Both grocery stores and restaurants sold sushi, sashimi and similar products to some of the people sickened in the Salmonella Bareilly outbreak that has sickened over 100 people in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Jim Beasley, Public Information Director for the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, told Food Poisoning Bulletin that at least one of the three confirmed Salmonella Bareilly cases in that state ate sushi, sashimi or another product containing raw tuna that had been purchased from a grocery store.
According to the initial Salmonella Bareilly outbreak announcement from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 35 of the 51 case patients with available information at the time reported consuming sushi, sashimi, or similar foods in the week before the onset of Salmonella Bareilly symptoms. The subsequent CDC announcement on April 6 did not update this information. The initial announcement also stated that the products had been “sold at various locations,” and the April 6 CDC update removed this information.
Although several restaurants and grocery stores are most likely involved in this outbreak, not one is named in any CDC announcement.
“Consumers should not be kept in the dark about the identity of the restaurants and grocery stores that sold contaminated products,” said Fred Pritzker, national food safety lawyer. “Even more important is that the CDC release any information they may have as to the identity of suppliers and manufacturers who may be involved.”
