The Salmonella outbreak linked to Wonderful pistachios has ended after sickening 11 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The pistachios were recalled on March 9, consumers who have purchased them should not eat them as Salmonella can cause serious illness.
Food Poisoning Bulletin alerted the agency to some discrepancies in a report earlier today and the agency is working to correct the information, so some specific information about the outbreak is not yet available.
We do know that state and federal health officials used DNA “fingerprinting” to identify 11 case patients. And that three cases reported from Alabama and Arizona initially included in the outbreak were ruled out, while new ones, caused by a second strain of Salmonella, were added.
The map and graphic below were provided by the CDC to Food Poisoning Bulletin tonight. They reflect accurate information and differ from graphics that accompany the agency’s report online.
The two outbreak strains are Salmonella Montevideo and Salmonella Senftenberg. Cases were reported in Connecticut (1), Georgia(1), Maryland (1), Michigan (2), Minnesota (1), North Dakota (1) New York (1) Virginia (1) Washington (2). The most recent illness was reported March 25, 2016.
A lawsuit stemming was filed on behalf of a Minnesota man who developed a Salmonella infection after eating Wonderful brand pistachios.
According to the complaint, the man ate Wonderful pistachios in February and then became ill with symptoms of a Salmonella infection including stomach cramps and diarrhea. He saw a doctor and was diagnosed with a Salmonella Montevideo infection through tests on a stool sample.
Symptoms of a Salmonella infection, which usually set in between six and 72 hours after exposure and last about a week, include nausea, fever, abdominal pain and diarrhea that can be bloody. Those at elevated risk of infection are children, seniors and people with compromised immune systems.
The recalled nuts, sold nationwide and in Canada under the brand names Wonderful, Paramount Farms, and Trader Joe’s, were packaged in bags and boxes. They include Roasted No Salt Inshell Pistachios, Roasted Salted Inshell Pistachios, Roasted Salted Shelled Pistachios, Roasted Sweet Chili Pistachios, Roasted Salt and Pepper Inshell Pistachios 50% Less Salt Dry Roasted & Salted Inshell Pistachios, Dry Roasted & Unsalted Inshell Pistachios; and Dry Roasted & Salted Inshell Pistachios. Click the recall link above for detailed product information.
Nuts are a fairly common source of Salmonella outbreaks. In December 2015, a Salmonella outbreak was linked to raw sprouted nut spreads. In 2014, nut butters made by nSpired Natural Foods were linked to a five-state Salmonella Braenderup outbreak that sickened 6 people. The recalled products were sold under the brand names Trader Joe’s, Kroger, MaraNatha, Arrowhead Mills, and Whole Foods. Cases were reported from Connecticut (1), Iowa (1), New Mexico (1), Tennessee (1), and Texas (2).
In 2012, a Salmonella outbreak linked to tainted peanut butter produced by Sunland Inc., then the nation’s largest producer of organic peanut butter, sickened 42 people. Those products were sold under the brand names Target’s Archer Farms, Earth Balance, Safeway’s Open Nature, fresh & easy, heinen’s, Joseph’s, Natural Value, Dogsbutter, Earth Balance, Late July, Joseph’s, Naturally More, Open Nature, Peanut Power, Serious Food Silly Prices, Newman’s Own, Harry & David, Trader Joe’s, Sunland, and Snaclite. And in 2008 and 2009, peanut butter produced Peanut Corporation of America sickened m0re than 700 people, 116 were hospitalized. Seven people died.
Images provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
