” 4oz. clamshell UPC number 815098002054

The sprouts affected in this recall were distributed in Texas via truck deliveries to all customers in Texas. All customers were retail grocery store and food distribution centers. If you are a customer affected by this recall you will be receiving a letter asking for the quantities you were shipped and their whereabouts. Please, respond as soon as possible.

The product descriptions are as follows:

“Let’s Grow Healthy Together!” Alfalfa Sprouts 5 oz. container is 4 inches by 4 inches with the UPC number 714722228818. The label has blue lettering that states “Let’s Grow Healthy Together!” Alfalfa Sprouts.

“Let’s Grow Healthy Together!” Spicy Sprouts 5 oz. container is 4 inches by 4 inches with the UPC number 71472222991. The label will have red lettering stating “Let’s Grow Healthy Together!” Spicy Sprouts.

Alfalfa Sprouts 4oz. is a clamshell measuring 4 inches by 5 inches with the UPC number 815098001088. The label has green lettering stating “100% Natural Alfalfa Sprouts”.

“100% Natural Onion Sprouts” 4oz. clamshell measures 4 inches by 5 inches with UPC number 815098002054.The label has yellow lettering stating “100% Natural Onion Sprouts”

Any of these items received or purchased from 12/07/2011 to 1/1/2012 are affected in this recall and/or if the items have a use by date ranging from 12/22/2011 to 1/1/2012.

Till this present day there has been no related illnesses CONFIRMED because of this recall. This is a cautionary measure taken by Green Valley Food Corp. to assure safe and quality products are being distributed by our facility.

On 12/12/2011 a random sample was taken from a customer we currently supply. The product tested positive for Salmonella. To assure our customers of a safe Alfalfa Sprouts, Green Valley Food Corp., is voluntarily recalling these items specified above. This is a cautionary measure taken by Green Valley Food Corp. to assure all customers and consumers of any issues with our products. We are voluntarily requesting this recall and are working closely with the FDA to assure all consumers our products are safe.