Tag: CDC

One death, 63 hospitalized, 164 ill in Salmonella outbreak linked to raw turkey products

In the last year, a multidrug-resistant strain of Salmonella Reading has infected 164 people in 35 states. Sixty-three people have been hospitalized, one person is dead, and the outbreak is showing no signs of abating.

According to CDC, the outbreak strain has been isolated from live turkeys and from raw turkey products, including raw turkey pet food. No single source of the outbreak strain has been identified, and the outbreak strain appears to be widespread in the turkey industry.

Outbreak victims have reported consuming different types and brands of turkey products purchased from many different locations.

Three of the victims were members of a household that fed its pets with a commercial raw turkey pet food.

In February 2018, the Minnesota Department of Health reported two cases of Salmonella Reading linked to Raws for Paws Ground Turkey Food for Pets. The company recalled the implicated product on February 8th.

No other products have been recalled in conjunction with this outbreak investigation.

States reported confirmed illness associated with this outbreak include:

Alaska (1), Arizona (1), California (13), Colorado (6), Connecticut (3), Delaware (1), Florida (7), Georgia (2), Hawaii (1), Idaho (1), Iowa (3), Illinois (16), Indiana (3), Kansas (1), Kentucky (1), Maryland (3), Massachusetts (3), Michigan (6), Minnesota (17), Missouri (1), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (8), New York (12), North Carolina (7), North Dakota (2), Ohio (5), Oklahoma (1), Oregon (2), Pennsylvania (8), South Carolina (1), South Dakota (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (11), Virginia (8), Wisconsin (6).

With Thanksgiving fast approaching in the US, consumers and food service operators should take extra care in handling all poultry products.

CDC advises consumers to follow these steps to help prevent Salmonella infection from raw turkey:

  • Wash your hands. Salmonella infections can spread from one person to another. Wash hands before and after preparing or eating food, after contact with animals, and after using the restroom or changing diapers.
  • Cook raw turkey thoroughly to kill harmful germs. Turkey breasts, whole turkeys, and ground poultry, including turkey burgers, casseroles, and sausage, should always be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F to kill harmful germs. Leftovers should be reheated to 165°F. Use a food thermometer to check, and place it in the thickest part of the food.
  • Don’t spread germs from raw turkey around food preparation areas. Washing raw poultry before cooking is not recommended. Germs in raw poultry juices can spread to other areas and foods. Thoroughly wash hands, counters, cutting boards, and utensils with warm, soapy water after they touch raw turkey. Use a separate cutting board for raw turkey and other raw meats if possible.
  • Thaw turkey in the refrigerator, in a sink of cold water that is changed every 30 minutes, or in the microwave. Never thaw your turkey by leaving it out on the counter.
  • CDC does not recommend feeding raw diets to pets. Germs like Salmonella in raw pet food can make your pets sick. Your family also can get sick by handling the raw food or by taking care of your pet.

Duncan Hines cake mixes recalled; may be linked to outbreak investigation

Recalled Duncan Hines cake mixes

Conagra Brands is recalling four Duncan Hines brand cake mixes after Salmonella Agbeni was found in a retail sample of Duncan Hines Classic White cake mix.

According to the recall notice, the isolate may be linked to a cluster of five Salmonella illnesses currently under investigation by FDA and CDC. No information has been released as yet regarding the geographic distribution of the illnesses.

The FDA is conducting an inspection at the Conagra Brands-owned manufacturing facility that produced the cake mixes. The FDA is also collecting environmental and product samples.

Several of the individuals reported consuming a cake mix at some point prior to becoming ill, and some may have also consumed these products raw and not baked.

The list of recalled products includes:

  • Duncan Hines Classic White Cake (15.25oz; UPC 644209307500; Best if used by MAR 7 2019, MAR 8 2019, MAR 9 2019, MAR 10 2019, MAR 12 2019, MAR 13 2019)
  • Duncan Hines Classic Yellow Cake (15.25oz; UPC 644209307494; Best if used by MAR 9 2019, MAR 10 2019, MAR 12 2019, MAR 13 2019)
  • Duncan Hines Classic Butter Golden Cake (15.25oz; UPC 644209307593; Best if used by MAR 7 2019, MAR 8 2019, MAR 9 2019)
  • Duncan Hines Signature Confetti Cake (15.25oz; UPC 644209414550; Best if used by MAR 12 2019, MAR 13 2019)

The products listed above were distributed for retail sale in the U.S. and limited international exports.

Salmonella 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.

What should retailers and restaurants do?

Retailers should not sell and should discard all recalled products.

Retailers, restaurants, and other food service operators should always practice safe food handling and preparation measures. It is recommended that they wash hands, utensils, and surfaces with hot, soapy water before and after handling food.

  • Wash and sanitize display cases and refrigerators regularly.
  • Wash and sanitize cutting boards, surfaces, and utensils used to prepare, serve, or store food.
  • Wash hands with hot water and soap following the cleaning and sanitation process.
  • Regular frequent cleaning and sanitizing of food contact surfaces and utensils used in food preparation may help to minimize the likelihood of cross-contamination.

What should consumers do?

The FDA is advising consumers not to bake with or eat any recalled cake mix. If already purchased, consumers should throw it away or return to the place of purchase for a refund.

Consumers should always practice safe food handling and preparation measures. It is recommended that they wash hands, utensils, and surfaces with hot, soapy water before and after handling food.

FDA offers these tips for safe food handling to keep you and your family healthy:

  • Do not eat any raw cake mix, batter, or any other raw dough or batter product that is supposed to be cooked or baked.
  • Wash hands, work surfaces, and utensils thoroughly after contact with flour and raw batter or dough products.
  • Keep raw foods separate from other foods while preparing them to prevent any contamination that may be present from spreading. Be aware that flour or cake mix may spread easily due to its powdery nature.

Consumers with questions should call the Duncan Hines Consumer Care team at 1-888-299-7646, open 9 am through 5 pm EST, Monday through Friday or visit www.duncanhines.com.

Human Salmonella illness linked to raw pet food

This story by Phyllis Entis was first published in Food Safety News and is reposted here with permission.

A confirmed case of Salmonella Infantis illness has been linked to a raw pet food manufactured by Arrow Reliance, Inc., dba Darwin’s Natural Pet Products (Darwin’s), according to updated information released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The infected individual is one of 92 people infected with a multidrug-resistant Salmonella Infantis outbreak since the beginning of 2018 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The individual reported having become ill after household pets ate raw ground chicken pet food manufactured by Darwin’s. According to a spokesperson for CDC, this individual did not report any pet illnesses.

The Salmonella Infantis outbreak has spread over 29 states and hospitalized 21 individuals.

Outbreak victims reported eating various brands and types of chicken products. A single, common supplier of either raw chicken products or live chickens has not been identified, according to CDC.

The outbreak strain has been recovered from samples of raw chicken products, from live chickens, and from raw chicken pet food.

According to a spokesperson for FDA, the outbreak strain is likely related to the Salmonella strain recovered from an adult dog that had recurring diarrhea as a result of consuming contaminated raw chicken dog food manufactured by Darwin’s.

The raw pet food fed to the infected dog also tested positive for Salmonella.

Darwin’s initiated a total of five voluntary recalls between October 17, 2016, and March 26, 2018, after being informed that Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, and E. coli O128 were found in some of the company’s raw pet food products.

CDC is reminding pet owners that Salmonella and other pathogenic bacteria in raw pet food can make pets sick. Household members also can become infected by handling the raw food or when caring for an infected pet.

FDA encourages consumers to report complaints about pet food products electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal or by calling their state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators.