The FDA is joining in on the investigation into the multistate Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak linked to dried coconut that has sickened 13 people in 8 states. Three people are hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported to date.
FDA testing confirmed that Salmonella found in two retail product samples of dried coconut that were collected from Vitamin Cottage Natural Food Market and International Harvest match the outbreak strain. Both facilities have recalled products. Vitamin Cottage recalled Natural Grocers coconut, and International Harvest has recalled Go Smiles Dried Coconut Raw and International Harvest Brand Organic Go Smile! Dried Coconut Raw. You can find more information about these recalled items at the FDA web site.
In their investigation, ill persons told FDA officials about foods they ate and other possible exposures the week before they got sick. Patients reported eating multiple foods in common, but the dried coconut is a match.
If you have these brands of dried coconut in your home, discard them immediately. Throw them away in a sealed or double wrapped containers or take them back to the place of purchase for a full refund. Clean your kitchen with a mild bleach solution to kill any remaining bacteria. And make sure that you wash your hands well with soap and water after handling these products and after cleaning.
The symptoms of a Salmonella infection include diarrhea that may be bloody, fever, abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting. Most people get sick within 12 to 72 hours after they are exposed to the bacteria. Patients may be hospitalized if they develop dehydration, or if the Salmonella spreads to the blood stream, causing sepsis.
If you have eaten dried coconut and have been experiencing these symptoms, it’s important to see your doctor. Salmonella infections can be serious and can have long term health consequences, including reactive arthritis and high blood pressure.
The experienced lawyers at Pritzker Hageman, America’s food safety law firm, successfully represent people who have been harmed by contaminated foods in outbreaks throughout the United States. Its attorneys have won hundreds of millions of dollars for survivors of foodborne illness, including the largest verdict in American history for a person harmed by E. coli and hemolytic uremic syndrome. The firm also publishes Food Poisoning Bulletin, a respected source for food safety news and information.
