Sprout-linked Salmonella outbreak sickens 6 more

Lisa Schnirring  Staff Writer

May 28, 2010 (CIDRAP News) – The number of people sickened in a 10-state Salmonella Newport outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts has risen to 28, and officials are continuing their probe at a California processor identified earlier in the traceback investigation, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said yesterday.

The total is 6 more than the CDC reported in its last statement on the outbreak on May 21, the day Caldwell Fresh Foods, based in Maywood, Calif., recalled the sprouts. California reported 3 more cases, Idaho reported 2 more, and Arizona reported 1 more. Two major national retail outlets—Walmart and Trader Joe's—are among the companies that sold the company's sprouts.

Of 20 patients for whom the CDC has information, 6 were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

Elsewhere, officials at the Washington State Department of Health yesterday reported two Escherichia coli O157:H7 illnesses in residents who drank raw milk from a Whatcom County dairy that has been linked to six other E coli O157:H7 illnesses this year.

The illnesses prompted testing by the state's agriculture department, but no E coli was found in the milk. The department is reviewing the dairy's production and product handling practices.

In other food safety developments, a second fresh greens company this week has recalled some of its products after testing turned up Salmonella in a single package. Organicgirl, based in Salinas, Calif., yesterday recalled 336 cases of 10-oz baby spinach with a use-by date of May 22 and the product code 11A061167. The spinach was sold in six states: Alabama, North Carolina, Oregon, Wisconsin, Arizona, and California. No illnesses have been reported.

The company said it recalled the spinach in an abundance of caution after a third-party lab conducting tests on behalf of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found Salmonella in a single package during random sampling.

On May 24, Fresh Express, also based in Salinas, Calif., recalled some of its romaine-based ready-to-eat salad products after random FDA sampling found Salmonella in a single package.  The products were sold in 26 states. No illnesses have been linked to that product, either.

See also:

CDC Salmonella outbreak update

May 27 Organicgirl recall notice

May 24 Fresh Express recall notice