Tag: Salmonella Typhimurium

Chamberlain Farms: Double – or Is It Triple – Outbreak

Cantaloupes from Chamberlain Farm Produce, Inc. are the source of 270 cases of Salmonella infections, according to the latest figures from CDC.

The illnesses were due to Salmonella Typhimurium (240 persons versus the previous tally of 204) and Salmonella Newport (30 persons) in 26 states. Three people are dead, and 101 have been hospitalized in this cantaloupe-linked outbreak.

Salmonella Typhimurium illnesses were reported from the following states: Alabama (16), Arkansas (6), California (2), Florida (1), Georgia (9), Iowa (10), Illinois (26), Indiana (24), Kentucky (70), Massachusetts (2), Maryland (1), Michigan (6), Minnesota (5), Missouri (15), Mississippi (7), Montana (1), New Jersey (2), North Carolina (7), Ohio (6), Oklahoma (1), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (5), Tennessee (8), Texas (2), and Wisconsin (6).

Salmonella Newport cases were reported in Illinois (8), Indiana (9), Michigan (1), Missouri (6), Ohio (3), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (2).

Salmonella Typhimurium (red) and Salmonella Newport (blue) timeline (from CDC)

Cantaloupe samples analyzed by FDA have yielded both the Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Newport outbreak strains. In addition, Indiana investigators have found a genetically different Salmonella Newport strain from a sample of watermelon from a field at Chamberlain Farms. Twenty-five illnesses in 8 states are being investigated to determine whether they may be linked to the Chamberlain Farm Produce watermelons.

On August 22nd, Chamberlain Farm Produce announced a recall of its entire 2012 cantaloupe crop. Schnucks Markets reported on September 7th that Chamberlain had expanded its recall to include the farm’s 2012 watermelon crop. So far, this expanded recall announcement has not appeared on the FDA web site. Nor has the public been given any information as to where – other than Schnucks, Logli and Hilander stores – the watermelons were sold.

CDC Advice to Consumers, Retailers, and Others

Contaminated cantaloupe may still be in grocery stores and in consumers’ homes.

  • Consumers who recently purchased Chamberlain Farms cantaloupes are advised not to eat them and discard any remaining cantaloupe.
    • Based on the available information, consumers can continue to purchase and eat cantaloupes that did not originate from Chamberlain Farms Produce, Inc.
    • Many cantaloupes have the growing area identified with a sticker on the fruit. If no sticker is present, consumers should inquire about the source. When in doubt, throw it out.
    • Consumers who are buying or have recently bought cantaloupe should ask their retailer if the cantaloupe originated from Chamberlain Farms Produce, Inc.
  • Cantaloupes should be disposed of in a closed plastic bag placed in a sealed trash can. This will prevent people or animals from eating them.
  • Dispose of any cantaloupes that you think may be contaminated. Washing them will not completely eliminate the contamination. Cutting, slicing and dicing may also transfer harmful bacteria from the fruit’s surface to the fruit’s flesh.
  • Retailers and food service operators should not sell or serve Chamberlain Farms cantaloupe.
  • Persons who think they might have become ill from eating possibly contaminated cantaloupes should consult their health care providers.

I would add watermelon to that advisory statement.

Recalls and Alerts: August 23, 2012

Here is today’s list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.

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United States

  • Food Safety Recall: Spence & Co. Ltd. (Brockton, MA) recalls Wellsley Farms brand Nova Smoked Salmon (16 oz; Lot 6704701) and Spence & Co. brand Smoked Salmon Trim (8 oz; Lot 6704701), because of possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled Wellsley Farms Nova was distributed to BJ’s Wholesale Club in Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Ohio on 6.13.12. The recalled Spence & Co. Ltd. Trim was distributed to Krogers, King Soopers, and City Market stores in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Colorado, Wyoming and Utah between 6.22.12 and 6.29.12.
  • Food Safety Recall: Dole Fresh Vegetables recalls Dole Italian Blend bagged salad (10 oz pkg; Use by August 20; UPC 7143000819), due to possible health risk from Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled salads were distributed in Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Mississippi and Virginia, including in Giant Food Stores. The recall was issued after a sample of Dole Italian Blend salad was found to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes in a random sample test conducted by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture.
  • Food Safety Recall: Chamberlain Farm Produce, Inc. (Owensville, IN) recalls all of its cantaloupes from the 2012 season, because some cantaloupes may be contaminated with a strain of Salmonella Typhimurium that is responsible for 178 reported illnesses in 21 states.
  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert: Hoffman Town & Country Meat Market (Detroit Lakes, MN) recalls Whole-Muscle Turkey Jerky (all products sold on or before August 21, 2012), after state investigators linked the product to four cases of Salmonella illness among Minnesota residents. All four individuals – one of whom was hospitalized – reported eating turkey jerky during the week prior to becoming ill.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Champ’s Mushrooms (Aldergrove, BC) recalls Champ’s Mushrooms brand Sliced White Mushrooms (Product of Canada; 227g/8-oz pkgs; UPC 0 33383 67600 5; Packed on date PO 10AUG2012 or PO 11AUG 2012), because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled product was distributed in British Columbia and Alberta, and may also have been distributed in other provinces.

Europe

Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket’s recall web site.

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.

Salmonella Outbreak Grows. Cantaloupes Recalled

The number of people infected with Salmonella Typhimurium in the USA’s most recent produce-related outbreak has increased to 178, according to data released this morning by CDC. Sixty-two people have been hospitalized. The death toll remains at two – both of them from Kentucky.

Twenty-one states have reported at least one illness – up from the previous total of twenty. Salmonella Typhimurium infections due to the outbreak strain were documented in Alabama (13), Arkansas (3), California (2), Georgia (3), Illinois (21), Indiana (18), Iowa (7), Kentucky (56), Massachusetts (2), Michigan (6), Minnesota (4), Mississippi (5), Missouri (12), New Jersey (2), North Carolina (3), Ohio (4), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (3), Tennessee (6), Texas (2), and Wisconsin (4).

Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak. Cases reported by state (from CDC)

Investigations by CDC, FDA and local and state agencies have concluded that cantaloupe originating from Chamberlain Farm Produce, Inc. of Owensville, Indiana is a likely source of this outbreak. Late yesterday, Chamberlain Farm Produce, Inc. announced a voluntary recall of all of its cantaloupes from the 2012 growing season that may remain in the marketplace. This follows a prior market withdrawal of cantaloupes initiated by Chamberlain on August 16th and 17th.

Chamberlain’s cantaloupes were marketed to four retail grocery stores with outlets in Vanderburgh, Warrick, Gibson, and Dubois County, Indiana, and Wabash County, Illinois during the period of June 21, 2012 to August 16, 2012; four wholesale purchasers in Owensboro, Kentucky, St. Louis, Missouri, Peru, Illinois, and Durant, Iowa also procured cantaloupes from Chamberlain during that same period. According to FDA, the cantaloupes were initially shipped to Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin, with further distribution likely.

Although the names of the retail and wholesale consignees have not been released, Wal-Mart has been named as the source of cantaloupes consumed by two outbreak victims from one family in Michigan, and by one of the Mississippi outbreak victims.

While FDA and CDC have identified “a source” of this outbreak, the investigation is continuing in order to determine whether there are other possible sources. The outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium is a common one, and is typically the source of 10 to 15 “background” cases each month across the USA. Only 75% of the outbreak victims interviewed during the initial investigation reported having consumed cantaloupe before becoming ill.

Updated CDC Advice to Consumers, Retailers, and Others

Cantaloupe

Contaminated cantaloupe may still be in grocery stores and in consumers’ homes.

  • Consumers who recently purchased Chamberlain Farms cantaloupes are advised not to eat them and discard any remaining cantaloupe.
    • Based on the available information, consumers can continue to purchase and eat cantaloupes that did not originate from Chamberlain Farms Produce, Inc.
    • Many cantaloupes have the growing area identified with a sticker on the fruit. If no sticker is present, consumers should inquire about the source. When in doubt, throw it out.
    • Consumers who are buying or have recently bought cantaloupe should ask their retailer if the cantaloupe originated from Chamberlain Farms Produce, Inc.
  • Cantaloupes should be disposed of in a closed plastic bag placed in a sealed trash can. This will prevent people or animals from eating them.
  • Dispose of any cantaloupes that you think may be contaminated. Washing them will not completely eliminate the contamination. Cutting, slicing and dicing may also transfer harmful bacteria from the fruit’s surface to the fruit’s flesh.
  • Retailers and food service operators should not sell or serve Chamberlain Farms cantaloupe.
  • Persons who think they might have become ill from eating possibly contaminated cantaloupes should consult their health care providers.