The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have updated their report of Hannaford Ground Beef contaminated with Salmonella Typhimurium, which was one of the most serious foodborne illness outbreaks of 2011.
So far, nineteen people in seven states have been infected, an increase of one more ill person. The ground beef may still be in consumer’s homes. Please check your freezer to see if you have any of these products; if you do, discard them or return them to the place of purchase.
The number of ill people in each state are as follows:
- Hawaii (1)
- Kentucky (1)
- Maine (4)
- Massachusetts (1)
- New Hampshire (6)
- New York (5)
- Vermont (1)
The history of the outbreak goes back to mid-December 2011:
- December 16, 2011 Hannaford Recalls Ground Beef After 7 Hospitalized with Salmonella Poisoning
- December 20, 2011 More Hannaford Ground Beef Salmonella Cases
- December 31, 2011 More Illnesses in Hannaford Ground Beef Outbreak
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Services blamed slack record keeping for hampering the investigation, which is a problem across the country.
Identifying suppliers of food, or traceability, is one of the goals of the Food Safety Modernization Act. And the Center for Science in the Public Interest has urged the FDA to prohibit antibiotic-resistant Salmonella in ground beef late last year in a citizen petition.
