United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public health officials, are investigating a Salmonella Reading outbreak. As an initial result of this investigation, some raw ground turkey products from Wisconsin food producer Jennie-O Turkey Store Sales, LLC have been recalled.
Jennie-O officials are recalling approximately 91,388 pounds of raw ground turkey products that may be associated with an illness outbreak of Salmonella Reading according to a FSIS announcement made yesterday, November 15th.
Officials have identified 164 case-patients in 35 states who have been taken ill over the past year, between November 20, 2017 and October 20, 2018. There have been no case-patients reported in Washington state.
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Click for more informationPatients reported eating different types and brands of turkey products purchased from many different stores, handling raw turkey pet food and/or raw turkey or working with live turkeys or living with someone who handled live turkeys. The outbreak strain was also identified in samples from raw turkey products from 22 slaughter and 7 processing establishments.
Based on the continuing investigation, products from other companies may also be recalled.
FSIS officials say a sample of Jennie-O brand ground turkey in an intact and unopened package was located in a case-patient’s home. The patient had tested positive for Salmonella Reading and the sample from the package matched the outbreak strain.
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Click for more informationThe Jennie-O ground turkey products subject to the recall were distributed to retail locations nationwide.
The following products are subject to the recall (Click here to view packaging examples (PDF):
- 1-lb. packages of “Jennie-O GROUND TURKEY 93% LEAN | 7% FAT” with “Use by” dates of 10/01/2018 and 10/02/2018.
- 1-lb. packages of “Jennie-O TACO SEASONED GROUND TURKEY” with a “Use by” date of 10/02/2018.
- 1-lb. packages of “Jennie-O GROUND TURKEY 85% LEAN | 15% FAT” with a “Use by” date of 10/02/2018.
- 1-lb. packages of “Jennie-O ITALIAN SEASONED GROUND TURKEY” with a “Use by” date of 10/02/2018.
The products subject to recall have establishment number “P-190” stamped inside the USDA mark of inspection.
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Click for more informationFSIS expressed concern that some product may be frozen and in consumers’ freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. The product should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
According to today’s announcement, consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. The most common symptoms of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating the contaminated product. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. Most people recover without treatment. In some persons, however, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. Older adults, infants and persons with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop a severe illness.
Consumers with questions regarding the recall are asked to contact the Jennie-O Consumer Engagement Team at 800-621-3505, 8am to 4pm Central Time Monday through Friday and 9am to 5pm Central Time Saturday and Sunday.