Here’s some background information about Salmonella.
Facts:
Salmonellosis, the infection caused by the bacteria Salmonella, is one of the most frequently reported foodborne illnesses in the United States.
Salmonella is characterized as a group of rod-shaped bacteria that can cause diarrheal illness in humans.
Prono: sal•mo•nel•la. The first “L” is pronounced, unlike the silent “L” in salmon, the fish.
General Information: (Source: CDC)
An estimated 1 million salmonella cases occur annually.
Approximately 380 people die each year due to Salmonella, according to the CDC.
Salmonella lives in the intestinal tracts of animals, including birds, and people.
People become infected by eating foods contaminated with animal feces.
Foods contaminated with Salmonella are often of animal origin, such as beef, poultry, milk or eggs, but any food may become contaminated.
It rarely affects the taste, smell or appearance of food.
Salmonella includes over 2,300 serotypes (species) of bacteria. Salmonella serotypes typhimurium and enteritidis are the most common in the United States and account for half of all human infections.
S. typhimurium is most commonly found in food of an animal origin.
S. enteritidis is mainly associated with poultry and eggs.
Most recently, a specific type of Salmonella Typhimurium, DT104, has emerged that is resistant to many antibiotics. Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 can be found in a broad range of foods.
Salmonella was discovered by American veterinarian Daniel Elmer Salmon.
Symptoms and Treatment:
Typical symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and fever. Most people experience symptoms within eight to 72 hours after contaminated food is ingested.
Infections usually resolve in three to seven days, and mild cases often do not require professional treatment. More severe cases require antibiotics.
Salmonella infections can be life-threatening especially for young children, pregnant women and their fetuses, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. The Salmonella infection can spread from the intestines to the blood stream and cause death if not treated early.
A small number of persons infected with Salmonella may develop Reiter’s syndrome which causes painful urination, joint pain and eye irritation. This condition can last for months or years and can lead to chronic arthritis.
Prevention:
Avoid cross-contamination of food. Keep uncooked meats separate from other food.
People infected with Salmonella should not prepare food for others.
Proper storage and handling of food helps prevent the growth of Salmonella and thorough cooking destroys the bacteria. Raw or undercooked meat or eggs and raw or unpasteurized dairy products should not be consumed. Produce should be washed thoroughly.
Wash hands with soap after changing diapers or using the restroom.
Wash hands after handling pets. Reptiles are especially likely to carry Salmonella, since it can contaminate their skin. Salmonella is also often found in the intestines of chicks and young birds.
Timeline of recent selected cases in the United States:
A total of 895 people in 48 states were infected. Three deaths were reported. Of those sickened, 28% were children five years of age or younger.
Cucumbers 2015
Multistate outbreak of Salmonella Poona linked to cucumbers imported from Mexico and distributed by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce.
A total of 907 persons in 40 states were infected. Six deaths were reported.
September 4, 2015 – The CDC announces they are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Poona linked to cucumbers imported from Mexico and distributed by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce. Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce voluntarily recalls cucumbers sold under the “Limited Edition” label from August 1, 2015 – September 3, 2015.
Foster Farms brand chicken – 2013-2014
Multistate outbreak of of Salmonella Heidelberg linked to Foster Farms brand chicken.
A total of 634 persons in 29 states and Puerto Rico were infected.
October 7, 2013 – The US Department of Agriculture issues an alert about illnesses caused by strains of Salmonella Heidelberg that are associated with raw chicken products produced by Foster Farms in California.
Live Poultry – March 2013
Multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections linked to contact with live poultry purchased from feed stores and mail-order hatcheries.
April 25, 2013 – The CDC announces that public health and agriculture officials across several states are investigating an outbreak of human Salmonella Typhimurium infections linked to contact with live poultry.
May 10, 2013 – The CDC announces that interviews conducted during the investigation reveal that 94% of ill persons reported contact with live poultry before becoming ill.
Peanut butter manufactured by Sunland, Inc. – June 2012
Multistate outbreak of Salmonella Bredeney infections associated with peanut butter manufactured by Sunland, Inc.
A total of 42 persons in 20 states were infected.
September 24, 2012 – Sunland, Inc. announces a voluntary recall of its Almond Butter, Peanut Butter, Cashew Butter, Tahini and Roasted Blanched Peanut Products manufactured between manufactured between May 1, 2012 and September 24, 2012.
October 4, 2012 – Sunland, Inc. expands the recall to include all products manufactured in its Peanut Butter Plant after March 1, 2010.
October 12, 2012 – Sunland, Inc. expands the recall further to include raw and roasted shelled and in-shell peanuts processed in its Peanut Processing Plant.
November 26, 2012 – The FDA suspends Sunland Inc.’s food facility registration, which means Sunland Inc. is prohibited from distributing food. The FDA will reinstate the registration when it is determined that the company is able to produce safe products.
Raw scraped ground tuna product – January 2012
Multistate outbreak of Salmonella serotype Nchanga and Bareilly infections associated with raw scraped ground tuna product.
A total of 425 persons infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Bareilly or Salmonella Nchanga have been reported from 28 states and the District of Columbia.
According to the CDC, frozen raw yellowfin tuna product, known as Nakaochi Scrape, from Moon Marine USA Corporation is the likely source of this outbreak.
April 13, 2012 – Moon Marine USA Corporation voluntarily recalls 58,828 lbs of a frozen raw yellowfin tuna product, labeled as Nakaochi Scrape. Nakaochi Scrape is tuna back meat, which is specifically scraped off from the bones, and looks like a ground product.
Turkish Pine Nuts – August 2011
Multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections associated with Turkish pine nuts purchased from bulk bins at Wegmans grocery stores.
October 26, 2011 – Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. announces a recall of approximately 5,000 lbs. of Turkish Pine Nuts sold in the bulk food department due to possible Salmonella contamination.
A total of 43 individuals infected were reported from 5 states.
Ground turkey – February 2011
CDC confirms an outbreak of Salmonella Heidelberg that links to 136 cases from 34 states.
August 4, 2011 – Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation, of Springdale, Arkansas, announces a voluntary recall of 36 millions pounds of ground turkey.
Eggs – May 2010
Multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections.
May 2010 – The CDC notices an uptick in salmonella infections being reported, traces the source and determines it is most likely eggs from Iowa’s Wright County Egg.
August, 2010 – Wright County Egg initiates a nationwide recall of shell eggs. Over the course of the month, the recall expands to include millions of eggs from more than a dozen companies that use Wright County Egg as a supplier.
August 26, 2010 – Federal investigators find salmonella bacteria in chicken feed and in barn and walkway areas at Iowa farms at the center of the nationwide outbreak.
November 2010 – Approximately 1,939 illnesses have been reported that are likely associated with this outbreak.
June 3, 2014 – Two egg industry moguls, Austin “Jack DeCoster” and his son, Peter DeCoster, who ran Quality Egg LLC, plead guilty to one count each of introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce. Their attorney says they were unaware of the tainted products, but since they were in charge, they were corporately responsible. Quality Egg also pleads guilty to bribery of a public official, one count of introducing a misbranded food into interstate commerce with intent to defraud, introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce. Quality Egg agrees to pay a $6.79 million fine.
April 13, 2015 – Egg industry moguls Austin “Jack” DeCoster and his son, Peter DeCoster are sentenced to three months in jail.
Peanut Corporation of America, 2008-2009
Multi-state outbreak of Salmonella serotype Typhimurium infections.
One of the largest food recalls in US history.
More than 2,100 products recalled.
At least 714 cases in 46 states and nine deaths.
January 3 and 4, 2009 – Preliminary analysis by the CDC of a multi-state study indicates peanut butter as the likely source of the bacteria causing Salmonella infections that began in early September 2008.
January 9, 2009 – The FDA begins its inspection of the Peanut Corp. of America (PCA) plant in Blakely, Georgia.
– Minnesota health officials report that preliminary laboratory testing found Salmonella in a five-pound container of King Nut brand peanut butter.
January 10, 2009 – The King Nut Company issues a voluntary recall of specific lot numbers of peanut butter manufactured by PCA.
January 13, 2009 – PCA announces a voluntary nationwide recall of all peanut butter and peanut paste produced in the Blakely facility since July 1, 2008.
January 28, 2009 – 54 companies have recalled at least 431 products containing ingredients produced by the PCA facility since July 1, 2008.
– PCA expands its recall to include all peanuts and peanut products processed at the Blakely plant since January 1, 2007.
– Production of all peanut products at the Blakely facility stops.
February 9, 2009 – The FBI raids PCA headquarters in Lynchburg, Virginia, and the Blakely plant.
February 10, 2009 – PCA subsidiary Plainview Peanut Co. voluntarily closes its processing plant in Plainview, Texas, during federal and state investigations of its food safety records and procedures. Preliminary lab tests show the possible presence of Salmonella there too.
February 11, 2009 – After being subpoenaed, PCA owner Stewart Parnell appears before a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee about the outbreak but refuses to answer questions, invoking his Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate himself. E-mails between Parnell and plant manager Sammy Lightsey reveal that Parnell gave instructions to release products that had initially tested positive for Salmonella after getting a second, negative test result.
February 12, 2009 – The Texas Department of State Health Services orders a recall of all products ever made at the PCA plant in Plainview after finding rodent excrement, carcasses, and bird feathers in a crawlspace above the factory’s production area.
February 13, 2009 – The one plant operated by PCA not linked to Salmonella, Tidewater Blanching in Virginia, closes. PCA files for bankruptcy.
September 19, 2014 – A jury in Georgia convicts Stewart Parnell of conspiracy, fraud and other federal charges linked to intentionally shipping out salmonella-laced peanut products. The guilty verdict marks the first federal felony conviction for a company executive in a food safety case.
September 21, 2015 – Former PCA owner Stewart Parnell is sentenced to 28 years in prison, the toughest penalty ever for a corporate executive in a food poisoning outbreak. His brother and food broker Michael Parnell receives a 20-year sentence, and the plant’s quality assurance manager, Mary Wilkerson, is given five years.
ConAgra peanut butter, 2006-2007
February, 2007 – ConAgra recalls Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter nationwide after public health officials link a spike in salmonella infections to the sandwich spreads. According to the CDC, the first patients began falling ill in August of 2006 and the number of cases increased through the winter. FDA Inspectors detect salmonella at a ConAgra plant in Sylvester, Ga, where Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter are produced. It is the first time peanut butter causes the widespread outbreak of a foodborne illness in the United States according to the CDC.
March 1, 2007 – The FDA expands its list of potentially tainted products to include peanut butter dessert toppings at Carvel ice cream shops and peanut butter shakes at Sonic restaurants.
2011 – A federal criminal investigation of the salmonella outbreak is launched, as the US Attorney’s Office for Georgia and the DOJ Consumer Protection Branch begins submitting requests for documents from ConAgra related to the Sylvester peanut butter plant.
May 20, 2015 – ConAgra is charged with one criminal count of introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce. The company reaches a plea agreement to pay an $8 million criminal fine and forfeit $3.2 million in assets. It is the highest fine ever in a food safety case, according to the DOJ. Investigators conclude that more than 700 people fell ill after eating the peanut butter and thousands of other cases may have gone unreported.