FSIS says source of multi-drug resistant Salmonella outbreak is ground beef
A few weeks ago, public health officials in Arizona, California, and other western states reported dozens of multi-drug resistant Salmonella infections that had the same "genetic fingerprint" detected through the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention's PulseNet system. However, their epidemiological investigation had not led them to a specific food source, according to an earlier report in the Arizona Republic.
But now 38 illnesses appear to be linked to fresh ground beef products contaminated with multi-drug resistant Salmonella Newport, according to a public health alert just issued by the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The FSIS said the contaminated meat may have been ground and sold at Safeway supermarkets in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and New Mexico between Sept. 19 and Nov. 5, 2007.
The Salmonella outbreak has sickened 16 people in Arizona, 18 in California, 1 in Idaho, and 3 in Nevada, according to the FSIS alert. No details are available yet on the number of people who were hospitalized with serious infections.
According to the FSIS alert:
"This particular strain of Salmonella is resistant to many commonly prescribed drugs, which can increase the risk of hospitalization or possible treatment failure in infected individuals."
The FSIS said it wasn't able to identify specific establishments, lots, and products that would be targets of a recall. Also, the FSIS said it has no reason to believe that the products are still available to consumers.
This isn't the first time people have gotten sick from eating ground beef that has been contaminated with multi-drug resistant Salmonella Newport. In early 2002, 47 people in five eastern states developed infections with the same strain after eating ground beef, according to a report in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The organism was found in meat from the freezer of one of the patients.
People who develop symptoms of Salmonella infection after eating ground beef should seek medical care. If you or a family member is diagnosed with Salmonella poisoning (salmonellosis), contact a Salmonella lawyer at Pritzker | Ruohonen for a free consultation regarding your legal rights and remedies. To contact the firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm’s free case consultation form.