It’s been the month of Salmonella and Ccclospora in the U.S. Four outbreaks have hit the country. Two Salmonella outbreaks and two cyclospora outbreaks have sickened more than 200 people and hospitalized more than 50. Here’s what you need to know about the Salmonella outbreaks.
A Salmonella Adelaide outbreak linked to precut melons has sickened 60 people in 5 states. The case count is: Illinois (6), Indiana (11), Michigan (32), Missouri (10), Ohio (1). Thirty-one people are sick enough that they need to be in the hospital for care.
The distributors who sold these melons are Caito Foods Distribution, Gordon Food Service, and SpartanNash Distribution. The FDA has issued a 46-page list of stores where these products were sold in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Please look at the list of recalled melon items to see if you have any in your home. If you do, throw them out immediately, even if some of the fruit has been eaten and no one has gotten sick. The brand names of the recalled melon products include Whole Foods Market Label, Freshness Guaranteed, Delish, Trader Joe’s, Sprouts Farmers Market, Open Acres, Clear Generic Label Distributed by Renaissance Food Group, Garden Highway, and Clear Generic Label Distributed by Caito Foods.
The second Salmonella outbreak is a Salmonella Mbandaka outbreak linked to recalled Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal. That bacteria has sickened 73 people in 31 states. The number of ill persons in each state are: Alabama (2), Arizona (1), California (5), Connecticut (3), Georgia (2), Illinois (1), Indiana (3), Kentucky (1), Louisiana (2), Massachusetts (5), Maryland (1), Michigan (4), Mississippi (1), Montana (1), North Carolina (3), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (3), New York (7), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (2), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (5), Rhode Island (2), South Carolina (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (2), Utah (1), Virginia (4), Washington (3), Wisconsin (1), West Virginia (3). Twenty-four people are in the hospital.
At first, the FDA issued a recall of the Honey Smacks cereal with two specific UPC numbers. But the latest advice is for consumers to avoid eating all sizes, UPC numbers, and “best by” dates of this cereal. The product has a one year-shelf life, and is most likely still in consumers’ homes. The FDA outbreak update states that “Honey Smacks products with earlier dates could also potentially be contaminated.”
Attorney Fred Pritzker, who has represented clients sickened with Salmonella infections, said, “Even when you recover from this infection, there is still a risk you will develop a serious complication in the future such as endocarditis or reactive arthritis.” Call 1-888-377-8900 or 612-338-0202 to talk to Fred.
Attorney Fred Pritzker, who is representing clients sickened in these Salmonella outbreaks, said, “These two outbreaks may be linked to very different products, but that is a reminder that any food can be contaminated with pathogenic bacteria. If you have eaten these foods and have been sick see your doctor.”
The symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning include nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, muscle aches, and diarrhea that may be bloody. People usually start feeling sick 12 to 72 hours after eating food that is contaminated. If this infection gets into the bloodstream, patients can become dehydrated or develop sepsis, which can be deadly.
While the melon has a short shelf life, that outbreak will likely grow because the fruit was recalled two weeks after the latest person in the most recent CDC report got sick. The outbreak linked to cereal could really grow, because of that product’s long shelf life. Stay tuned.
