The Salmonella Newport outbreak that is linked to ground beef from JBS Tolleson has grown to include 333 people sick in 28 states. Ninety-one people have been hospitalized.
That’s an addition of 87 more patients since the last notice was published in November 2018. Those additional 87 ill people live in 16 states. New states added to the outbreak count are Michigan, Mississippi, and West Virginia.
Illness onset dates range from August 5, 2018 to November 9, 2018. The patient age range is from less than one year to 99. The hospitalization rate in this outbreak, which is 33%, is higher than the typical hospitalization rate for a Salmonella outbreak, which is 20%. The states with the most ill persons are Arizona, with 50, California, with 107, and Colorado, with 58.
Of the 227 people interviewed by public health officials, 200, or 88%, said they ate ground beef at home the week before they got sick. This is significantly higher than the percentage of healthy people who ate ground beef at home the week before they were interviewed.
JBS Tolleson has recalled more than 12,000,000 pounds of ground beef and ground beef products since this Salmonella Newport outbreak was announced. Check your freezer for the recalled beef. It has the establishment number “EST. 267” inside the USDA mark of inspection. More than 100 retailers sold the recalled beef, including Sam’s Club in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming; Food 4 Less in California and Illinois; Kroger in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia; and Walmart in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Texas.
The beef products were produced and packaged from July 26, 2018 to September 7, 2018, and were sold under many brand names. Some of the brand names include Kroger, Laura’s Lean, and Generic JBS. Epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory evidence indicates that the ground beef produced by JBS Tolleson is a likely source of this outbreak.
The Salmonella Newport outbreak notice includes information telling consumers to handle ground beef with care and to cook it thoroughly. Don’t eat raw or undercooked ground beef. Always cook all ground beef to 160°F and check that temperature with a thermometer. And avoid cross-contamination by making sure that raw meat juices do not contaminate surfaces in your kitchen.
