Illnesses and lawsuits continue to mount in the Salmonella outbreak linked to deli food at the Boise Co Op. At least 280 people were sickened by food they purchased at the co-op between June 1-10. Several lawsuits have been filed on behalf of those sickened.
All of those who became sick with symptoms of Salmonella poisoning including nausea, diarrhea and abdominal cramps ate food from the deli. Some of them said they had eaten sandwiches.
Health officials have identified turkey, tomato and onions as contaminated food sources. It’s not clear how the food became contaminated, but cross-contamination may have played a role.
The deli was temporarily closed after it was linked to a Salmonella outbreak that has become one of the largest in Idaho history. Health officials worked with deli management on a redesign of workflow to reduce the risk of foodborne illness. Some of those changes included adding a sink, increasing food safety training for employees and using color-coded cutting boards to prevent cross-contamination.
Symptoms of a Salmonella infection usually develop within six to 72 hours of exposure.
Some infections can be severe and require hospitalizations. After initial symptoms resolve, long-term complications can arise including reactive arthritis, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
